Brock Stewart joins Dodgers rotation for Twins finale

The Dodgers will turn to Brock Stewart to try to finish off the sweep of the Twins on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Especially in his first time out, the club won’t ask too much of Stewart, and he should fit right in to the back end of the rotation.

In Tuesday’s win, Kenta Maeda only lasted five innings but also only allowed two runs (one earned). 31 times this season a Dodgers starter has lasted at least five innings but not quite six, and the starter in those games allowed two or fewer runs 23 times. The starter ERA in those games is 3.15, and the Dodgers have won 24 of the 31 games.

The Dodgers might not get five innings out of Stewart on Wednesday as he has a pitch limit of 50-60 pitches for his 2017 starting debut. The right-hander has been quite effective out of the bullpen so far this season, posting 13 scoreless innings, allowing only five hits and three walks, with 10 strikeouts.

Dodgers starting pitchers this season have allowed two or fewer runs an astonishing 70 times in 101 games. That’s 15 more games than any other team in baseball.

Stewart will be just the eighth starting pitcher used by the Dodgers this season, in their 102nd game. In 2016, the club needed just 75 games to get to an eighth starter (Nick Tepesch). In 2015 things were more chaotic, with the club using an eighth starter (Scott Baker) in the opening month of the season, in their 23rd game.

The Dodgers are 11-3 in interleague play this season.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA