The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their seven-game road trip in St. Louis with plenty of momentum, having swept the Chicago Cubs to finish 8-2 on their homestand. Of course, you’re only as good as your pitcher that day.
And on the Memorial Day holiday, that falls on Rich Hill’s shoulders. Hill’s start is his second time facing the Cardinals in five days. The previous outing was one to forget, as he allowed five runs on four hits.
Hill issued a career-high seven walks in just four innings of work. Overall this season, the southpaw is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.
In large part due to blisters twice forcing him to the disabled list, Hill has yet to establish much of any rhythm this season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts nonetheless reiterated his confidence in the 37-year-old last week.
Hill will be backed by a Dodgers bullpen that’s in the midst of a 17.2 scoreless innings streak and leads the National League with a 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 201 strikeouts. Their 3.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio is first in the Majors.
Los Angeles has an extra reliever on their roster in the form of Brandon Morrow. His contract was selected and Alex Wood was placed on the 10-day disabled list with left SC joint inflammation.
The Cardinals counter with Mike Leake, who vastly outperformed Hill in their last meeting. Leake permitted just one run on four hits, and had five strikeouts in eight innings. His efforts contributed to the Cardinals’ lone win in their three-game set at Dodger Stadium.
Leake enters 5-2 with a 1.91 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. The right-hander holds the third-best ERA in the Majors, and has pitched at least six innings in each of his nine starts this season.
Dodgers lineup:
3B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Corey Seager
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chase Utley
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Rich Hill
Cardinals lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
LF: Tommy Pham
1B: Matt Carpenter
3B: Jedd Gyorko
C: Yadier Molina
SS: Aledmys Diaz
2B: Paul DeJong
RF: Jose Martinez
P: Mike Leake
