The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to win their sixth consecutive series in the finale of the four-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The last time the Dodgers lost a series came during Aug. 25-27, when they dropped two of three games to the Washington Nationals. However, following that and one more loss to the Colorado Rockies in their next series, the Dodgers went on a run of 12-straight wins.
Andrew Heaney takes the mound after going just three innings in his last outing against the Kansas City Royals. His early exit was due to an arm contusion that stemmed from being hit in the left arm/shoulder area by a 106.5 mph line-drive comebacker.
The 31-year-old has not been on the field much this season due to multiple shoulder injuries, but Heaney has been highly effective when he has been able to pitch. Following a 2021 season in which he posted an ERA near six across 30 games, Heaney has pitched a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings for the Dodgers.
Heaney also owns a 2.18 FIP, 32.3% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate in his seven starts and he has yet to allow more than three runs, or two earned runs, during one of his outings. The Dodgers made a bet on Heaney’s talent in the offseason, and the veteran starter has proven their faith in him to be correct.
The Brewers counter with their ace, Corbin Burnes, who won the National League Cy Young Award last season.
While not as dominant as his 2021 season, Burnes has still been among the game’s top starters this year, posting a 2.39 ERA and 3.04 FIP in 143 innings while striking out 32.3% of hitters and walking 6.8%.
The Bakersfield, Calif. native, who was collegiate teammates with Tony Gonsolin at St. Mary’s College, had a rough start to August by allowing four runs in 5.1 innings, but he has followed that with back-to-back outings allowing just one run in a combined 13 innings.
Against right-handers, the Dodgers are batting an MLB-leading .262/.338/.459 with a 124 wRC+ while the Brewers are near the bottom of the back against southpaws, hitting .218/.306/.348 with an 85 wRC+.
Cody Bellinger is back in the Dodgers lineup after consecutive games off amid his latest skid. Bellinger is 2-for-19 with six strikeouts since hitting two home runs against the San Diego Padres on Aug. 7. One of those hits during the skid was a home run off Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez.
Mookie Betts gets his first day off since returning from the 10-day injured list on July 3, ending a string of 39 consecutive starts.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Gavin Lux
RF: Joey Gallo
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
Brewers lineup
DH: Christian Yelich
SS: Willy Adames
LF: Andrew McCutchen
RF: Hunter Renfroe
3B: Mike Brosseau
1B: Keston Hiura
2B: Kolten Wong
C: Victor Caratini
CF: Tyrone Taylor
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 stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
