The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games with an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, but did not gain any ground in the National League West standings as the first-place San Francisco Giants also defeated the San Diego Padres.
With only two games left in the regular season, the Dodgers’ hopes of winning a ninth consecutive division title are hanging by a thread. L.A. at best could force a tie-breaking Game 163, but that would require sweeping the Brewers and the Padres winning their final two games against the Giants.
Julio Urias makes his final tuneup before the postseason and can become the only pitcher in baseball with 20 wins. Reaching the milestone would be special for the left-hander as it has been a longtime goal of his.
“Obviously I like hitting. I’ve always talked about how much I like hitting,” Urias began when asked if we would rather reach 10 RBI or 20 wins this season.
“We have a competition amongst ourselves and it’s something that’s very important to me. I was able to contribute, which is really great. But reaching 20 wins would be a dream come true and something I’m really striving for.”
Urias tossed five shutout innings in his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and for the season, has pitched to a 19-3 record, 3.01 ERA, 3.16 FIP and 1.04 WHIP over 179.1 innings (31 games).
Urias was dominant in his only other start against the Brewers this season, tossing seven innings of one-run ball with 10 strikeouts on May 2. In five career starts against Milwaukee, he is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 29 frames.
With the Giants losing prior to first pitch at Dodger Stadium, it’s expected that Urias will have a traditional start rather than a shortened outing as the NL West race remains ongoing.
The Brewers counter with Corbin Burnes, who looks to put the finishing touches on what has been a fantastic 2021 campaign. He enters at 11-4 with an MLB-best 2.29 ERA, 1.56 FIP and 0.93 WHIP in 165 innings.
Max Scherzer is right behind Burnes with a 2.46 ERA, so if the Dodgers are able to put up a crooked number against the right-hander, he potentially could lose his ERA title.
Burnes has not faced the Dodgers this season, but for his career, owns a 1-0 record, 9.45 ERA and 2.40 WHIP in 6.2 innings across three career appearances (one start).
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
LF: AJ Pollock
CF: Cody Bellinger
P: Julio Urias
Brewers lineup
2B: Kolten Wong
SS: Willy Adames
3B: Eduardo Escobar
LF: Christian Yelich
RF: Tyrone Taylor
CF: Lorenzo Cain
1B: Rowdy Tellez
C: Manny Pińa
P: Corbin Burnes
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