Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s injury has created an opportunity for top prospect Alex Verdugo, who figures to be in the starting lineup for most of the team's games over the next 10 days. Verdugo is hoping to provide a spark for the sluggish Dodgers, who are three games under .500 as they begin a four-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.
Puig landed on the 10-day disabled list before Sunday’s 4-2 loss to San Francisco due to a left hip pointer and bruised left foot, but Matt Kemp (left quadriceps) and Enrique Hernandez (flu symptoms) returned to the starting lineup. Leadoff hitter Chris Taylor is batting .233 for the Dodgers, who dropped three of four against the Giants as they recorded three runs and 10 hits over the final 17 innings of the series. Arizona had its three-game winning streak snapped with Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Washington and could be without Robbie Ray for an extended period after he exited in the second inning with a strained oblique muscle. The Diamondbacks own the National League’s best record at 19-8 but already had concerns about the rotation after Taijuan Walker underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery last week.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (0-0, 0.63 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (2-2, 4.80)
Stripling is making a spot start in place of Rich Hill, whose expected return from the disabled list has been delayed due to an infection in his left middle finger. The 28-year-old Stripling has pitched exclusively in relief this season, registering 16 strikeouts without serving up a home runs over 14 1/3 innings in 10 appearances. David Peralta is 5-for-12 with four doubles against Stripling, who is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 career games (two starts) against Arizona
Greinke is looking to bounce back from a rough outing against Philadelphia on Wednesday, when he allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings. The four-time All-Star owns a 32-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio but has yielded a home run in each of his five starts. Cody Bellinger is 5-for-12 with two blasts against Greinke, who is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Dodgers - including a 1-2 record and 3.65 ERA in four turns last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona is 11-1 in its last 12 meetings with the Dodgers, winning five of six already this season.
2. Bellinger was benched for a lack of hustle in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game but is expected to be in the lineup Monday.
3. Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt has reached base safely in 12 of his 27 plate appearances against the Dodgers this season.