Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Rookie sensation Cody Bellinger is expected to come off the disabled list Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their three-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks, who are riding a five-game winning streak. Bellinger missed the past 10 days with a right ankle sprain but is expected to start Wednesday at first base ahead of veteran Adrian Gonzalez.
The Dodgers fell 7-6 in Tuesday’s series opener and have lost three in a row for the first time since June 4-6, but Bellinger’s return should reignite an offense that has muddled through in his absence. Los Angeles is 13-16 this season without Bellinger, who holds a commanding lead in the National League Rookie of the Year race while hitting .274 with 34 homers and 79 RBIs. The Diamondbacks trail first-place Los Angeles by 18 games in the NL West but have a two-game lead over Colorado for the top wild-card spot. A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt each homered in Tuesday’s win, but shortstop Ketel Marte (left hamstring) was a late scratch and remains listed as day-to-day.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FSN Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-6, 3.34 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (10-5, 3.06)
Ryu improved to 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA since June 17 after tossing six innings of one-run ball against Pittsburgh last Thursday. “This guy is a competitor,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “He’s a big game pitcher. He’s trying to earn continued opportunities. You respect that.” The 30-year-old South Korean last faced Arizona on Sept. 6, 2014 and has gone 3-2 with a 3.26 ERA in eight career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Ray pitched well in his first game back from the concussion list last Thursday, allowing one run with nine strikeouts over five innings in a 3-2 win over the New York Mets. “It’s good to have Robbie back. There's that old familiar feeling that he was giving every one of us, just pounding the zone,” manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. “We really loved everything that he did.” Corey Seager is 3-for-21 with 11 strikeouts against Ray, who is 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seager was held out of the starting lineup on Tuesday because of a sore right elbow but appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.
2. Arizona LF David Peralta is 18-for-48 with five doubles and two triples in his last 12 games against the Dodgers.
3. Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw (back) will make his first start since July 23 on Friday in San Diego.