Editorials

Preview: Alex Wood Makes First Start At Dodger Stadium Since Trade

Vincent Samperio-Dodgers Nation
Vincent Samperio-Dodgers Nation

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost the opener of a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. After Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw pitched earlier in the week, the remainder of the rotation is in position to impress the fan base at home.

Alex Wood takes the mound for the third time since being traded to the Dodgers, but Friday’s outing is his first at Dodger Stadium following the trade. On the season the southpaw is 7-7 with a 3.72 ERA, 3.55 FIP and 1.42 WHIP.

Wood hasn’t been spectacular in his first two starts and is coming off an outing in which he only managed to throw five innings. The 24 year old only has one relief appearance in his career against the Reds — coming in 2013. He threw 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out three and walking one.

Wood has four appearances at Dodger Stadium, with two of them being starts. In those games, he is 1-0, with a 1.08 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. In 16.2 innings pitched, the left-hander has allowed only two earned runs and struck out 17.

Opposing Wood on the mound and making his Major League debut is John Lamb. The 25 year old spent six years in the Minors with the Kansas City Royals before being dealt to the Reds this season. During that time, Lamb compiled a 39-39 record with a 3.67 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.

With a lefty on the mound, Scott Van Slyke gets the start in left field. Yasiel Puig is in right and Joc Pederson in center. Justin Turner makes his first start after appearing off the bench Thursday night, the first game in which he was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list.

Additionally, Yasmani Grandal returns to the lineup after sitting out Thursday’s game with a sore left shoulder. The Reds are again batting their pitcher eighth, which puts Billy Hamilton in the nine spot. Hamilton set a career high with four hits Thursday.

The Dodgers reinstated Chris Hatcher from the 60-day DL ahead of Friday’s game, transferred Carlos Frias to the 60-day DL and placed Juan Nicasio on the 15-day DL.

Dodgers Lineup:

SS: Jimmy Rollins

2B: Kiké Hernandez

3B: Justin Turner

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

LF: Scott Van Slyke

RF: Yasiel Puig

C: Yasmani Grandal

CF: Joc Pederson

P: Alex Wood

Reds Lineup:

2B: Brandon Phillips

SS: Eugenio Perez

1B: Joey Votto

3B: Todd Frazier

RF: Jay Bruce

LF: Marlon Byrd

C: Brayan Pena

P: John Lamb

CF: Billy Hamilton

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Kiké Hernandez Adjusting To Role With Dodgers

Staff Writer

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