Dodgers return to LA for some home cooking

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are back home after a week on the road, ready to open the home portion of their 2016 schedule. The club hosts the Diamondbacks on Tuesday for its home opener at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers have enjoyed great success of late.

The Dodgers in 2015 had their best home record in franchise history since moving to Los Angeles in 1958, and at 55-26 (.679) tied the 1980 club (55-27) for the most home wins during that time frame.

In 2014-2015 combined the Dodgers won 100 games at Dodger Stadium, the fourth-most home wins in baseball during that span, behind only the Cardinals (106 wins), Pirates (104) and Angels (101).

Part of that home success by the Dodgers was thanks to the Diamondbacks, against whom they haven't lost a home series since Arizona won two of three games at Dodger Stadium from June 10-12, 2013. In 2014-15, the Dodgers were 15-4 against the Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, and 28-10 (.737) against them overall.

The Dodgers are the last team in the majors to play at home in 2016, and so far things haven't gone so well after all the pomp and circumstance. So far, teams are just 12-17 (.414) in their home opener this year, though the Dodgers have a chance to give the National League (7-7) a winning record in such games on Tuesday.

Tuesday is the fifth time the Diamondbacks have served as the opponent for the Dodgers' home opener, with Los Angeles going 3-1 in those games — wins in 1999, 2000 and 2010; a loss in 2003.

Kenta Maeda gets the call on the mound for the Dodgers on Tuesday, still with a zero in his runs allowed column. The Dodgers' co-home run leader also allowed zero walks in his major league debut last Wednesday in San Diego, pitching six scoreless frames.

Since 1913, only two Dodgers pitchers opened their careers with two consecutive starts of zero runs allowed. The last was Japanese left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii, who opened with 11⅔ scoreless innings in his first two starts in 2002 on his way to a 10-1 start that included wins in each of his first six starts.

The first was Karl Spooner, who had arguably the greatest debut in major league history in 1954. The 23-year-old made two starts at the end of 1954, first striking out 15 in a shutout of the Giants, then four days later fanning 12 in another shutout of the Pirates. But arm injuries sadly took Spooner out of the majors by the end of 1955.

Starting pitching is much improved in Arizona this season, but their start to the season has not gone as planned. Diamondbacks starting pitchers are 0-5 with a 7.96 ERA so far, averaging just 5⅓ innings per start.

Patrick Corbin, starting Tuesday for Arizona, lasted seven innings in his first start this season, the longest outing by a Diamondbacks pitcher in the opening week. But he also suffered the loss, allowing four runs and three home runs.

Corbin is 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA in four career starts at Dodger Stadium.

Game info

Time: 1:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network