The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their seven-game road trip in thrilling fashion by erasing a deficit and then defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in extra innings. A win Tuesday would guarantee the Dodgers yet another series in which they will not drop.
What’s more, Los Angeles can improve to a season-best 54 games over .500. The Dodgers have won 22 of their last 26 games and are 53-10 since June 7, which is the best 63-game stretch in franchise history and best in the Majors since the 1912 New York Giants.
Brock Stewart takes the mound for a start in place of Yu Darvish, who is on the disabled list due to lower back tightness but expected to return Sunday. Stewart last pitched for the Dodgers on Aug. 10, in a relief appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
His last start with the team came Aug. 2, when Stewart allowed two runs on three hits and issued three walks in just four innings. The right-hander has yet to receive a decision in nine games (two starts) this season.
Stewart faced the Pirates last season, allowing one run on two hits in three innings in relief. Tuesday’s start is his first time pitching at PNC Park. Overall this season, the 25-year-old yields a 1.64 ERA, 4.05 FIP and 1.05 WHIP.
Although he began to warm up while Monday’s series opener was in extra innings, Jameson Taillon takes the mound for his scheduled start.
Taillon was six starts into the 2017 season before receiving unfortunate news that took precedent over baseball. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which required immediate surgery.
After spending five weeks recovering, the Pirates activated him for a June 12 start against the Colorado Rockies. Since then, Taillon has had a roller coaster return, acclimating himself back to the Major Leagues.
In his last start, Taillon completed five innings, allowed four runs on seven hits, issued three walks and struck out seven but didn’t factor into the decision of a Pirates’ loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Taillon allowed four runs runs on eight hits in just four innings when he faced the Dodgers in a home start as a rookie last season. In 21 career starts at PNC Park, Taillon owns a 5-5 record, to go along with a 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Overall this season, he’s 7-4 with a 4.64 ERA.
Corey Seager, who enters Tuesday’s contest with a 10-game hitting streak, is 2-for-3 against the Pirates pitcher, with a double and RBI. Justin Turner is 2-for-2 with a double and RBI off Taillon.
After starting in a different lineup spot in each of his first three games with the Dodgers, Curtis Granderson is again batting cleanup. He has a home run over the past two games, one of which was a grand slam.
Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 20, with a mild right ankle sprain. Josh Ravin was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Pirates also addressed their bullpen in the aftermath of a 12-inning game, recalling Steven Brault, Johnny Barbato and Edgar Santana.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Curtis Granderson
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Logan Forsythe
P: Brock Stewart
Pirates lineup:
LF: Starling Marte
2B: Adam Frazier
CF: Andrew McCutchen
1B: Josh Bell
3B: Josh Harrison
RF: John Jaso
C: Elias Diaz
SS: Jordy Mercer
P: Jameson Taillon
