The Los Angeles Dodgers were well represented by six All-Stars in Miami, who are now joined by their teammates for the start of a three-game road series against the Marlins. Los Angeles begins the second half of their schedule with a 61-29 record that’s best in the Majors.
After returning last week from knee tendinitis, Brandon McCarthy gets the ball with an opportunity to further distance himself from the minor injury and small case of the yips. He allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits and issued two walks in six innings against the Kansas City Royals.
McCarthy earned a win when he faced the Marlins at home on May 21. He limited them to one run on three hits over six innings, while striking out five batters. McCarthy threw a complete-game shutout at Marlins Park in 2013, which is his lone start in the stadium.
On the season, the 34-year-old is 6-3 with a 3.12 ERA, 3.25 FIP and 1.13 WHIP. He’s historically improved after the first half of a season. McCarthy owns a career 4.38 ERA and 1.32 WHIP prior to the All-Star break, and a 3.71 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in the second half.
The Marlins, with a 41-46 record, currently find themselves 10.5 games back of first place in National League East and nine games out of the second Wild Card spot. Set to open the second half is Dan Straily, who is coming off perhaps his best start of the season.
Straily allowed just one run on four hits in 8.1 innings pitched during a July 7 win on the road against the San Francisco Giants. The 28-year-old has shown strong command over a recent stretch, striking out 43 batters and only issuing five walks in his last eight starts.
He has pitched tremendously well at Marlins Park this season, going 3-1 record with a 2.31 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in nine starts. Straily is 7-4 in 18 starts this season, to go along with a 3.31 ERA, 3.99 FIP and 1.05 WHIP.
The six-year veteran collected a victory against the Dodgers on May 20. Straily allowed three runs on four hits in 5.2 innings pitched, while striking out eight batters. Kiké Hernandez and Yasiel Puig are both 1-for-2 against Straily, with respective home runs.
Hernandez is not in the lineup, however, while Puig is starting in right field and batting eighth. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has everyday players in the lineup as his club looks to expand on a 26-4 stretch.
When the Dodgers and Marlins last met for a three-game set, it included a benches-clearing incident after A.J. Ramos plunked Brett Eibner and Ross Stripling threw behind Giancarlo Stanton.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Logan Forsythe
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Brandon McCarthy
Marlins lineup:
2B: Dee Gordon
RF: Giancarlo Stanton
CF: Christian Yelich
LF: Marcell Ozuna
1B: Justin Bour
3B: Martin Prado
C: J.T. Realmuto
SS: JT Riddle
P: Dan Straily
