After falling short in their comeback bid to the Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to get back in the win column with their first of two matchups against the Cincinnati Reds this spring.
Making his Dodgers debut is David Price, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox last month in a blockbuster trade that also brought 2018 American League MVP winner Mookie Betts to L.A.
Price is coming off an injury-shortened 2019 campaign in which he posted a 7-5 record with a 4.28 ERA, 3.62 FIP and 1.31 WHIP over 107.1 innings pitched. The left-hander was limited to just six appearances in the second half but struck out a career-best 10.7 batters per nine innings across 22 overall starts.
Price underwent surgery last September to remove a cyst from his left wrist and had been slow-played through the early portion of the Dodgers’ Spring Training schedule.
The 34-year-old is expected to occupy the third spot in the club’s starting rotation this season and hopes to make a seamless transition to the National League. He intends on exclusively pitching out of the stretch this season.
Price is slated to pitch two innings against the Reds. He’ll be piggybacked by Julio Urias, who is also making his 2020 Cactus League debut. Josiah Gray additionally will take the mound in what will mark his second appearance of the spring.
Cincinnati counters with Sonny Gray, who looks to build off an excellent first year with the organization after being acquired from the New York Yankees during the 2018 offseason.
In 31 starts, he went 11-8 with a 2.87 ERA, 3.42 FIP and 1.08 WHIP over 175.1 innings pitched. Gray earned his second career All-Star nod and finished seventh in National League Cy Young Award voting.
The right-hander tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his 2020 Spring Training debut against the Seattle Mariners last week.
Betts returns to the Dodgers lineup, batting leadoff and playing right field. Monday marks the first time he and Price will share the field since being traded by the Red Sox.
Cody Bellinger was also scheduled to be in the lineup, but he was scratched due to minor side discomfort. AJ Pollock starts in center field in Bellinger’s place.
Dodgers lineup:
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Matt Beaty
CF: AJ Pollock
C: Austin Barnes
DH: Will Smith
2B: Gavin Lux
Reds lineup:
CF: Shogo Akiyama
1B: Joey Votto
DH: Freddy Galvis
LF: Jesse Winker
RF: Aristides Aquino
C: Curt Casali
2B: Derek Dietrich
3B: Matt Davidson
SS: Alex Blandino
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