The Los Angeles Dodgers finished their homestand with a walk-off win to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates, and now welcome back Mookie Betts to the lineup for the start of a seven-game road trip.
Amed Rosario was designated for assignment in order to make room on the Dodgers roster for Betts’ return. That was somewhat of a surprising decision considering Rosario joined the team less than two weeks ago among their additions at the trade deadline.
It represented a second consecutive year the Dodgers acquired Rosario at the MLB trade deadline. But his second stint with the team was much more limited as Rosario played in just five games while fulfilling a platoon role.
As for Betts, his return comes in right field and batting second against the Milwaukee Brewers.
He and the Dodgers face Freddy Peralta, who enters 7-6 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Peralta is coming off somewhat of a rough outing that saw him give up four runs on eight hits over just five innings.
Peralta has surrendered at least one home run in three consecutive starts, and six of his last seven. When Peralta faced the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in early July, he gave up a homer and three runs overall in four innings.
Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for a fourth start of the season and in search of his first win. Kershaw has gone 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.62 WHIP, but bounced back last week after struggling against the San Diego Padres.
Kershaw not only held the Philadelphia Phillies to just one run, but he continued to show an improved feel for throwing a chanageup.
If there’s still one key area of needed improvement for Kershaw, it’s pitching deeper into games. He’s yet to complete five innings in a start this year.
The Dodgers begin their road trip 1.5 games ahead of the Brewers, which is of note as the Phillies hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over L.A.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
2B: Gavin Lux
C: Will Smith
SS: Miguel Rojas
3B: Kiké Hernández
CF: Kevin Kiermaier
Brewers lineup
2B: Brice Turang
LF: Jackson Chourio
CF: Garrett Mitchell
C: William Contreras
SS: Willy Adames
DH: Gary Sanchez
1B: Rhys Hoskins
RF: Sal Frelick
3B: Joey Ortiz
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