Dodgers at Giants
Rookie outfielder Alex Verdugo could find himself in the starting lineup Wednesday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the San Francisco Giants for the rubber match of their three-game series. Verdugo figures to receive regular playing time for Los Angeles in place of A.J. Pollock, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow infection.
David Freese, Justin Turner and Enrique Hernandez each homered in Tuesday’s 10-3 victory as the Dodgers finished the month of April with a 20-12 record. Los Angeles scored a National League-high 174 runs in April, with Cody Bellinger leading the way as he closed his record-setting month with a .431 batting average, 14 homers and 37 RBIs. While the Dodgers hold a small lead in the NL West, the Giants have the second-worst record in the league at 12-18. One bright spot has been the play of Buster Posey, who has recovered from a lengthy slump by going 10-for-28 with a home run and eight RBIs over his last eight games.
TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1, 2.96 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 4.30)
Ryu looked sharp last Friday in his second start since returning from a strained left groin, giving up two runs while registering 10 strikeouts over seven innings in a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old South Korean has posted an impressive 33-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first five games. Posey is 11-for-36 with a home run against Ryu, who is 6-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 16 career outings versus San Francisco.
Bumgarner lost his second straight start after allowing five runs and 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings against the New York Yankees on Friday. “I threw a lot of strikes but not a whole lot of quality strikes,” Bumgarner told reporters. “The mechanics are the same, it’s just the feel. I’m not putting the ball where it’s supposed to go.” The four-time All-Star owns a 15-12 record and 2.59 ERA in 33 career games (32 starts) against the Dodgers but has struggled to contain Hernandez (21-for-42, four home runs).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers have won seven of their last nine meetings with the Giants.
2. San Francisco has allowed 36 runs over its last five games.
3. Los Angeles recalled INF-OF Matthew Beaty from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Pollock on the roster.