Alex Wood, Dodgers look to continue May success

Alex Wood gets the start for the Dodgers on Saturday night against the Rockies at Coors Field, looking to continue his strong May.

After striking out 19 of 80 batters (23.8%) in April, Wood has 19 strikeouts in 42 batters faced (45.2%) in May, including a season-high 11 strikeouts on Monday against the Pirates, his second-highest total since joining the Dodgers.

Wood has been one of the most effective pitchers on the staff this season, both starting and in relief. In seven games, including five starts, Wood has a 2.73 ERA and 1.89 FIP, with 38 strikeouts — third-most on the staff — and eight unintentional walks.

He has also received much more run support this month. The Dodgers scored 10 total runs in his three April starts, but have scored in double digits in both of his May outings, scoring 13 runs on May 2 and 12 on May 8.

The Dodgers have scored 69 runs in 10 games this month, hitting .294/.371/.463 as a team in May. They have scored at least five runs in seven of those 10 games, and if we stretch back into the final four games in April, the Dodgers have scored five or more runs in 11 of their last 14 games, matching their win total during that span.

Cody Bellinger has half of the Dodgers’ 10 home runs this month, including a solo shot on Friday night in Colorado.

Dating back to 1913, the Dodgers’ record for most RBI through 20 games is 20, by George Shuba (1948). The franchise record for runs scored through 20 games is also 20, by Gibby Brack (1937) and Jackie Robinson (1947). Most home runs is seven, held by Matt Kemp (2006) and Yasiel Puig (2013).

Bellinger has only played 16 games, but he already has seven home runs, and with 17 runs scored and 18 RBI has those other marks in sight.

Left-hander Tyler Anderson starts for the Rockies on Saturday night. Bellinger so far has started against everybody, and is 6-for-17 (.353) with a triple, a home run, and two walks against southpaws.

Game info

Time: 5:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA