The Los Angeles Dodgers had their season-best six-game winning streak snapped, but can still come away with a second consecutive series victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. The matinee affair is a matchup between right-handers Brandon McCarthy and Adam Wainwright.
McCarthy threw six shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, though had his outing cut short due to knee tendinitis. He was sent for an MRI, which didn’t reveal any other issues in the right knee.
McCarthy said he’s suffered from tendinitis throughout the season and didn’t express any concern of it becoming a series injury.
On the season the 33-year-old is 5-1 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. McCarthy has completed six innings in each of his past two starts.
Like with McCarthy facing the Cardinals, Wainwright starts against the Dodgers for the first time this season. He’s 5-3 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 10 starts.
Wainwright began the season 0-3 with a 7.24 ERA, but is 5-0 with a 3.21 ERA in his past seven starts. Opponents batted .258/.326/.365 off the veteran during that stretch.
In his previous start, Wainwright held the Colorado Rockies scoreless over seven innings at Coors Field. He’s a lifetime 4-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 14 games (11 starts) against the Dodgers.
Chase Utley went hitless Wednesday night, but is 5-for-12 in the series, with one double, one triple, one home run and two RBI. He receives another start at second base, with Chris Taylor playing center field and batting leadoff.
The Dodgers made a roster move prior to the series finale, recalling Grant Dayton from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placing Adam Liberatore on the 10-day disabled list with left forearm tightness. Liberatore, along with Alex Wood, is returning to Los Angeles to be examined by team doctors.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
LF: Cody Bellinger
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Brandon McCarthy
Cardinals lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
1B: Matt Carpenter
RF: Stephen Piscotty
3B: Jedd Gyorko
C: Yadier Molina
LF: Tommy Pham
2B: Paul DeJong
SS: Aledmys Diaz
P: Adam Wainwright
