The Los Angeles Dodgers play their second split-squad game of the spring on Sunday night, as they host the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles defeated the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium earlier in the afternoon.
Alex Wood takes the mound against the White Sox for his first start this year. Wood has pitched in two Cactus League games thus far, giving up four hits and two runs while striking out three and walking one in four innings of work.
Wood is competing for a spot in the starting rotation, but also has the ability to come out of the bullpen. The 26-year-old was a solid part of the Dodgers rotation in 2016 before going down with an elbow in jury that caused him to miss a majority of the season.
In 14 games (10 Starts) last season, Wood went 1-4 with a 3.73 ERA, 3.18 FIP and 1.26 WHIP, while striking out 66 and walking 20 in 60.1 innings.
Grant Dayton, Adam Liberatore, Chris Hatcher and Ross Stripling are expected to pitch in relief. Wood is be opposed by one of the newest White Sox pitchers, left-hander Derek Holland.
The 30-year-old pitched in 22 games (20 starts) for the Texas Rangers last season, going 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA, 4.75 FIP and 1.41 WHIP. Sunday marks Holland’s second spring start, as he threw two shutout innings, giving up two hits while striking out one and walking two in his first start.
Logan Forsythe is once again at second base and hitting leadoff for the Dodgers. He has been on fire this spring as he is 9-for-16 (.563 batting average) with two doubles and two RBIs. He’s coming off a 3-for-3 game Friday night against the Texas Rangers.
Yasiel Puig is batting behind Forsythe in the lineup, and he too is swinging a hot bat. In Friday’s game Puig went two-for-two with two home runs, a walk and four RBIs. Overall on the spring Puig is tied with Joc Pederson for the team lead with three home runs and is batting .286/.348/.810.
Franklin Gutierrez is also in the Dodgers lineup, batting third and playing left field. He broke a out a bit on Friday with home run off Cole Hamels. Though, Gutierrez is still just 1-for-23 this spring.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Logan Forsythe
RF: Yasiel Puig
LF: Franklin Gutierrez
1B: Scott Van Slyke
C: Bobby Wilson
DH: O’Koyea Dickson
SS: Chris Taylor
3B: Darnell Sweeney
CF: D.J. Peters
P: Alex Wood
White Sox lineup:
CF: Adam Engel
SS: Tim Anderson
LF: Melky Cabrera
RF: Avisail Garcia
3B: Matt Davidson
2B: Yoan Moncada
C: Geovany Soto
1B: Danny Hayes
DH: Aaron Schnurbusch
