Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Hyun-Jin Ryu has mesmerized Arizona hitters this season and looks to produce another stellar effort when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Diamondbacks on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. Ryu is 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA in three outings against Arizona, allowing just one run and 12 hits over 20 innings.
Los Angeles squandered a ninth-inning lead before scoring twice in the 10th for a 6-4 victory in San Diego on Wednesday to remain tied with the New York Yankees for the best record (88-47) in the majors, with Houston sitting just one-half game behind them. Cody Bellinger went just 1-for-9 in the series against San Diego and is 3-for-27 without a homer or an RBI in his last eight contests. The Diamondbacks have won three straight and six of nine as they sit 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the National League's second wild-card spot. Ketel Marte (hamstring) is expected to be in the lineup to continue a strong season in which he is compiling career bests of .323 average, 28 homers and 77 RBIs.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-4, 2.00 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (9-13, 4.86)
Ryu has served up five homers among 15 hits in his last two starts - both losses - while giving up 11 runs over 10 innings. The 32-year-old South Korean owned a 1.45 ERA before the two poor outings and hadn't allowed a homer in his previous six turns. Ryu defeated the Diamondbacks on Aug. 11, when he scattered five hits over seven scoreless frames to improve to 6-3 with a 3.04 ERA in 16 career starts against Arizona.
Kelly gave up six runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings while losing to Milwaukee in his last turn. The 30-year-old has surrendered six or more earned runs in four of his last six turns and five times overall this season. Kelly came away with a no-decision against Los Angeles on July 3 after permitting three runs and six hits over six frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers INF Max Muncy (wrist) departed after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday and is day-to-day.
2. Arizona INF Eduardo Escobar has gone just 5-for-33 over his last eight games.
3. Los Angeles MGR Dave Roberts said INF David Freese (hamstring) and RHP Ross Stripling (biceps) will be activated from the 10-day injured list when rosters expand on Sunday.