Adrian Gonzalez homered and drove in five runs, and Zack Greinke pitched seven innings to lead the Dodgers over the Mets on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers look for their third straight win on Saturday night, facing the Mets with Zack Greinke on the mound against Jacob deGrom. The Dodgers have enjoyed success at home against New York the likes of which they haven't seen in 33 years.
Friday night's win was the Dodgers' fifth straight win against the Mets at Dodger Stadium, dating back to 2012, the longest such streak since 1980-81, when Los Angeles beat New York in six straight games.
But most eyes will be on the mound, where Zack Greinke will start for the first time in eight days. He has been dealing with right elbow discomfort recently, so much so that he had an MRI exam, though it revealed no structural damage.
Greinke lost two straight starts on Aug. 4 and Aug. 9, allowing a total of nine runs on 14 hits in 13 innings, then on Aug. 15 walked a season-high-tying five in a no-decision against the Brewers. Greinke only lasted five innings in that last start, needing 99 pitches to do so, but also allowed no runs and said he felt stronger during that start that he did in his previous few outings.
With last Monday's off day the Dodgers had the flexibility to push Greinke's scheduled Thursday start back two days, to tonight's game against New York. Manager Don Mattingly said the Dodgers would continue to use the remaining off days and September roster flexibility to give Greinke extra rest whenever possible.
On Wednesday Greinke said his elbow discomfort is something that comes and goes, but is confident he'll be able to pitch effectively the rest of the season.
"I expect to pitch at a 100-percent level, but I don't expect to feel 100 percent while I'm throwing," Greinke said.
But Greinke is not the only pitcher dealing with an injury or potential injury at this point. The Mets will activate deGrom to start on Saturday after the rookie missed two weeks with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff.
He last pitched on Aug. 7, but has pitched six straight quality starts dating back to July 8, with five wins and a 1.55 ERA during that span. In his last nine starts deGrom is 6-1 with a 1.82 ERA, with 60 strikeouts and 15 walks in 59⅓ innings.
The Dodgers beat deGrom with three solo home runs— by Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez— in six innings on May 21 at Citi Field.
That was the Dodgers' 15th multi-homer game of the season, in their 47th game, including their eighth such game in May to that point. The club has just seven games with multiple home runs in 83 games since.
Mets roster move
To make roster room for deGrom, the Mets after Friday night's game optioned Rafael Montero to Triple-A Las Vegas. Montero made two starts in place of deGrom and pitched in relief in Friday night's game, allowing one run while recording one out in the eighth inning.
Game info
Time: 6:10 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA