Dodgers excelling in the middle innings

LOS ANGELES — It didn’t work out that way in the opening game of the series, but the Dodgers will try to rebound from Monday’s loss to the Giants by feasting in the middle innings.

So far this season, the Dodgers have matched their opponents in runs scored (33-33) through the first three innings, and have nearly matched them from the seventh inning on (32-33).

But in the middle frames, innings four through six, the Dodgers have outscored their foes 50-30.

Johnny Cueto ate into that on Monday by setting the Dodgers down in order through the middle innings, part of 13 straight batters retired. The Giants tacked on a run in the fifth inning in a game they ended up winning by one run.

But so far this season, the Dodgers have held the advantage in innings four through six. Dodgers hitters in those middle innings are hitting .270/.349/.425, compared to .241/.302/.386 for the opponents.

Opposing starting pitchers have a 4.78 ERA against the Dodgers in the middle innings, with 43 strikeouts and 28 walks in 64 innings. In all other innings against LA, those starters have a 3.45 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 35 walks in 86 innings.

Alex Wood gets the start on Tuesday night for the Dodgers, his fourth start and sixth appearance of the season. So far this season, both as a starter and in relief, Wood has been dominant his first time through the batting order, holding hitters to 2-for-41 (.049) with 14 strikeouts and two walks, compared to 290/.405/.387 with six walks and five strikeouts afterward.

He’s coming off his best start of the season, allowing just a hit and a walk in six scoreless innings last Wednesday in San Francisco.

Matt Moore starts for the Giants, after allowing one run in seven innings to the Dodgers last Thursday.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA