Pirates at Dodgers
After a rough 3-7 stretch during the middle of last month, the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to play a lot more like the team that has won four straight National League West titles. The Dodgers attempt to secure their eighth victory in 10 contests Monday, when they open a three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Behind the red-hot bat of the 21-year-old Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles is averaging 6.2 runs during its recent surge and eight over its last four games. The rookie first baseman homered three times and drove in half of the Dodgers' 18 runs during their abbreviated two-game series in San Diego over the weekend as the team missed out on a chance to record its second three-game sweep in three sets due to Sunday's rainout. Pittsburgh is coming off a series win against Milwaukee, although it suffered a 6-2 defeat on Sunday to fall for the fifth time in eight games. With the exception of a 12-run outburst in Cincinnati on Tuesday, the Pirates have struggled to score over that stretch, averaging 2.6 runs over the other seven contests.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (1-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. TBA
Williams, who is filling in for the injured Jameson Taillon, will make his second career start and attempt to fare better than he has out of the bullpen in 2017. The 25-year-old has struggled with his control (seven walks in 11 2/3 innings) and been scored upon in four of his six relief appearances, including each of his last three. Williams is allowing right-handed hitters to bat .389 against him as he faces the Dodgers for the first time in his brief career.
Sunday's rainout has created a dilemma for Los Angeles, which is undecided on whether to send Brandon McCarthy or Alex Wood to the mound. McCarthy, who already was pushed back a day due to a shoulder issue, yielded four runs in five innings of a no-decision against Philadelphia in his last outing on April 29. Wood gave up five runs - four earned - and needed 94 pitches to get through five frames Tuesday versus San Francisco, although he still managed to cruise to a win thanks to a season-high eight strikeouts and 13 runs of support.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh is 15-5 against Los Angeles since the start of the 2014 season.
2. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has hit safely in 19 of his last 21 games and is batting .409 with runners in scoring position.
3. Pirates 1B/OF Jose Osuna, who hit a team-high five home runs during the spring, belted his first shot in 43 career at-bats Sunday.