Coming off an extra-innings loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers now look notch a series win rather than settling for a split to begin their first homestand of the season.
Gavin Stone technically earned the fifth spot in the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation as the team awaits Walker Buehler’s return, but he is taking the ball in the fourth game.
Stone went 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in five Spring Training games (four starts). He also pitched 3.1 no-hit innings with eight strikeouts in an exhibition game against Team Korea.
“I put in a lot of work in the offseason, so for the results to show up is huge,” Stone recently said. “You’ve just got to continue to do that.”
The right-hander earned an opportunity to spend time up with the Dodgers last season but struggled to the tune of a 9.00 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in eight games (four starts).
Some of those struggles were attributed to Stone dealing with a toe issue that impacted his ability to push off the mound and resulted in compromised mechanics. He also was discovered to have tipped pitches, which in part has been addressed by Stone now using a bigger glove.
The Cardinals counter with Steven Matz, who is in his third season with the team. Matz went 4-7 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 games (17 starts) for the Cardinals last year, which included holding the Dodgers to just one unearned run over 4.2 innings of a tough-luck loss.
With a southpaw on the mound, the Dodgers lineup features platoons that entail Mookie Betts starting at second base. Kiké Hernández is starting at third base and Miguel Rojas is playing shortstop.
However, James Outman is getting an opportunity to face a lefty. Outman hit .254/.357/.308 with four doubles, one home run and 11 RBI in 154 plate appearances against same-side pitching last year.
Prior to the game the Dodgers selected the contract of Nabil Crismatt and optioned Kyle Hurt. Emmet Sheehan was transferred to the 60-day injured list in order to make room for Crismatt on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
RF: Teoscar Hernández
LF: Chris Taylor
3B: Kiké Hernández
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
C: Austin Barnes
Cardinals lineup
LF: Brendan Donovan
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Nolan Gorman
3B: Nolan Arenado
C: Willson Contreras
DH: Alec Burleson
RF: Jordan Walker
CF: Victor Scott II
SS: Masyn Winn
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