Dodgers Way
FanSided

Dodgers: Previewing the Dodgers’ Opening Series of the 2019 Season

By Michael Wittman

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: A general view during the third inning of Game Five of the 2018 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: A general view during the third inning of Game Five of the 2018 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Dodgers
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Game Two: Robbie Ray (6-2, 3.93 ERA) vs. Ross Stripling (8-6, 3.02 ERA)

In the second game of the opening series, the Dodgers will face a left-handed starting pitcher for the first and only time of their first regular season series.  The Dodgers will send Ross Stripling to the mound as a surprise game two starter after a spring full of injuries.  Stripling had to battle to stay in the rotation last season and now he starts the second game of the season.

Ross will look to put his second-half struggles behind him and try to keep his rotation spot in 2019.  Last year Stripling went 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA in the first half and made his first all-star team.  In the second half, he went 0-4 with a 6.41 ERA and lost his rotation spot.  Nick Ahmed has torched Stripling in seven at-bats, hitting .714 with a home run and four RBI’s.

Robbie Ray will oppose the Dodgers and look to bounce back after a down season that saw his ERA jump a full run from 2017.  Ray dominated the Dodgers in 2017 but last year face them just twice due to injuries and did not have the same success.  Kiké Hernandez has mashed Ray in his career batting .276 with three home runs and five runs batted in.

Home/LA Dodgers News