The Los Angeles Dodgers remained undefeated against the New York Mets and have now slugged 18 home runs in their five meetings this season. Following a successful debut by Yu Darvish, Rich Hill looks to carry forward with his momentum.
Over five starts in July, he went 4–0 with a 1.45 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, while collecting 40 strikeouts against just five walks, and holding opponents to a .171/.220/.288 batting line. Hill allowed one run or fewer in four of the outings, and the Dodgers won each of the games he started.
The reigning National League Pitcher of the Month faced the Mets in June, holding them to one run over four hits to earn the win in the Dodgers’ 8-2 victory. Hill enters Saturday’s start 8-4 with a 3.35 ERA, 3.72 FIP and 1.18 WHIP.
No Mets players have extensive appearance in facing Hill, though Curtis Granderson is 2-for-5 with a home run that came this season.
The Dodgers face Seth Lugo, who is 10-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 27 games (17 starts) since making his MLB debut in July 2016. The right-hander hasn’t fared particularly well this season, however, as he’s just 5-3 with a 4.53 ERA, 4.43 FIP and 1.37 WHIP.
Included in that was Lugo going 2-2 with a 5.29 ERA in six games (five starts) last month. The 26-year-old has allowed two home runs in each of his last two starts while only throwing a combined 11 innings. Lugo faces the Dodgers for the first time in his career.
Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Chris Taylor each fouled a ball off their lower body in the series opener, and Bellinger and Taylor were checked on before remaining in the game. The trio is back in the lineup Saturday afternoon, with Taylor again leading off.
Mets rookie shortstop Amed Rosario has collected one hit in each of his four games played. The Mets’ seven-game losing streak to the Dodgers is their longest since also losing seven straight in 1965.
A win Saturday would be the Dodgers’ 43rd in their past 50 games, which would surpass their 42-8 stretch from the 2013 season.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Joc Pederson
2B: Logan Forsythe
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Rich Hill
Mets lineup:
CF: Miguel Conforto
3B: Asdrubal Cabrera
LF: Yoenis Céspedes
1B: Wilmer Flores
RF: Curtis Granderson
2B: Niel Walker
SS: Amed Rosario
C: Rene Rivera
P: Seth Lugo
