Alex Guerrero Makes First Start As Dodgers Look To Avoid Being Swept

Following Saturday’s disappointing loss to top prospect Archie Bradley, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to avoid being swept for the first time since an August 15-17 series last season against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Dodgers enter Sunday’s game with a 2-3 record, while the Arizona Diamondbacks are a modest 3-2. The Diamondbacks last swept the Dodgers May 2013, and at Chase Field in September 2012 (two-game series) and in April 2008.

Zack Greinke makes his second start of the season and he looks to build on allowing just two hits and one earned run in six innings against the San Diego Padres in his previous outing.

Over the duration of his career, Greinke owns a 3.96 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 72.2 innings against the Diamondbacks. Since joining the Dodgers, Greinke has gone 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven starts against the Diamondbacks; he’s won all four starts at Chase Field and has a 1.03 ERA during that time.

Additionally, Greinke is 12-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last 15 starts against National League West opponents dating back to the start of the 2014 season. Starting opposite Greinke is Josh Collmenter, who was roughed up against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day.

In the start, the right-hander allowed four earned runs and eleven total baserunners in just 4.2 innings. In his career against the Dodgers, Collmenter is 4-7 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 49.1 innings pitched.

Yasmani Grandal and right fielder Yasiel Puig both return to the lineup Sunday. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he sat Puig on Saturday because he sensed the young superstar was growing increasingly frustrated by his slow start to the season.

One day after making his first start of the season, Andre Ethier slides over to left field, to give Carl Crawford a day off. With Justin Turner and Juan Uribe being removed from Saturday’s game due to injury, Alex Guerrero’s first career start in the Majors comes at third base.

Uribe tested his hamstring prior to Sunday’s and may be available, but Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times reports Mattingly would prefer not to use him.

Dodgers Lineup:

SS: Jimmy Rollins

RF: Yasiel Puig

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

2B: Howie Kendrick

C: Yasmani Grandal

LF: Andre Ethier

3B: Alex Guerrero

CF: Joc Pederson

P: Zack Greinke

Diamondbacks Lineup:

CF: A.J. Pollock

RF: Ender Inciarte

1B: Paul Goldschmidt

LF: David Peralta

3B: Jake Lamb

C: Tuffy Gosewisch

2B: Cliff Pennington

SS: Nick Ahmed

P: Josh Collmenter

Dodgers Utility Man Justin Turner