The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a hot start this spring, particularly with the bats as they are averaging 6.5 runs per game through their first 12 Cactus League games, en route to posting an 8-2-2 record.
Monday afternoon they are back at Camelback Ranch as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the first of two meetings this spring. Coming off a win against the Colrado Rockies where ace Clayton Kershaw threw five shutout innings, the Dodgers send Mike Bolsinger to the mound.
Scott Kazmir was originally scheduled to start, but he instead threw in a B game on a back field at Camelback Ranch on Monday morning.
In two Spring Training relief appearances, Bolsinger has thrown a combined five innings and given up three hits and two runs while striking out four and walking two.
He went 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 21 starts for the Dodgers last season. His best month of the season was May, when he went 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA in four starts (25.2 innings pitched). In three career starts against the Brewers the 28-year-old is 0-1 with a 4.67 ERA.
This is a big start for the right-hander, as he finds himself battling with Brandon Beachy, Carlos Frias and Zach Lee, among others, for a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation after left-hander Brett Anderson required arthroscopic back surgery for a bulging disk.
The Brewers counter with a right-hander of their own in Wily Peralta. In two spring starts (3.2 innings pitched), the 26 year old has given up seven hits and three runs while striking out one and walking one. In 20 starts last season, Peralta was 5-10 with a 4.72 ERA, 4.82 FIP and 1.54 WHIP.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has elected to go back to using the designated hitter Monday, after letting Kershaw bat for himself on Sunday. Alex Guerrero, who has been saddled with left knees soreness, gets the start at DH. He knocked a base hit as a pinch-hitter in Sunday’s game.
Guerrero started at third base in the Dodgers’ 2016 Cactus League opener and went 2-for-3, including hitting the club’s first home run of the spring.
Monday also marks the return of third baseman Justin Turner. He is making his first Spring Training start after undergoing offseason surgery on his left knee. Turner remains on track to be ready by Opening Day despite missing the first two weeks of Cactus League play.
Lastly, Adrian Gonzalez, who is batting fourth for the Dodgers, is playing in his last game before leaving the team for a week to play for Team Mexico in their World Baseball Classic qualifying games. Gonzalez will leaves the team Tuesday and return Sunday.
Dodgers Lineup:
2B: Micah Johnson
RF: Yasiel Puig
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Austin Barnes
DH: Alex Guerrero
CF: Trayce Thompson
SS: Charlie Culberson
LF: Rico Noel
Brewers Lineup:
RF: Domingo Santana
SS: Jonathan Villar
DH: Jonathan Lucroy
3B: Aaron Hill
1B: Chris Carter
2B: Colin Walsh
LF: Rymer Liriano
CF: Ramon Flores
C: Manny Pina
