Editorials

Spring Training Preview: Red Hot Ethier Leads Dodgers Against Angels

Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ time in Arizona is winding down with today marking the last Saturday of Spring Training. One day after blowing an early lead against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

David Huff takes the mound in the Dodgers’ second Spring Training meeting with the Angels. Saturday marks Huff’s second-straight start and third overall this spring; he’s also made two relief appearances. The left-hander has been impressive in 8.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits.



Huff’s ability to pitch as a swing man makes him an attractive option for the Dodgers bullpen heading into Spring Training, though he faces an uphill battle as he’s one of multiple left-handers who has performed well and is vying for a spot on the roster out of camp.

Starting opposite Huff is Matt Shoemaker, whom the Dodgers faced once last season. Shoemaker takes the mound for his fourth start of the spring and enters the game with a 1-1 record and 4.85 ERA.

Shoemaker allowed two runs in three innings in his first start and five runs in six innings the next time he took the mound, but is coming off an outing in which he threw six scoreless innings. He’s facing a lineup that is void of expected everyday starters, but still capable of posing a formidable challenge.

Andre Ethier, penciled in as the designated hitter, is batting .333/.404/.500 with four doubles and nine RBIs in 16 games. Ethier’s been locked in at the plate as of late, getting a hit in seven-straight games; three of which were multi-hit games.

Kiké Hernandez, who finds himself in left field, has also turned his fortunes around at the plate. In similar fashion to Hernandez, Justin Turner has been moved throughout the Dodgers’ infield and is starting at shortstop Saturday.

The two teams played to a 7-7 tie back on March 19, and will meet three more times in Los Angeles prior to the regular season beginning — April 2 and April 3 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, and April 4 at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers Lineup:

SS: Justin Turner

3B: Alex Guerrero

DH: Andre Ethier

C: Yasmani Grandal

1B: Scott Van Slyke

CF: Joc Pederson

RF: Chris Heisey

LF: Kiké Hernandez

2B: Darwin Barney

P: David Huff

Angels Lineup:

RF: Kole Calhoun

CF: Mike Trout

1B: Albert Pujols

DH: C.J. Cron

SS: Erick Aybar

LF: Matt Joyce

C: Chris Iannetta

3B: Kyle Kubitza

2B: Taylor Featherson

P: Matt Shoemaker

[divide]

Dodgers Utility Man Justin Turner


Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button