The Los Angeles Dodgers have won three games in a row on three separate instances this season, and now look to reach a four-game streak for the first time as they send Walker Buehler to the mound agains the L.A. Angels.
Buehler was effectively wild his last time out, and above all else managed to further build his innings base by pitching into the sixth. Some of his command issues were to the glove side, which the 26-year-old considered a positive and more in line with usual results.
“Obviously the four leadoff walks are not what you’re trying to do, but stuff was better and located outside of those (walks) a lot better,” Buehler said. “Just a little bit erratic. … Kind of a tale of two games for me.
“The leadoff stuff is what it is, four walks, you don’t feel great about it, there were a lot of bad fastballs. And then get in the stretch and kind of letting some balls go and sequencing closer to the way I normally do.
Buehler has yet to earn a decision in any of his first four outings this season, and has pitched to a 4.40 ERA. Buehler allowed two runs and collected five strikeouts over five innings in his lone career start against the Angels. He’s 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in seven lifetime Interleague starts.
The Dodgers are backing Buehler with a lineup that’s in the midst of a torrid stretch. Mookie Betts has proven time and time again to be comfortable in the leadoff spot, Corey Seager has returned from lower back discomfort, and Cody Bellinger is coming off a multi-home run performance.
Justin Turner also enters play with a nine-game hitting streak. He’ll look to extend that against Andrew Heaney, who famously spent a few hours as a member of the Dodgers organization.
Heaney enters 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts this season. Heaney was enjoying a successful campaign before struggling against the Texas Rangers at the beginning of the week. Prior to getting roughed up, Heaney had allowed two runs or fewer in each of his first three starts.
The Dodgers placed Will Smith on the 10-day injured list due to neck inflammation and recalled Keibert Ruiz.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: AJ Pollock
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
Angels lineup
SS: David Fletcher
1B: Tommy La Stella
CF: Mike Trout
3B: Anthony Rendon
DH: Shohei Ohtani
LF: Taylor Ward
RF: Brian Goodwin
C: Max Stassi
2B: Luis Rengifo
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