Preview: Brett Anderson, Offense Look To Get Back On Track
The Los Angeles Dodgers bats were not able to get going in their first road interleague game of the year on Monday, even with the benefit of the designated hitter playing in Texas against the Rangers. The two teams are playing a four-game, home-and-home series, with the finale in Texas taking place Tuesday evening.
Brett Anderson will make his 13th start of the season, as the lefty has not missed his turn in the rotation once this year. Anderson, who is coming off one of his worst starts of the season, is 2-4 with a 3.57 ERA on the year. He gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings in his last start, although the Dodgers were able to come back and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-6. Anderson has not been very successful in interleague play in his career. He is 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in five career interleague starts. He also has not fared very well against the Rangers in his career, yielding a 6.81 ERA in 10 career games (seven starts) against Texas.
Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was one of the Rangers top prospects, will be on the mound Tuesday for Texas. The right-hander was drafted by the Rangers in the first round of the 2013 draft, and made his Major League debut on May 30th of this year. He has since been outstanding, as he is 2-1 with a 0.42 ERA in three starts. The one flaw with Gonzalez perhaps has been his control. In 21.2 big league innings, the 23-year-old has walked 10 batters, while striking out only eight.
The Dodgers will feature perhaps their best lineup of the year, as manager Don Mattingly has chosen to start Alex Guerrero as his DH, a spot that fits Guerrero well as he has been much better with his bat than with his glove this season.
Yasiel Puig has been swinging a hot bat for the Dodgers since his return from his hamstring injury. He is batting .419 in eight games, despite going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Monday’s game against the Rangers.
Another top prospect for the Rangers, Joey Gallo, will move back to third base after getting his first career start in left field on Monday. Gallo is batting .279 with four homers and seven RBIs through his first 50 career plate appearances.
Dodgers Lineup:
CF Joc Pederson
RF Yasiel Puig
1B Adrian Gonzalez
2B Howie Kendrick
3B Justin Turner
LF Andre Ethier
C Yasmani Grandal
DH Alex Guerrero
SS Jimmy Rollins
P Brett Anderson
Rangers Lineup:
RF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Elvis Andrus
DH Prince Fielder
LF Kyle Blanks
1B Mitch Moreland
3B Joey Gallo
C Robinson Chirinos
CF Leonys Martin
2B Hanser Alberto
P Chi Chi Gonzalez
Yasiel Puig Talks Near Cycle, Return From DL