With Opening Day of the 2018 season just two weeks away, the Los Angeles Dodgers at last are expected to get their first look at Kenley Jansen in a Cactus League game when they host the Kansas City Royals.
Jansen was scratched from a scheduled appearance last week because of hamstring tightness, but has since appeared in a ‘B’ game, where he felt fine afterward. Last season, Jansen tied for the National League lead in saves with 41, and accumulated a minuscule 1.32 ERA, 1.31 FIP and 0.75 WHIP over 68.1 innings with 109 strikeouts to seven walks.
Also scheduled to make his debut is fellow right-handed reliever Josh Fields. He and Jansen will pitch back of Rich Hill, who makes his third start of the spring. Hill has allowed a combined two runs (one earned) over seven innings pitched thus far.
He has eight strikeouts against zero walks, and is focused on sharpening his curveball and fastball, which both can be thrown at a variety of velocities and from various angles.
The Royals counter with Jason Hammel in what’s also his third Cactus League start this year. The right-hander earned a win in his debut but is coming off an outing in which he allowed three runs on four hits in two innings.
Hammel will look for better success against a Dodgers lineup that includes Andrew Toles, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and a red-hot Kiké Hernandez. Seager is serving as the designated hitter but is expected to play shortstop against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
Hernandez is coming off a night in which he hit a three-run home run and had five RBI in the Dodgers’ win over the Colorado Rockies. He’s moved around the field plenty this spring, and finds himself at first base on Thursday.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Andrew Toles
DH: Corey Seager
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Kiké Hernandez
2B: Chase Utley
RF: Trayce Thompson
3B: Jake Peter
SS: Donovan Solano
Royals lineup:
CF: Jon Jay
LF: Alex Gordon
RF: Jorge Soler
DH: Lucas Duda
3B: Cheslor Cuthbert
1B: Ryan O’Hearn
C: Cam Gallagher
SS: Ryan Goins
2B: Ramon Torres
