The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants for the first time this season and as they now look to avoid consecutive defeats, welcome back Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry to the lineup.
He was activated Saturday — along with McKinstry — and Sheldon Neuse and DJ Peters were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Bellinger last played for the Dodgers on April 5, when he was spiked in left calf while racing to first base for an infield single.
Bellinger was initially diagnosed with a calf contusion but that was later discovered to be a hairline fracture in his left fibula. The recovery process was steady but hinged on the bone fully healing before Bellinger could increase his level of running.
He appeared in five games on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 4-for-20 with two home runs, three RBI and four strikeouts.
Bellinger and the Dodgers will look to provide run support for Julio Urias in a second consecutive start against the Giants. Urias took a perfect game into the sixth inning that was lost after an incorrect check swing call led to a Mike Tauchman infield single.
“A part of my frustration was I thought he swung at that pitch,” Urias said after the game. “I felt like his bat crossed that side of the plate and I got him to strike out. It just didn’t work out.”
Urias nevertheless improved to 7-1 behind another stellar start, giving up just two runs on three hits and striking out 10 batters in six innings. He also went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, becoming the first Dodgers pitcher to drive in that many runs in a single game since Dan Haren in 2014. Urias has at least one hit in each of his past two outings.
Logan Webb starts for the Giants but unlike Urias, did not pitch in last weekend’s series at Oracle Park. The right-hander is returning from the IL after missing one start due to a shoulder strain.
Webb last pitched on May 17 and went six shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He enters 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA.
Although the Dodgers have Bellinger back in the lineup, it doesn’t include Mookie Betts. “He’s working tirelessly to kind of figure things out,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’ll give him a day to kind of recalibrate to get ready for that day game.”
Dodgers lineup
SS: Gavin Lux
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
1B: Albert Pujols
LF: Matt Beaty
RF: Zach McKinstry
P: Julio Urias
Giants lineup
LF: Austin Slater
C: Buster Posey
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
3B: Evan Longoria
1B: Wilmer Flores
2B: Donovan Solano
SS: Brandon Crawford
CF: Mauricio Dubón
P: Logan Webb
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