Still in their first week of Cactus League play, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going through the process of pitchers making their respective Spring Training debuts, and on Wednesday that honor was expected to fall to Hyun-Jin Ryu.
But he was scratched from a scheduled start against the San Diego Padres due to an outbreak that’s swept through the clubhouse. Along with Ryu, the likes of Cody Bellinger, Kiké Hernandez and Yasiel Puig are also not traveling or playing because of falling ill.
Font struck out two over two perfect innings in the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener against the Chicago White Sox. Though he’s receiving another start, Font may be a candidate for the team’s bullpen come Opening Day.
Font is out of Minor League options and believes his versatility will be a factor in potentially making the 25-man active roster come the regular season.
J.T. Chargois, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, is expected to make his Dodgers debut.
The Padres counter with Dinelson Lamet, a 25-year-old who made his MLB debut with the Padres last season. Lamet went 7-8 with a 4.57 ERA in 21 starts, which included an 0-2 mark and 4.09 ERA in two outings against the Dodgers.
Although Lamet was tabbed with the losses in those games, he had a combined 17 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched. He faces a lineup on Wednesday that lacks many of the regulars one would expect to see in the regular season.
It’s essentially limited to Yasmani Grandal, Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor and Andrew Toles. For Toles, the game is his fourth since suffering an ACL injury last season. He’s 0-for-7 with four strikeouts but has one RBI via a sacrifice fly.
The Padres have won back-to-back games after opening the spring with three consecutive losses, while the Dodgers are coming off a tie.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Andrew Toles
DH: Yasmani Grandal
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Tim Locastro
RF: Henry Ramos
C: Will Smith
1B: Edwin Rios
Padres lineup:
LF: Jose Pirela
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
1B: Eric Hosmer
RF: Hunter Renfroe
C: Austin Hedges
3B: Christian Villanueva
DH: Allen Craig
2B: Carlos Asuaje
CF: Travis Jankowski
