White Sox at Dodgers
Yu Darvish makes his much-anticipated home debut Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago White Sox for the finale of their brief two-game interleague series. Darvish won his first two starts with the Dodgers, who moved 50 games over .500 after scoring five runs in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 6-1 victory.
The Dodgers are 49-9 since June 7 and turned in another stellar performance Tuesday as Alex Wood tossed seven strong innings and rookie star Cody Bellinger reached base three times. Bellinger has recorded eight hits and four walks in 17 plate appearances over his last four games for the Dodgers, who are 50-14 at home and lead the National League West by 18 1/2 games. The rebuilding White Sox have lost three in a row following a four-game winning streak and have a vacancy in the closer’s role, where manager Rick Renteria said several relievers will receive an opportunity over the next few weeks. Juan Minaya and Mike Pelfrey each could receive chances to close along with veteran Jake Petricka, who recorded 14 saves for the team in 2014.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (1-4, 4.24 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Yu Darvish (8-9, 3.81)
Rodon missed most of the first half of the season with left biceps bursitis but has returned to form over his last three starts, allowing a total of five runs over 22 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old yielded two runs and nine hits over a season-high eight frames Thursday against Houston. Rodon is making his second career start against the Dodgers after allowing five runs over 3 2/3 innings in a 9-1 loss at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 19.
Darvish has been impressive in his first two starts with the Dodgers, posting a 1.50 ERA along with 20 strikeouts against three walks over 12 innings. “I just have to take it day by day,” Darvish told reporters through his interpreter. “I don’t want to be that guy who’s bad in this really good rotation. I don’t want to be the bad pitcher.” The 30-year-old last pitched against the White Sox on August 24, 2013 while with Texas, scattering six hits across seven scoreless innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers traded RHP Chris Hatcher to Oakland and activated INF Rob Segedin from the 60-day disabled list.
2. The White Sox are 4-12 during interleague play this season, losing 11 of their last 13 games.
3. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez (back) continued his rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and is expected to rejoin the team in Detroit this weekend.