It took reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell awhile to get rolling, but he's finally cooking just in time to face the Dodgers for the first time this season. Los Angeles and San Francisco open a four-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday.
Snell struggled in three starts for San Francisco before going on the IL in April. He scuffled in his return in late May and after six starts with the Giants had an 0-3 record, a 9.51 ERA and 14 walks in just 23.2 innings. It appears Snell has since righted the ship.
Over his last two starts he has allowed two hits and no runs in 12.0 innings with three walks and 11 strikeouts. It looked in those games more like the Snell who was excellent against the Dodgers last season.
While LA hasn't seen Snell this year, they did see him four times a season ago and managed only 10 hits and seven runs in 23.0 innings. Snell walked 12 Dodgers hitters in those four outings, but he also struck out 26. For his career Snell has a 2.59 ERA in 13 starts vs. the Dodgers.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Sunday wouldn't confirm who LA is starting on the mound Monday, but it sounds like right hander River Ryan will make his Major League debut.
This might be a good spot for Ryan, who faces a Giants offense that has scored exactly three runs in each of its last four games, and has scored three or fewer in six of its last seven contests. Ryan in eight Minor League starts this season has a 2.22 ERA with eight walks and 32 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.
Signs point toward the Giants having the advantage in the pitching matchup, but if Ryan can keep San Francisco's offense in check and LA's hitters can get deep into counts and draw walks against Snell, the Dodgers will have a chance to extend their winning streak to four.