Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated on Tuesday that Chris Taylor would “soon” play outfield for the first time in his MLB career. That point has arrived Wednesday, with Taylor starting in center field.
Taylor takes the place of Joc Pederson, who suffered a neck strain in a full-speed collision with Yasiel Puig. On the mound, Rich Hill and St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Mike Leake duel.
This is Hill’s fourth start of the season and second since returning from his blister issue. He is pitching on extended rest, having last started on May 16 against the San Francisco Giants.
Hill allowed one run on six hits over five innings, and finished with six strikeouts in the outing at AT&T Park. More importantly, the southpaw did not report any trouble with the blister.
Overall on the season, Hill is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA, 5.42 FIP and 1.39 WHIP in 13 innings of work. In five career games (four starts) against the Cardinals, he’s is 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
Leake has not only been the Cardinals best starter this season, but one of the best in the National League. He has turned in a quality start in all eight of his outings, going 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA.
His ERA ranks second in the NL behind only Clayton Kershaw. Leake sports a 3.18 FIP and 0.99 WHIP.
In three road starts thus far, the the 29-year-old is 3-0, with a 2.25 ERA. Leake is 4-5 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 10 career games (nine starts) against Los Angeles.
Taylor has been a pleasant surprise for the Dodgers this season, as he is hitting .326/.437/.570 with five home runs, 16 RBIs and 17 walks in 103 plate appearances. Yasmani Grandal once again bats third.
He has been on a tear in the month of May, hitting safely in 13 of the 14 games he’s started. In that span he has batted .383/.413/.633 with two home runs and 15 RBIs. One of those home runs came Tuesday night when on a solo shot to straightaway center field off Lance Lynn.
Dodgers lineup:
3B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Corey Seager
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Cody Bellinger
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Chase Utley
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Rich Hill
Cardinals lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
RF: Stephen Piscotty
1B: Matt Carpenter
2B: Jedd Gyorko
C: Yadier Molina
3B: Jhonny Peralta
SS: Aledmys Diaz
LF: Randal Grichuk
P: Mike Leake
