The Los Angeles Dodgers are back at Dodger Stadium to resume play with American League West opponents as they host the Houston Astros for a weekend series.
The Dodgers are coming off a two-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with consecutive 2-0 wins. It also marked the 14th consecutive season the Dodgers have won with back-to-back shutouts, which tied them with the New York Yankees (1951-1964) for the longest such streak in MLB history.
L.A. now turns to Emmet Sheehan for his second career start since he was promoted from Double-A Tulsa. Sheehan impressed with six no-hit innings in his debut against the San Francisco Giants, but only struck out three hitters while walking two.
During his first start, Sheehan joined Ross Stripling (7.1 innings on April 8, 2016) and Daniel Ponce de Leon (seven innings on July 23, 2018) as the only pitchers in MLB history with at least six no-hit innings in their MLB debuts.
At the Minor League level, the right-hander held a 1.86 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 88 strikeouts to only 23 walks in 12 games (10 starts) across 53.1 innings for the Drillers before he was promoted.
The Astros counter with a rookie of their own in J.P. France. The right-hander made his MLB debut on May 6, 2023, with five scoreless innings against the Mariners.
Since then, France was roughed up in one outing where he allowed six earned runs in just 3.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs, but he has been effective in all his starts outside of that.
Overall on the season, France owns a 3.42 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. In June, he has thrown 20.1 innings with just six earned runs allowed (2.69 ERA), but he has only struck out 12.
France does seem primed for regression and his lack of ability to miss bats could benefit the Dodgers, but he still has limited quality contact with a hard hit rate in the 70th percentile of pitchers.
Max Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 16 with discomfort in his left hamstring, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Muncy would return and start for the first game of the series against the Astros. However, Muncy remains out of the lineup with Michael Busch getting the start at third base.
Prior to the game the Dodgers activated Phil Bickford off the 15-day IL and optioned Alex Vesia to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: J.D. Martinez
LF: David Peralta
2B: Migeul Vargas
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
3B: Michael Busch
Astros lineup
2B: Jose Altuve
1B: Mauricio Dubón
RF: Kyle Tucker
3B: Alex Bregman
DH: Yainer Diaz
LF: Corey Julks
SS: Jeremy Peña
CF: Chas McCormick
C: Martín Maldonado
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