The Los Angeles Dodgers kept pace with the San Francisco Giants on Friday night behind a walk-off victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. Justin Turner and his hot bat remain in the lineup for the third of a four-game series, though there is a noteworthy change for the Dodgers.
Joc Pederson starts in the leadoff spot for the first time this season. He hit .216/.325/.437 with nine doubles, 16 home runs, 31 RBIs, 36 walks and 91 strikeouts in 69 such games last season.
Pederson went 0-for-4 on Friday night but has hit safely in six of his last 10 games. As for the mound, the Dodgers hand the ball to Mike Bolsinger.
He’s coming off a loss in what was yet another short outing — 4.2 innings. Bolsinger hasn’t completed six innings of work in any of his five starts this season. He’s also been susceptible to the long ball, allowing at least one home run in each start.
On the season Bolsinger is 1-4 with a 5.76 ERA, 5.94 FIP and 1.24 WHIP. He faced the Brewers last season, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings of a no-decision.
Bolsinger faces fellow right-hander and longtime friend Chase Anderson, who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks one year prior their selecting Bolsinger. Anderson is 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA, 5.02 WHIP, and 1.19 WHIP in 13 starts this season.
He allowed four runs on five hits to the San Francisco Giants in just five innings. He didn’t earn a decision in the Brewers’ loss. In Anderson’s brief career, he’s 1-1 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over six starts against the Dodgers.
With the Giants defeating the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon to extend their winning streak to seven games, the Dodgers enter play seven games back of first place in the National League West.
Aside from the change that has Pederson atop the lineup, Howie Kendrick starts in place of Chase Utley at second base, and Kiké Hernandez starts in left field.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Trayce Thompson
2B: Howie Kendrick
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Kiké Hernandez
P: Mike Bolsinger
Brewers lineup:
SS: Jonathan Villar
2B: Scooter Gennett
LF: Ryan Braun
C: Jonathan Lucroy
1B: Chris Carter
3B: Aaron Hill
CF: Kirk Nieuwenhuis
RF: Ramon Flores
P: Chase Anderson
