Dodgers Vs. D-Backs Preview: Greinke Makes Third Start Of The Season

[new_royalslider id=”4″] The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their strong play against the NL West yesterday with an outstanding performance in all aspects of the game that gave them the win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven scoreless innings allowing only two hits, and Adrian Gonzalez was a monster at the plate going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs. The D-Backs failed to score a run yesterday, and the Dodgers hope for a repeat performance tonight in Arizona.

Zack Grienke takes the mound for the Boys in Blue tonight for his third start of the season. The 30-year-old right-hander has looked great in his previous two starts, already logging two wins and posting a 3.27 ERA. Unable to start in the Opening Series, this will be Greinke’s first time facing the D-Backs this season. In three starts against Arizona last year, Greinke was solid. The Diamondbacks collectively hit .149 against the Dodger starter in 2013, and Greinke appears to be on track to continue his dominance into this season as well.

Left-hander Wade Miley starts for the Diamondbacks tonight, and the last time Miley faced the Dodgers, the outcome was not favorable. During the Australia series, Miley gave up three runs in five innings in an Opening Day loss against the Dodgers. He looks for redemption tonight as he is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA on the season so far. Hanley Ramirez has fared the best against Miley in the past three years, batting .357 against the left-hander with a home run in 14 at-bats.

Don Mattingly is stacking the Dodger lineup with righties tonight, which means he’ll have a similar starting lineup to the one he had against Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner last weekend. Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Scott Van Slyke will occupy the outfield with Van Slyke batting fifth. Mattingly is also using righty Justin Turner at second despite Dee Gordon’s impressive numbers against lefties so far this season. Drew Butera gets his second start of the season today over Tim Federowicz, who served as the primary replacement for the injured A.J. Ellis. Gonzalez, batting fourth, is the only left-handed batter in the starting lineup.

Today’s game starts at 5:10 PM PT and will be broadcasted on MLB Network as well as SportsNet LA, which means fans outside of the Diamondbacks’ and Dodgers’ markets will be able to watch the game.

Dodgers Lineup 

RF: Puig

CF: Kemp

SS: Ramirez

1B: Gonzalez

LF: Van Slyke

3B: Uribe

2B: Turner

C: Butera

P: Greinke

Diamondbacks Lineup

CF: Campana

2B: Hill

1B: Goldschmidt

3B: Prado

C: Montero

LF: Trumbo

RF: Parra

SS: Pennington

P: Miley
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