After concluding their seven-game road trip in Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Dodgers will return home for a challenging homestand that features series with the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
Los Angeles entered play Sunday a half-game behind the Giants for first place in the National League West. The Dodgers were in first place prior to dropping two consecutive games, and they lost a third on Saturday.
They’re ability to catch the Giants in the standings is even more impressive when taking into account the instability in the Dodgers’ rotation.
Inserting Julio Urias into the rotation afforded the Dodgers with some flexibility, specifically with Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.
According to Andy McCullough of the LA Times, Maeda will start the series opener against the Giants and Rich Hill is again scheduled for his Dodgers debut:
Scott Kazmir on Monday. Kenta Maeda on Tuesday. Rich Hill on Wednesday. Brett Anderson on Thursday.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 20, 2016
Hill threw a simulated game at the club’s Camelback Ranch facility on Thursday without his blister causing any issues. This is now the fourth time Hill has been tentatively scheduled to start since being traded prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline.
Maeda allowed one run on four hits over seven innings in his only start against the Giants. Whether Brett Anderson can make his next turn isn’t clear at this point as he was removed early on Saturday due to a blister on his left index finger.
San Francisco is using Monday’s off-day to align their rotation so that Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Matt Moore start against the Dodgers.
