After splitting a two-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers now begin a four-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
Walker Buehler makes his fourth start of the season, though it will be difficult to top his previous one against the San Diego Padres in Monterrey, Mexico.
The right-hander tossed six hitless innings and was one of four pitchers to collectively account for the Dodgers’ first combined no-hitter in franchise history. Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore finished it out in relief of Buehler.
In three starts this season, Buehler owns a perfect 2-0 record with a minuscule 1.13 ERA, 2.10 FIP and 1.06 WHIP over 16 innings pitched with 19 strikeouts to seven walks.
The Reds counter with Tyler Mahle, who makes his first career start against the Dodgers. In seven starts to date, he has posted a 4.35 ERA, 4.92 FIP and 1.25 WHIP across 39.1 innings pitched with 42 strikeouts to 11 walks.
The Newport Beach, Calif., native was solid in his last start against the Miami Marlins, logging six innings while allowing five hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts. In addition to his homecoming, one note for Mahle is him batting eighth.
Yasiel Puig is back in the lineup for the second straight day since coming off the disabled list. He went 3-for-4 on Wednesday in his first game back after dealing with foot and hip injuries.
DChris Taylor has swung the bat better as of late after getting off to a slow start to the season. In his last 12 games, Taylor hit .277/.404/.489 with two home runs and 12 runs scored, which are much more in line with his 2017 statistics.
Meanwhile, Matt Kemp enters play with the second-highest batting average in the National League at .343. He’s tied with Yasmani Grandal for the team lead with five home runs, and is tied with Cody Bellinger for second-most RBI (17).
Dodgers lineup:Reds lineup:
RF: Jesse Winker
LF: Adam Duvall
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Scooter Gennett
3B: Eugenio Suarez
C: Tucker Barnhart
SS: Alex Blandino
P: Tyler Mahle
CF: Billy Hamilton
