The Los Angeles Dodgers added to their home run total this season but two solo shots were not enough against the San Francisco Giants, and they now need a win Tuesday night to avoid losing the series at Dodger Stadium.
Doing so will have to come against Madison Bumgarner, who is on the mound for his second start of 2019. The longtime Giants ace was tabbed with a tough-luck loss his last time out, allowing just two runs over seven innings.
Bumgarner is a lifetime 9-7 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 20 games (19 starts) at Dodger Stadium. Of the players in the Dodgers lineup, none has had more success off Bumgarner than Kiké Hernandez.
In 39 career at-bats, Hernandez is a lifetime .487/.500/.923, with five doubles, four home runs and eight RBI. David Freese has fared similarly well against Bumgarner, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts felt it necessary to give Max Muncy an opportunity against a southpaw.
“To win today’s game, I think it’s important for Max to play and not take three days off and then the off day,” Roberts said. “Obviously, there’s success with David and Bumgarner, but past numbers aren’t always predictive.”
On the pitching side, the Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu to hill for what is also his second start of the season. Ryu filled in admirably for Clayton Kershaw on Opening Day, striking out eight over six innings of one-run ball.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
CF: A.J. Pollock
RF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
1B: Max Muncy
C: Russell Martin
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Giants lineup:
CF: Steven Duggar
1B: Brandon Belt
3B: Evan Longoria
C: Buster Posey
SS: Brandon Crawford
2B: Yangervis Solarte
LF: Connor Joe
RF: Gerardo Parra
P: Madison Bumgarner
