Dodgers Rays Game Two Preview

The Dodgers look for a two-game series sweep in Tampa Bay.

Yesterday was a very fun game. The Dodgers’ offense woke up, Scott Kazmir was solid other than a few hard-hit mistakes and the Dodgers might have a legit setup man.

Game two of the series puts Alex Wood on the mound for the Dodgers. Kenta Maeda was lined up to start, but the Dodgers bumped Wood up a day (still with normal rest due to Monday’s off day) to have him face the Rays and not have to run the gauntlet of power hitting right-handed batters in Toronto on Friday.

Wood is coming off yet another stellar home start. In two starts at Dodger Stadium, Wood has posted eerily similar stat lines. Both times, Wood went seven innings, allowed five hits and surrendered a single run. His three road starts have been as bad as his home starts have been good. Two of his road starts ended after five innings and the third ended after the fourth inning, and he’s given up 16 runs in those 14 road innings.

Drew Smyly gets the ball for the Rays and has established himself as a top-notch starter. Smyly was one of the main pieces the Rays got back in their three-team deal around David Price, and he’s essentially pitched like Price for the last two seasons. Smyly leads the majors in WHIP and has the ninth-best strikeout/walk rate. Sidebar. Taijuan Walker has the second best SO/BB rate at 9.33. Clayton Kershaw‘s is 18.00!!

Anyways, back to Smyly. He’s thrown four quality starts in five outings this season, with the lone not-quality start coming at the hands of the Blue Jays. After allowing five runs in his season debut, he’s allowed five runs in his last four outings.

With another lefty on the hill, we get more weird lineup. Justin Turner gets a day off from the field and mans the DH spot with Charlie Culberson at third. Joc Pederson is back to his platoon, but an outfield of Yasiel Puig, Enrique Hernandez and Trayce Thompson is still pretty damn good. Yasmani Grandal is in the lineup for the first time since Saturday. He’s also sort of a platoon player despite being a switch hitter, but he’s proven to be better hitting left handed. He did hit a laser home run off lefty Brad Hand last Friday, so he can hit right handed somewhat.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.