Diamondbacks at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are limping home following a three-city, two-country trip that saw them put four key players on the disabled list, including ace Clayton Kershaw. Shortstop Corey Seager, outfielder Yasiel Puig and starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu were also sidelined for the Dodgers, who begin a brief two-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
The Dodgers closed their 4-7 road trip with back-to-back losses to San Diego in Mexico and find themselves eight games back of National League West-leading Arizona, which took two of three from Houston over the weekend and boasts the best record in the NL at 23-11. Kershaw was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis on Sunday and has already begun his rehab, but there’s no timetable for his return to a Dodgers team that has lost seven of its first 10 games against the Diamondbacks this season. Arizona has been led by center fielder A.J. Pollock, who was named NL player of the week after hitting .423 with four homers in seven games. The team’s cleanup hitter leads the NL in slugging percentage (.669) and OPS (1.032) and boasts 29 RBIs to go along with a .306 batting average.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (4-2, 3.41 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (1-1, 6.00)
Godley faced the Dodgers for the third time this season last Wednesday and took the loss despite allowing one run over six innings. The 28-year-old has tossed at least five innings in five of his first six starts but has a 1.96 ERA at Chase Field compared to a 5.06 ERA on the road. Godley is 2-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 11 career games (seven starts) against the Dodgers, but has struggled to contain Chris Taylor (5-for-14, two home runs).
Hill has been out for the last three weeks with finger issues but will be activated from the disabled list prior to Tuesday’s game. The 38-year-old tossed six scoreless innings against San Francisco in his season debut on April 1 before faltering in his next two outings, including a loss to Arizona on April 14. Paul Goldschmidt is 6-for-13 with a home run against Hill, who is 1-6 with a 5.50 ERA in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Puig (hip, foot) will play a rehab game with High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday.
2. The Diamondbacks are 17-1 when scoring four or more runs.
3. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said LHP Alex Wood (hamstring) will start Wednesday.