MLB LOOK AHEAD

Dodgers’ Ryu sets sights on D-backs

Field Level Media

June 04, 2019 at 6:36 am.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu hopes June looks a lot like May.

He will begin to find out Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix a day after being selected as the National League Pitcher of the Month.

Ryu went 5-0 in six starts in May, when he allowed three earned runs in 45 2/3 innings for a minuscule ERA of 0.59. He gave up 28 hits and three walks, with opposing batters hitting .177 against him during the month.

“No surprise,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ryu winning the monthly award. “This guy, it’s all sort of blending together with all those starts that he has made this year. He has been so consistent.

“To get the recognition as the National League Pitcher of the Month, well-deserved. I just don’t see it trending in another direction.”

Ryu (8-1, 1.48 ERA) had a solid outing against the Diamondbacks on Opening Day, March 28. He yielded one run on four hits in six innings, striking out eight, in a 12-5 victory. He is 4-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 career starts against Arizona, although his ERA is 4.79 in seven starts at Chase Field.

Ryu will be opposed by rookie right-hander Taylor Clarke (1-1, 5.19 ERA), who will be making his fourth career start. He was knocked around in his last outing, going only two innings and allowing five runs in an eventual 11-10 loss at the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Clarke has yet to oppose the Dodgers.

Roberts gave left-handed hitters Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy a day off Monday against left-handed starter Robbie Ray. Both will be back in the lineup Tuesday, Roberts said.

“They’ve been going hard, playing hard … keeping them healthy,” Roberts said.

Bellinger is batting a league-leading .376 and has a 10-game hitting streak.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner returned to the starting lineup Monday for the first time since Wednesday after recovering from tightness in his left hamstring. Roberts said the team will continue to be cautious with Turner, giving him a day off before the three-game series ends.

The Diamondbacks will try to find a way against a Los Angeles pitching staff that has allowed only seven runs in the past five games. Dodgers starters have posted quality starts in 19 of their past 21 games, including one from Walker Buehler on Monday night in a 3-1 victory.

“We had some good at-bats, we just didn’t have much to show for it,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “A couple of balls were hit hard that were caught.”

Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker homered Monday for the third time in his past five games. Ketel Marte is another player showing recent power, with five home runs in the past 10 games, including a 482-foot blast against the New York Mets on Sunday.

“I think I’ve got more,” Marte said, according to MLB.com. “I didn’t put my hardest swing I have. I think I have a little more.”

The Diamondbacks activated left fielder David Peralta on Monday, when he hit third in the lineup, going 0-for-4 and popping up as the potential tying run with two outs in the ninth. Relief pitcher Stefan Crichton was sent down to Triple-A Reno, giving Lovullo four bench players, which is how he said it should stay for a while.

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