After picking up a fourth consecutive win and moving into a tie with the San Francisco Giants for first place in the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies.
Wednesday’s game is the last midweek, afternoon start at Dodger Stadium this season. Los Angeles has the second-best home record in the NL (37-21), and are a season-high 15-games over .500. Whether that success will continue hinges in some part on how Scott Kazmir fairs.
He’s coming off another start in which he failed to complete six innings, allowing four runs on five hits to the Boston Red Sox. Kazmir also walked four batters in his 5.1 innings pitched.
While Kazmir has gone through his share of struggles, particularly in the first inning, he’s one of the few starting pitchers who’s managed to remain healthy this season.
Kazmir enters 9-5 with a 4.51 ERA, 4.43 FIP and 1.28 WHIP, throwing 121.2 innings over 22 starts.
The Phillies will counter with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who some are surprised to still see in a Philadelphia uniform after being the subject of trade rumors prior to the non-waiver deadline.
Hellickson has put together a solid first season for a struggling Phillies team as he’s posted a 9-7 record with a 3.72 ERA, 4.15 FIP and 1.15 WHIP in 23 starts. Hellickson has been particularly efficient in his last seven games, going 4-1 with 2.64 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts in 44.1 innings.
The Dodgers’ lineup is without Justin Turner for the first time in three weeks as he started the past 27 games. Rob Segedin makes his third start with the club since being recalled, but first at third base.
Segedin played 58 games (56 starts) at the hot corner for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Turner’s absence leads to Josh Reddick batting in the two-hole, and Corey Seager bumped to the third spot in the lineup.
The Dodgers have scored 18 runs on 24 hits, including seven home runs, through the first two games of the series.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
RF: Josh Reddick
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Howie Kendrick
3B: Rob Segedin
P: Scott Kazmir
Phillies lineup:
2B: Cesar Hernandez
CF: Aaron Altherr
3B: Maikel Franco
1B: Tommy Joseph
C: Carlos Ruiz
RF: Jimmy Paredes
LF: Tyler Goeddel
SS: Freddy Galvis
P: Jeremy Hellickson
