Dodgers to start Rich Hill, Hyun-jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda again vs. Diamondbacks

SAN DIEGO — As the Dodgers get ready for Game 2 of their doubleheader against the Padres, they have set their starting rotation through their next series, too.

The Diamondbacks come to Los Angeles beginning Monday night for three games, and will face the same three starting pitchers they pasted in Phoenix earlier this week. Rich Hill, Hyun-jin Ryu, and Kenta Maeda will start for the Dodgers against Arizona, after allowing a combined 19 runs on 24 hits in just 10⅔ innings in the three games.

Arizona entered Saturday with a 4½-game lead over Colorado for the top wild card spot in the National League, and looms as a potential NLDS opponent for the Dodgers. Of the three pitchers the Dodgers plan to pitch against the Diamondbacks, only Hill is likely in the playoff starting rotation, but manager Dave Roberts downplayed any gamesmanship in selecting his pitchers for the series.

“It doesn’t matter. They just didn’t pitch well. We’re gonna be at home, and they will pitch better,” Roberts said. “We’re not concerned about the matchup.”

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have split 16 games this season, but Los Angeles is 6-3 in games started by Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish, Alex Wood, and Hill.

Saturday is the fifth day of a 16-day stretch that sees the Dodgers playing 17 games. Roberts said the Dodgers plan to continue with a six-man rotation at least through the series against Arizona.

“As we get to the middle of September, we’ll lock in on five guys,” Roberts said.