The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series Friday night at Chase Field in what’s the fourth meeting between the two teams in the past week. While records have changed, the National League West standings largely remain the same.
Arizona enters 10-7 and one-half game back of the Colorado Rockies for first place in the division. Los Angeles, at 8-8, is two games back of the Rockies. The Dodgers, who snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday, are 2-4 in road games this season.
With Rich Hill back on the 10-day disabled list because of a blister on his left middle finger, the Dodgers again turn to Alex Wood.
He went 3.2 innings, allowed two runs (one earned) and had five strikeouts on April 10 in a spot start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Overall this season, Wood has a 1.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and eight strikeouts in nine innings across three games.
He’s opposed by Taijuan Walker, who faced the Dodgers in his last outing. Walker matched his season high with seven strikeouts and allowed one run on four his in five innings.
Walker enters Friday’s start 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA, 3.04 FIP and 1.38 WHIP in his first season with the Diamondbacks.
Joc Pederson, celebrating his 25th birthday, starts in center field and bats lead off for the first time this season. When hitting atop the order in his career, Pederson is batting .222/.329/.447 with 17 home runs and 32 RBI.
Justin Turner returns to the lineup after two days off to rest a left hand that was hit by a pitch.
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: A.J. Pollock
SS: Chris Owings
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Jake Lamb
LF: Yasmany Tomas
2B: Brandon Drury
RF: David Peralta
C: Jeff Mathis
P: Taijuan Walker
Dodgers Lineup:
CF:Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Andrew Toles
2B: Chase Utley
P: Alex Wood
