Another day, another Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher makes his 2017 Cactus League debut, as Kenta Maeda takes the mound at Camelback Ranch against the Colorado Rockies. Monday’s contest is the first of two straight against the Rockies.
Maeda is coming off a successful first year with the Dodgers in which he finished third in voting for 2016 National League Rookie of the Year. While Maeda went 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA, 3.58 FIP and 1.14 WHIP, and led the Dodgers in starts (32) and innings pitched (175.2), he wore down late.
That was a focal point for the 27-year-old during the offseason as he worked to put on weight as a means of improving endurance. Maeda set a goal of throwing 200 innings this season, which is a benchmark he surpassed in four of eight seasons pitching in Japan.
Maeda is scheduled to throw two innings on Monday, and be followed by a Luis Avilan, Chase De Jong, Josh Fields, Steve Geltz and Brock Stewart, though not necessarily in that order.
Logan Forsythe is back at second base and hitting leadoff after sitting out the previous game. Corey Seager, Yasmani Grandal, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig and Andrew Toles are also among those who return to game action.
Cody Bellinger becomes the third different player in as many games to start for the Dodgers at first base. Bellinger had an impressive display of power in Sunday’s win over the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting a home run out of the stadium.
Like Maeda, Jon Gray takes the hill for the first time this spring. He went 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers last season.
The Rockies, who enter 2-1, have been led by Nolan Arenado who is tied for the team lead with one home run and two RBI. However, the All-Star third baseman in not in the lineup. Alexi Amarista, who signed with the Rockies during the winter, went 0-for-2 in his debut with the team on Sunday.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Corey Seager
C: Yasmani Grandal
DH: Franklin Gutierrez
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
LF: Andrew Toles
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Charlie Culberson
Rockies lineup:
2B: Alexi Amarista
RF: Chris Denorfia
1B: Jordan Patterson
LF: Michael Tauchman
DH: Tom Murphy
3B: Pat Valaika
SS: Cristhian Adames
CF: Noel Cuevas
C: Tony Wolters
