While wins don’t matter during Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten hot as they are winners of three straight games after defeating the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
They will look to keep that going on Monday as they host the Cleveland Indians at Camelback Ranch, with left-hander Rich Hill making his first Cactus League start. Hill threw three innings of live batting practice last week, so he could potentially extend that to four innings against Cleveland.
The soon-to-be 38-year-old had a strong 2017 campaign for the Dodgers, going 12-8 with a 3.32 ERA, 3.72 FIP and 1.09 WHIP in 25 starts. He struck out 166 hitters while walking 49 in 135.2 innings of work.
Throwing after Hill for the Dodgers will be a variety of southpaws in Scott Alexander, Adam Liberatore and Edward Paredes. Right-hander Ross Stripling and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte are also scheduled to throw.
The Indians counter with right-hander Mike Clevinger, who also had a solid 2017 season for Cleveland. Clevinger went 12-6 with a 3.11 ERA, 3.85 FIP and 1.25 WHIP in 27 games (21 starts) while striking out 137 and walking 60 in 121.2 innings.
Monday marks Clevinger’s third start of the spring, as he has tossed a combined three innings so far, giving up two hits and a run.
Clevinger faces a tough test in the Dodgers red-hot offense. Los Angeles has averaged 9.25 runs in their past four games, including a nine-run outburst in Sunday’s win over the Giants in which Yasmani Grandal hit his first home run of the spring.
Additionally, Corey Seager is in the Dodgers lineup for the first time in almost a week, although it will be as a designated hitter as he has not yet played in the field due to his elbow issue. Seager missed most of the last week due to the illness that struck the Dodgers clubhouse.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
DH: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Matt Kemp
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Joc Pederson
SS: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Trayce Thompson
Indians lineup:
1B: Edwin Encarnacion
C: Yan Gomes
3B: Jose Ramirez
DH: Yonder Alonso
LF: Tyler Naquin
CF: Melvin Upton Jr.
RF: Brandon Barnes
2B: Eric Stamets
SS: Willi Castro
