The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers meet for the fourth time in the past week, with Monday marking the start of a series at Dodger Stadium. The teams previously split four games at American Family Field.
Both Julio Urías and Eric Lauer pitched in that series, but did not square off against each other. Urías labored a bit in the series opener against the Brewers but got through five scoreless innings to improve to 13-6 with a 2.40 ERA. Following that outing, Freddie Freeman said the Dodgers’ lefty deserved to be in the Cy Young Award discussion.
Urías trails only Tony Gonsolin (2.12 ERA) and Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcántara (2.19) for the best ERA in the National League.
The 26-year-old is 10-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last 11 starts. The Dodgers won the game he didn’t receive a decision in as well, because of Urías only pitching two innings against the Chicago Cubs.
Lauer turned in a quality start when he faced the Dodgers on Aug. 17, but was tabbed with a tough-luck loss. He collected seven strikeouts over seven innings but the two runs allowed propelled L.A. to a 2-1 victory in the third game of the series in Milwaukee.
The loss was Lauer’s first in 10 career starts against the Dodgers. Dating back to his time with the San Diego Padres, the southpaw is 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA in those meetings. Lauer is 8-5 with a 3.58 ERA in 22 starts this season.
He faces a Dodgers lineup that is fresh off getting to Alcántara and includes Max Muncy just being signed to a one-year, $13.5 million contract extension for the 2023 season. Muncy’s deal also includes a $10 million (plus incentives) team option for 2024.
Freeman enters play as the MLB hits leader with 151, followed closely by Trea Turner’s 149. They are in position to become the sixth set of teammates to finish first and second in total hits, which last was accomplished by Ichiro Suzuki and Brett Boone for the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
Prior to first pitch the Dodgers activated Brusdar Graterol off the 15-day injured list and optioned Ryan Pepiot to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers have a nine-game winning streak at Dodger Stadium, and are in their City Connect uniform for the series opener.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Justin Turner
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Cody Bellinger
Brewers lineup
DH: Andrew McCutchen
SS: Willy Adames
LF: Christian Yelich
RF: Hunter Renfroe
3B: Mike Brosseau
1B: Keston Hiura
2B: Kolten Wong
CF: Tyrone Taylor
C: Omar Narváez
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