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Cardinals Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Rubber Match To Conclude Homestand

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

In the midst of a 12-2 stretch, the Los Angeles Dodgers began their homestand with a win, only to then lose four of the next five games. The Dodgers now look to avoid consecutive losses and win a series against the St. Louis Cardinals in Wednesday’s rubber match.

Walker Buehler is back on the mound as he tries to rebound from a bit of a shaky performance. Buehler only allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over six innings but struggled to put away San Francisco Giants batters.

“Just not very good stuff, not very many good pitches. They found a way to kind of touch everything I was throwing,” Buehler said after finishing with three strikeouts. “Kind of back to the drawing board.

“Kind of feel good that we got out of it, but I’ve got to be better. Our offense scraped a couple runs off of their guy, and I’ve just got to be a little bit better.”

Despite not being pleased with the performance, Buehler lowered his season ERA to 2.66 and he enters 3-0 in 10 starts. He has a streak of logging at least six innings each time out thus far.

Carlos Martinez starts for the Cardinals in his 10th outing of the year. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his last start but ended up allowing three runs on three hits and one walk.

Martinez is 3-4 with a 4.22 ERA this season, though has a 2.82 ERA in his past six starts. Walks have been somewhat of an issue for Martinez as he has given out at least two free passes in five starts this year.

Martinez sees a Dodgers lineup that again has Cody Bellinger starting. He appeared off the bench Tuesday in what manager Dave Roberts initially deemed a “recovery day” and “work day” as Bellinger gets back into the swing of things since returning from the 10-day injured list.

Dodgers lineup

RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chris Taylor
SS: Gavin Lux
LF: Zach McKinstry
C: Austin Barnes
P: Walker Buehler

Cardinals lineup

2B: Tommy Edman
CF: Dylan Carlson
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Nolan Arenado
LF: Tyler O’Neill
SS: Edmundo Sosa
C: Andrew Knizner
RF: Justin Williams
P: Carlos Martinez

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com