Preview: Carlos Frias Makes First Start Since June In Place Of Zack Greinke
The Los Angeles Dodgers magic number to clinch the National League West has sat at seven for a few days now, as the Dodgers have lost four consecutive games, with last two at the ands of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dodgers ace and Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke was scheduled to start Wednesday night, but he was scratched in the early afternoon due to tightness in his right calf. The Dodgers instead send Carlos Frias to the mound for his first Major-League start since June 30.
Overall on the season Frias is 5-5 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 15 games (12 starts). The 25 year old has made three starts against the Diamondbacks this season, going 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA.
Frias is opposed by fellow right-hander Chase Anderson. Earlier in the month Anderson was removed from the Diamondbacks rotation after a string of bad starts, but after impressing the coaching staff in a simulated game last Friday he is getting another chance.
On the year Anderson is 6-6 with a 4.52 ERA. In five career starts against the Dodgers he is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA. Two Dodgers who have hit him particularly well are Adrian Gonzalez, who is 4-for-9 with a home run, and Yasmani Grandal, who has three homers in eight at-bats.
Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins returns to the lineup for the first time since Sept. 6 after being limited to a pinch-running role with a sprained right index finger; he bats eighth. With Rollins returning to shortstop, rookie Corey Seager slides over to third base.
The 21-year-old rookie is belooking to add to his Los Angeles franchise record of 17 straight starts where he has reached base to begin his career. Seager has gone 23-for-64 (.359) with a .468 on-base percentage, two home runs, eight doubles and 11 RBIs in 18 games (17 starts).
Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is 4-for-8 with a solo home run in each game of the series thus far, putting him at 102 RBIs on the season. He is just the second player in Diamondbacks history to drive in 100 runs and walk 100 times in a season.
Dodgers Lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Corey Seager
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Andre Ethier
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Scott Van Slyke
CF: Joc Pederson
SS: Jimmy Rollins
P: Carlos Frias
Diamondbacks Lineup:
RF: Ender Inciarte
SS: Chris Owings
CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
LF: David Peralta
C: Jarrod Saltalamacchia
3B: Jake Lamb
2B: Brandon Drury
P: Chase Anderson
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