Preview: Reds at Dodgers
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Even the National League’s cellar dwellars are having their way with the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers, who have lost five of their last six games and 12 of their last 17. The Dodgers look to get untracked Saturday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Yasiel Puig went 0-for-3 in Friday’s 6-2 loss and is batting .202 for the Dodgers, who are averaging 3.2 runs in their last 13 games. “We know we’re better than this,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “We’ve got to keep believing it. It hasn’t shown itself recently. But to just keep grinding, that’s all we can do.” The Reds are showing signs of life under interim manager Jim Riggleman and bring a season-high four-game winning streak into Saturday’s contest. New arrival Matt Harvey tossed four scoreless innings on Friday while second baseman Scooter Gennett homered for the fourth time in as many games and is 10-for-19 with three doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs over his last five games.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (0-5, 5.61 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (0-1, 1.93)
Bailey lost his second straight start last Monday, allowing six runs on eight hits in four innings versus the New York Mets. The Reds have lost all eight of his starts, and the 32-year-old has given up nine homers and 18 runs over 19 2/3 innings across his last four outings. Matt Kemp is 4-for-17 with a home run against Bailey, who is 4-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 10 career starts against Los Angeles, including 3-2 with a 3.69 ERA in five outings at Dodger Stadium.
Stripling pitched four scoreless innings in a start last Sunday against San Diego, allowing four hits with five strikeouts. The 28-year-old has worked primarily out of the bullpen this season but moved into the rotation following injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu. “He uses the whole mix -- fastball, curve, cutter, change,” Roberts told reporters. “He can throw a strike when he needs to. I trust him when he’s on the mound. He serves a lot of roles for us.”
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds are seeking their first series victory at Dodger Stadium since June 2011.
2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner (wrist) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment at High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday.
3. The Reds have recorded 16 stolen bases in 19 attempts, and their 84.2 success rate is the highest percentage in the NL.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Reds 4