Less than 24 hours removed from suffering a 6-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Camelback Ranch, the Los Angeles Dodgers hit the road for a matchup with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The two teams last faced off on Feb. 24, with the Dodgers defeating their crosstown rival by a final score of 13-9. Ross Stripling makes his second outing of the spring and looks to build off an excellent debut.
In two shutout innings against the Indians, the 29-year-old allowed just two hits while picking up three strikeouts. He did not issue any walks or home runs during the start.
Stripling enters the 2019 season looking to replicate results from a breakout 2018 season in which he was selected to his first career All-Star Game. In 33 games (21 starts), he posted a 3.02 ERA, 3.42 FIP and 1.19 WHIP with 136 strikeouts over 122 innings pitched. If Clayton Kershaw is forced to begin the season on the disabled list, then Stripling could have a spot in the rotation as a replacement.
The Angels counter with fellow right-hander Felix Peña, who is coming off an efficient start against the Cincinnati Reds. In 2.2 innings of scoreless work, he yielded just one hit while recording four strikeouts.
For the spring, Peńa has yet to allow a run in 5.2 innings pitched. In two appearances, he is 2-0 with a 0.88 WHIP and seven strikeouts.
This is the Dodgers’ first look at both Mike Trout and Albert Pujols this spring. Both players have gotten off to hot starts as Trout is hitting .357/.471/.857 with two home runs in six games and Pujols is slashing .583/.643/.917 with a home run in five games.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: A.J. Pollock
RF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
SS: Daniel Castro
LF: Ezequiel Carrera
DH: Paulo Orlando
1B: Edwin Rios
Angels lineup:
1B: Albert Pujols
DH: Kole Calhoun
CF: Mike Trout
SS: Andrelton Simmons
LF: Jarrett Parker
C: Kevan Smith
RF: Peter Bourjos
3B: Kaleb Cowart
2B: Luis Rengifo
