Reds Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Mookie Betts Back In Lineup With Chance For Series Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers have bounced back from losing the opener of their homestand with back-to-back victories against the Cincinnati Reds and now can clinch a series win Sunday afternoon.

The Dodgers enter play with a 7.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres for first place in the division, and their 31 wins are second only to the Philadelphia Phillies (33) for most in the National League.

Thus far in the month of May the Dodgers have gone 12-4, which is also second-best to the Phillies (13-3).

Sunday’s series finale sees Landon Knack on the mound for a potential spot start. Knack was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to first pitch, and Anthony Banda was also added to the Dodgers roster.

Ricky Vanasco and J.P. Feyereisen were optioned as the corresponding roster moves.

Knack is making his fourth start for the Dodgers and enters 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. The rookie has logged at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer in each outing thus far.

Knack last pitched for the Dodgers on May 30.

The Reds counter with Hunter Greene, a Los Angeles native who attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Greene is 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in nine starts this season.

Greene has made just one other start at Dodger Stadium, when he allowed three runs (two earned) over 5.1 innings of a tough-luck loss in 2022.

Greene faces a Dodgers lineup that sees Mookie Betts back at shortstop after his first game off of the year. Kiké Hernández is again playing third base as Max Muncy is out because of a right oblique strain.

Dodgers lineup

SS: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Andy Pages
2B: Gavin Lux
RF: Jason Heyward
3B: Kiké Hernández
C: Austin Barnes

Reds lineup

LF: Will Benson
SS: Elly De La Cruz
DH: Mike Ford
1B: Jeimer Candelario
RF: Jake Fraley
2B: Jonathan India
CF: Stuart Fairchild
3B: Santiago Espinal
C: Luke Maile