Spring Training Preview: Hyun-Jin Ryu Makes Second Cactus League Start As Dodgers Host Padres
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time all spring, the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing two games on Friday night as they host the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch and have a group traveling to Goodyear Ballpark to face the Cleveland Indians in split-squad action.

Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the hill against the Padres for his second Cactus League start this year. He threw a scoreless inning in his debut, and if he follows suit from Rich Hill on Thursday, Ryu will extend his pitch count to at least two innings’ worth.

Ryu is coming off a successful season in which he made 15 starts, going 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA, 3.00 FIP and 1.01 WHIP with 89 strikeouts and 15 walks in 82.1 innings. He’s looking to build off that by potentially incorporating an unconventional slider.

Opposing Ryu is right-hander Jacob Nix, who is also making his second start this spring. He threw two shutout innings while walking one in his first outing.

The 23-year-old made nine starts for the Padres in 2018, pitching to a 7.02 ERA, 5.83 FIP and 1.54 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and 13 walks in 42.1 innings.

Among the Major League players remaining at Camelback Ranch are A.J. Pollock, Max Muncy, David Freese and Austin Barnes. Pollock has gotten off to a hot start this spring, going 3-for-8 with a walk in his first three games with his new team. He seems to be settling in nicely into the leadoff spot.

One player the Dodgers won’t be seeing Friday night is the Padres’ new $300 million man, Manny Machado. The former Dodger is not expected to make his spring debut until Saturday against the San Francisco Giants, so he will just miss facing his old team.

Dodgers lineup:

CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Max Muncy
DH: David Freese
C: Austin Barnes
RF: Ezequiel Carrera
2B: Jake Peter
LF: Kyle Garlick
3B: Cody Asche
SS: Errol Robinson

Padres lineup:

CF: Travis Jankowski
DH: Manuel Margot
SS: Luis Urias
RF: Franmil Reyes
LF: Franchy Cordero
C: Austin Hedges
1B: Jose Pirela
2B: Greg Garcia
3B: Ty France