After extending their modest winning streak to three games by defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in the series opener at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers welcome back Walker Buehler.
He was activated off the 10-day injured list on the first day of being eligible to return. Buehler had been sidelined since last week due to a blister on the index finger of his right hand.
It prevented him from starting the second game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants and also came at an inopportune time as Buehler had just put together his best outing of the season.
He held the Colorado Rockies to just one run and had 11 strikeouts over six innings, earning his first decision of the year. Overall this season, Buehler is 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts. He’s logged at least five innings in only three of those.
A win Wednesday night will guarantee the Dodgers don’t lose their first series this season and improve them to 10-0-3. No other team can lay claim to such accomplishment this year.
The Diamondbacks counter with Zac Gallen, who also is 1-0 but sports a 2.09 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in seven starts. Gallen was strong his last time out, allowing just one run over seven innings to pick up his first win.
When Gallen faced the Dodgers at Chase Field on July 31, he recorded a season-high nine strikeouts and gave up just two runs (one earned) in six innings. Mookie Betts hit a solo home run off the right-hander.
While Betts presumably will be in the lineup, the Dodgers again are without Cody Bellinger. He was held out Tuesday after experiencing tightness in his right lat. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Bellinger would go through a pregame workout Wednesday that would determine his availability.
Bellinger took swings and is improving, but Roberts explained the team elected to err on the side of caution. The hope is Bellinger will return for the series finale.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
CF: AJ Pollock
1B: Max Muncy
LF: Chris Taylor
DH: Joc Pederson
C: Will Smith
3B: Edwin Rios
2B: Gavin Lux
Diamondbacks lineup
RF: Kole Calhoun
2B: Ketel Marte
1B: Christian Walker
LF: David Peralta
3B: Eduardo Escobar
DH: Josh Rojas
SS: Nick Ahmed
CF: Daulton Varsho
C: Carson Kelly
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