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Dodgers Vs. Phillies Game Preview: Bryce Harper & Kyle Schwarber Return For National League Showdown

Matt Borelli
3 Min Read
Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports

After a 3-3 homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin their final road trip before the All-Star break with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

The Dodgers enter with a 55-36 record, which is good for first place in the National League West. The Phillies, at 58-32, own the best record in all of baseball. The Phillies enter the potential NL Championship Series preview 3.5 games ahead of the Dodgers.

Bobby Miller is on the mound for his seventh start of the season, looking to build on an encouraging outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He did not factor into the decision, but allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of work.

“I definitely wish I could have given them more innings, but at the end of the day, it’s a step forward for me,” Miller said of his performance.

“To get away with the stuff I had today, I feel pretty good about it, because that definitely was not my best stuff today. But I got away with it and got through five.

Miller is 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA, 5.57 FIP and 1.60 WHIP in 25 innings pitched (six starts). He threw six scoreless innings in his only outing against the Phillies last season.

Philadelphia counters with Zack Wheeler, who has registered a quality start in his last three trips to the mound. He gave up two runs on five hits and collected seven strikeouts in six innings pitched against the Chicago Cubs last week.

Wheeler is in the midst of another strong season as he owns a 9-4 record, 2.74 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 0.99 WHIP and 9.6 strikeouts per nine over 111.2 innings pitched (18 starts).

The right-hander is 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in six career starts against the Dodgers.

The Phillies activated Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber off the 10-day injured list prior to the series opener.

Dodgers lineup

DH: Shohei Ohtani
C: Will Smith
1B: Freddie Freeman
RF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Miguel Vargas
3B: Cavan Biggio

Phillies lineup

DH: Kyle Schwarber
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Bryce Harper
3B: Alec Bohm
2B: Bryson Stott
RF: Nick Castellanos
LF: Brandon Marsh
C: Rafael Marchán
CF: Johan Rojas

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Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.