Los Angeles Dodgers Game Previews: The Dominican Duel – De La Rosa vs. Frias in Series Opener

If you thought the Dodgers would be starting 25-year old right hander Carlos Frias on May 1 against the Dbacks at Dodger stadium Friday night, then you should probably be going to Vegas. Or you have some sort of crystal ball.

The Dodgers are coming off of a successful series win over the Giants and will finish off the home stand with a three game weekend series against the Dbacks. The last time these two clubs faced each other was at the beginning of the season at Chase Field. The Dbacks took two out of three in that series. The Dodgers are looking for payback this weekend.

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Dodgers Lineup vs. Arizona

Pederson CF

Rollins SS

Kendrick 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Turner 3B

Ethier RF

Grandal C

Guerrero LF

Frias P

Rubby De La Rosa-2-1 vs. Carlos Frias-1-0

Game Time – 7:10 PM

The pitching match-up will feature a battle of young Dominican right handers. 26-year old former Dodger farmhand Rubby De La Rosa will square off against 25-year old Carlos Frias. The Dodgers are 10-2 at home, and Arizona comes into tonight with a 4-3 road record.

De La Rosa used to be a Dodger. The Dodgers originally signed him as an amateur free agent in 2007. De La Rosa pitched in 14 games for the big club, making 10 starts for the Dodgers between 2011-2012. In 2011 he posted a 4-5 record with a 3.71 ERA. He whiffed 60 batters, and had an 8.9 strikeouts per nine rate in a little over 60 frames that season.

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De La Rosa was traded to the Red Sox in that blockbuster August 2012 trade that sent Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez to the Dodgers. De La Rosa made 18 starts for Boston between 2012-2013. Then De La Rosa was traded to Arizona last winter along with former Dodger prospect Allen Webster for Wade Miley.

This year De La Rosa is 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA in four starts for the Snakes. He’s whiffed 25 and walked just five for a 5-1 strikeout to walk ratio. However he’s allowed 9.7 hits per nine in his four starts. The usual narrative still applies to De La Rosa. He can throw hard, but is still working on command.

De La Rosa pitched well in his last start against the Pirates, but he took home a no-decision. In that game he threw seven frames, allowing one earned run on four hits and whiffing eight. He’s only walked two in his last two starts, so that’s an encouraging sign for the Dbacks. De La Rosa has never faced the Dodgers, but is 2-4 with a 4.70 ERA at Dodger Stadium.

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While he’s never faced the Dodgers, a few of the Boys in Blue have seen him during his days in the American League. Howie Kendrick is hitting .556 (5 for 9) with a home run. The Dodgers are hitting .429 (6 for 14) with a home run against De La Rosa. With Justin Turner being the only other position player that has ever faced him.

Stat of the day– Paul Goldschmidt is hitting .330 (35 for 106) at Dodger Stadium, and is hitting .322 (75 for 233) with 15 home runs against the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are countering with Carlos Frias. The young right hander vultured a win in the Dodger’s 8-3 victory over the Giants last Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. In that game he pitched 1.1 scoreless relief innings to get the win.

Frias made his MLB debut for the Dodgers last year and pitched in 15 games that season. He made two starts in 2014, and this would be his third major league start. In his first start he tossed six shutout innings against the Nationals. Then he got rocked by Colorado at Coors Field in his second start. Talk about night and day.  He’s faced the Dbacks just once, pitching two scoreless innings of relief against the Snakes. The Dbacks are 0 for 4 life time versus Frias. The Dominican youngster is looking to grab a spot in the Dodger rotation because Brandon McCarthy is having Tommy John surgery, and Hyun-jin Ryu is still out with a shoulder impingement.

The action starts at 7:10 PM. We’ll be back after the game with our nightly recap of the events.

Go Blue!