Dodgers at Giants
This weekend’s series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and host San Francisco Giants might be just as newsworthy for its injury list as it is for the actual results. Giants second baseman Joe Panik landed on the disabled list Saturday with an injured left thumb that could require surgery, and both teams could be without several starters Sunday, when the Dodgers look to salvage a split of the four-game set.
Playing without Panik and left fielder Mac Williamson (concussion), the Giants opened Saturday’s doubleheader with a 15-6 loss before bouncing back with an 8-3 victory in the nightcap. San Francisco's Austin Jackson has struggled since joining his new team but provided a spark in the second game by going 2-for-4 with a three-run double. Los Angeles outfielder Yasiel Puig left the opener with a sore left foot after crashing into a wall and sat out the nightcap, but X-rays were negative and he could return Sunday. Outfielder Matt Kemp left Friday’s game with a tight left quadriceps but appeared as a pinch-hitter in Saturday's nightcap, as Alex Verdugo started in his place and went 2-for-3 in his major-league debut.
TV: 5:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (2-1, 3.10 ERA) vs. Giants LH Ty Blach (1-3, 4.31)
Maeda settled for a no-decision against Miami on Tuesday despite allowing one run and four hits with seven strikeouts over six innings. The 30-year-old made his season debut against the Giants on March 31 and earned the victory after registering 10 strikeouts over five scoreless frames. Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-11 with two home runs against Maeda, who is 4-1 with a 4.40 ERA in seven career games (six starts) versus San Francisco.
Blach recovered from a case of food poisoning in time to face Washington on Tuesday and gave up three runs in four innings. The 27-year-old native of Colorado is seeking his first victory since Opening Day, when he worked five scoreless frames in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers. Puig is 4-for-18 with no extra-base hits versus Blach, who owns a 3-2 record and 1.90 ERA in nine career games (six starts) against Los Angeles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers INF-OF Enrique Hernandez missed Saturday’s games with flu-like symptoms and is listed as day-to-day.
2. San Francisco purchased the contract of INF Alen Hanson from Triple-A Sacramento.
3. Los Angeles optioned LHP Scott Alexander to Triple-A Oklahoma City and RHP Walker Buehler to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.