The Los Angeles Dodgers take the field Wednesday with a chance for a season-best nine-game winning streak and to go 5-0 on their road trip. L.A. has won 12 of the past 13, while the Houston Astros are mired in a four-game losing streak.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is a proponent of momentum hinging on the next game’s starting pitcher, and that is Trevor Bauer. The right-hander is coming off an impressive outing against the San Francisco Giants when the Dodgers’ bullpen needed a bit of a reprieve.
Bauer threw 126 pitches, the second most of his career, to get through 6.1 innings. He finished with a season-best 11 strikeouts and allowed just one unearned run on two hits.
Although Bauer appeared mindful of the seventh inning being his last, the 30-year-old refuted the notion that there wasn’t more to give. “Who said I emptied the tank?” Bauer said when asked about expending energy late.
Of course, the start may be most remembered for Bauer egging on boos from Giants fans as he walked off the field. He figures to receive similar treatment at Minute Maid Park due to a long history of criticizing the Astros for their electronic sign-stealing scandal and other alleged improprieties.
Bauer has used that discontent to fuel success, going 8-0 in nine career starts against the Astros thus far. It’s the most victories Bauer has against any opponent he has not lost to.
The Giants counter with rookie Luis Garcia for his ninth career start. He’s coming off back-to-back wins and enters 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA. Garcia nonetheless has continued to be plagued by the home run ball, surrendering eight in 40 innings pitched this season.
Garcia faces a Dodgers lineup that will have Justin Turner as the designated hitter. Turner’s home run off Zack Greinke in the series opener was his first since May 4.
“I’ve been feeling a lot better. Feel like I’m taking good at-bats, quality contact, driving balls, just haven’t been really getting rewarded for them,” Turner said after the win. “So it felt good to get a couple good results tonight, drive in some runs and get a victory.”
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mooki Betts
2B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
SS: Gavin Lux
CF: Chris Taylor
1B: Matt Beaty
LF: Yoshi Tsutsugo
3B: Sheldon Neuse
Astros lineup
2B: Jose Altuve
LF: Aledmys Díaz
3B: Alex Bregman
RF: Kyle Tucker
1B: Yuli Gurriel
SS: Carlos Correa
DH: Taylor Jones
CF: Myles Straw
C: Martín Maldonado
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
