Preview: Joe Wieland Makes Dodgers Debut In Milwaukee

The Los Angeles Dodgers bats came alive Tuesday evening against the Milwaukee Brewers to help Zack Greinke improve to 5-0 on the season. The two teams are back at it again Wednesday after splitting the first two of their four-game series at Miller Park.

Dodgers reliever Daniel Coulombe was optioned back down to Triple-A, making room on the roster for Joe Wieland, who gets the start Wednesday and makes his Dodgers debut. Wieland was acquired in the offseason from the San Diego Padres in the trade that sent Tim Federowicz and Matt Kemp to the division rival.

Wieland becomes the ninth different pitcher to make a start for the Dodgers this season. The right-hander has thrown 39 innings in his big league career, yielding a 5.31. ERA. This season he is 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA while striking out 22 compared to two walks in 20 innings pitched in four starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

In Wieland’s only appearance against Milwaukee in April 2012, he allowed five runs and two homers to Ryan Braun over five innings while striking out eight. He’ll be opposed by fellow right-hander Wily Peralta.

The 25 year old is 0-4 with a 4.35 ERA in five starts so far this season for the Brewers, whose 8-19 record is the worst in the MLB. Peralta has been a bit of a tough-luck pitcher this year, as he has only received one run of support over 19 innings in his last three starts. Peralta’s 0.87 run-support average is the lowest among all qualifying starters.

Runs scored has been a key to the Dodgers success this season, as the team is 15-0 when scoring four or more runs. With three home runs hit in Tuesday’s game, the Dodgers took over the Major-League lead with 42 home runs, the the most by the team through the first 26 games of a season in franchise history.

Justin Turner remains in the Dodgers lineup, getting the nod at third base for a second straight game. Turner has swung a hot bat, as he’s homered in each of the last three games he’s started.

Adrian Gonzalez, who also homered Tuesday bats from what’s now become custom, the clean-up spot. Gonzalez has the highest batting average (.404) and on-base percentage (.496) in Miller Park’s history (min. 75 at-bats), with the second-best all-time slugging percentage (.808).

Dodgers Lineup:

CF: Joc Pederson

SS: Jimmy Rollins

2B: Howie Kendrick

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

3B: Justin Turner

RF: Andre Ethier

LF: Scott Van Slyke

C: A.J. Ellis

P: Joe Wieland

Brewers Lineup:

CF: Carlos Gomez

2B: Scooter Gennett

RF: Ryan Braun

1B: Adam Lind

3B: Aramis Ramirez

LF: Khris Davis

SS: Jean Segura

C: Martin Maldonado

P: Wily Peralta

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