The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their homestand by beginning a series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Memorial Day. The Dodgers enter play on a three-game losing streak and in third place in the National League West standings.
Monday’s series opener features an intriguing pitching matchup between Trevor Bauer and Jack Flaherty, both of whom are in the early NL Cy Young Award discussion. The start also marks a homecoming for Flaherty, a Burbank, California native.
Flaherty enters at 8-1 with a 2.84 ERA and coming off his first loss of the season. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 36 strikeouts in four career starts against the Dodgers.
Bauer also is looking to rebound from a loss as he labored against the Houston Astros. Bauer is 5-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 11 outings this season. His 91 strikeouts are only four behind Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer for the NL lead.
The Dodgers have Mookie Betts in the lineup after he missed the final two games of the Giants series. One was for rest, then Betts was scratched Sunday because of an allergies issue that impaired his vision.
“He woke up with allergies, couldn’t keep his eyes open. It’s an allergy thing, so we’re getting drops and kind of trying to manage it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained. “It’s kind of one of these things right now that’s compiling. It’s where we’re at, but we’re going to need him.”
Betts wound up being available off the bench and was going to take over in right field had the Dodgers forced extra innings in the series finale against their longtime rival.
Although Betts has dealt with nagging back and left shoulder trouble, Roberts said the Dodgers are not anticipating putting him on the 10-day injured list.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
SS: Gavin Lux
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Zach McKinstry
P: Trevor Bauer
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