The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks conclude their four-game series with what could prove to be a pivotal matchup when the season comes to an end.
This is the final meeting between the two clubs and in their previous 12 matchups, they have split the games, 6-6. The winner of this game would hold the potential tiebreaker for the National League West division title due to their head-to-head record against each other.
Although the Dodgers enter with a five-game lead in the NL West, the D-Backs could still make that ground up with a month to go, so that season series victory could prove to be valuable for either side.
Jack Flaherty gets the ball for the Dodgers in his first start since getting hit on the wrist against the Baltimore Orioles.
Flaherty said he had no issues after being hit, but the Dodgers still pushed his scheduled start back a day, opting to use Justin Wrobleski on Sunday.
Since being acquired ahead of the MLB trade deadline, Flaherty has been good, but not great. In his five starts for L.A., he’s pitched to a 3.49 ERA, 4.37 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in 28.1 innings and he’s given up at least three runs in three of his five starts.
Prior to the trade, Flaherty held a 2.95 ERA, 3.13 FIP and 0.96 WHIP for the Detroit Tigers as he looks to get back to that point.
“For me, I feel like I came over in a good spot and have kind of hit probably the weirdest funk I’ve probably been in all year, in terms of just nibbling, not quite getting deep enough in the game, not quite being as sharp, just missing,” Flaherty said after his start on Aug. 21.
The Diamondbacks turn to Eduardo Rodriguez as they try to salvage a series split. Rodriguez, who was almost traded to the Dodgers last season, is making just his fifth start of the year.
So far, Rodriguez has struggled as he returns from injury, throwing 21.1 innings with a 5.06 ERA, 4.21 FIP and 1.22 WHIP. He allowed five runs in 5.1 innings his last time out and he has allowed at least three runs in three of his four starts.
The Dodgers are going with a right-handed heavy lineup due to Rodriguez’s splits. Right-handers have posted an .867 on-base plus slugging against Rodriguez, while left-handers have been limited to a .125 mark.
That means Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández are both in the lineup, replacing Gavin Lux and Max Muncy, who have both been below league average against southpaws.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
C: Will Smith
CF: Tommy Edman
SS: Miguel Rojas
3B: Kiké Hernández
2B: Chris Taylor
Diamondbacks lineup
RF: Corbin Carroll
CF: Jake McCarthy
DH: Joc Pederson
1B: Josh Bell
LF: Pavin Smith
C: Adrian Del Castillo
3B: Eugenio Suarez
2B: Luis Guillorme
SS: Geraldo Perdomo
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