Padres @ Dodgers August 26, 2018: Ryu ready for a sweep?

(Via)

After another blown save and another power outage last night, the Dodgers still find themselves in position to finish off a sweep and potentially move 1.5 games back in the NL West race. They’ll need more help from the Cardinals and Mariners to gain ground in the division, but can complete a sweep with a victory today.

Padres
Dodgers
1:10 PM
Los Angeles
SS
Galvis
2B
Dozier
3B
Myers
3B
Turner
LF
Renfroe
SS
Machado
1B
Hosmer
LF
Kemp
RF
Reyes
1B
Hernández
C
Hedges
CF
Taylor
2B
Spangenberg RF Puig
CF
Margot
C
Barnes
P
Erlin (L)
P
Ryu (L)

Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the start today instead of Alex Wood, who will now start Wednesday in Texas. This sets Ryu up to start Saturday in Arizona, so it seems like the Dodgers have more confidence in Ryu than Wood at the moment. Ryu is coming off a rough start against the Cardinals, during which he allowed three runs in four innings and needed 72 pitches to record those 12 outs. It was the second time in eight starts that Ryu had allowed more than two runs in a game, and the last time he did it he followed it up by allowing one hit in six innings against Oakland. Ryu saw the Padres in April and allowed two runs and three hits in six innings while striking out a season-high nine batters.

Robbie Erlin is making his 34th appearance of the season today, but only his seventh start. The lefty saw a lot of success in the bullpen, with a 2.05 ERA and 0.797 WHIP in 52 2/3 innings of relief. In his six starts/28 innings as a starter, Erlin has a 6.11 ERA and a 1.429 WHIP. Much of that damage as a starter came in his first two starts, a three-inning, five run outing against the Dodgers and a four-inning, six run start against Washington. His last four appearances have all been starts and he’s gone at least five innings each time, allowing eight earned runs in 21 innings. He’s coming off a five-inning start in Colorado where he allowed three runs. Erlin hasn’t issued a walk in his last 15 innings on the mound.

The Dodgers roll out a standard lineup against a lefty. Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy both sit, with Enrique Hernandez starting at first and Chris Taylor starting in center. Austin Barnes starts behind the plate.

——

Kenley Jansen will not be available today.

This was decided on last night, after Jansen allowed a home run in his third consecutive outing. He’s allowed 10 home runs this season, after having allowed nine in the last two seasons combined. Jansen had never allowed more than six home runs in a season before this year, so something is clearly not right there. Jansen’s availability today is the reason Kenta Maeda was removed after only one inning last night. He’s the likely option for a save should the Dodgers need one today.

About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.