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Today’s Line
| Dodgers | D'backs |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | D'backs |
| Joc Pederson 1B | Jarrod Dyson CF |
| Alex Verdugo CF | Tim Locastro RF |
| Matt Beaty LF | David Peralta LF |
| Cody Bellinger RF | Eduardo Escobar 3B |
| Max Muncy 3B | Jake Lamb 1B |
| Chris Taylor SS | Ildemaro Vargas 2B |
| Enrique Hernandez 2B | Nick Ahmed SS |
| Russell Martin C | Caleb Joseph C |
| Tony Gonsolin P | Taylor Clarke P |
Tony Gonsolin or Captain Jack Sparrow? Although he may look like he’s been lost at sea, Gonsolin enters 2019 as one of the Los Angeles Dodgers top ranked prospects. Los Angeles drafted him out of St. Mary’s College of California in the 9th round of the 2016 draft. Today will be his MLB debut after pitching to a 2.77 ERA through 8 starts in AAA Oklahoma, but don’t expect him to pitch into the late innings of this game. He has averaged just over three innings per start in the minors this season while recovering from a strained oblique suffered in Spring Training.
Gonsolin’s opposite number on the mound today will be Taylor Clarke for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Clarke has been thrust into the starting rotation perhaps more often than expected this season due to depth issues at the tail end of Arizona’s rotation. His first three appearances this season, a relief appearance debut and two starts, were impressive and demonstrated his promise, but he’s had a rough stretch over the past month as the league has adjusted to him. He’s not completed the fifth inning in each of his last three starts, giving up at least six hits each time, allowing thirteen earned runs over eleven innings. With that being said about both of today’s starters, there is a strong possibility both teams have turned to their bullpens before the conclusion of the fifth inning.
Today also marks the return of Jake Lamb from the injured list. He’s been absent since essentially the beginning of the season, April 3rd, with a strained quadriceps. It’s now been two seasons in a row that Lamb has missed significant time due to injury. Lamb will likely split his time between third and first base as Eduardo Escobar is capable of playing second base, allowing Ketel Marte to shift to center field where he has adjusted impressively.