Despite Kenley Jansen blowing a save, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was pleased with his team’s effort and play in a loss to the Houston Astros.
“It was a well-played baseball game and we just didn’t finish it out. I thought we played a good baseball game overall,” he said.
The Dodgers and Astros are again playing in front of a national audience on Sunday night, with L.A. needing a win to avoid losing their second series of the season. L.A. additionally can finish 3-1 against Houston this year with a victory.
They look to add to Zack Greinke’s recent struggles as he’s 2-1 with a 5.09 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in his past four starts. Greinke was 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in his first five outings this season.
The 36-year-old is a lifetime 7-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 17 starts against his former team. Greinke has particularly struggled since leaving the Dodgers in free agency after the 2015 season. The right-hander went 0-1 with a 10.24 ERA in two starts against L.A. last year.
The Dodgers counter with a bullpen game due to Walker Buehler landing on the 10-day injured list for a second time. Buehler made two starts upon returning from a blister on his right index finger, but it appeared to flare up a bit in his outing at Chase Field.
Roberts and Buehler have both downplayed any longterm concern, and the right-hander conceivably could be activated once eligible.
Brusdar Graterol is starting the bullpen game, which isn’t much of a surprise. Roberts had indicated it would be a relief pitcher already on the active roster and not Mitch White or another candidate from their alternate training site at USC.
Caleb Ferguson filled the role when the Dodgers used a bullpen game to complete a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants. Roberts surmised he would call on upwards of four or five pitchers against the Astros.
Graterol has exclusively pitched as a reliever during his time in the Majors with the Minnesota Twins and Dodgers. His longest outing this season 1.2 innings, and the most pitches he’s thrown is 22.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
LF: AJ Pollock
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chris Taylor
DH: Joc Pederson
CF: Kiké Hernandez
Astros lineup
RF: George Springer
3B: Alex Bregman
LF: Michael Brantley
SS: Carlos Correa
DH: Josh Reddick
C: Martin Maldonado
1B: Abraham Toro
CF: Myles Straw
2B: Jack Mayfield
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our shows, and more!
