Walker Buehler returns to the starting rotation with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the midst of a five-game winning streak and in position to clinch a series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
The Dodgers have already guaranteed themselves a season series win, which could come into play as the Brewers vie for one of the top records in the National League.
Despite all their recent struggles and rash of injuries, the Dodgers enter play tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the best record in baseball. They’ve won five games in a row for the second time since the All-Star break, and it’s tied for their third-longest streak this season.
Buehler looks to help extend the Dodgers’ winning streak while also getting back on track himself. He’s 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through eight starts so far this season.
Buehler’s best outing came against the Cincinnati Reds on May 18, during which he had seven strikeouts and allowed just three hits over six scoreless innings.
Prior to getting activated off the 15-day injured list, Buehler made three rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He allowed a combined nine runs on 16 hits, and had 14 strikeouts over 12.2 innings.
However, Buehler is coming off of 5.1 innings pitched with just one run given up in his final rehab start for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club last week.
Landon Knack was optioned to Triple-A as the corresponding roster move to Buehler returning from the 15-day injured list.
The Brewers are starting former Dodgers prospect Frankie Montas. He was part of a three-team trade in December 2015 that also sent Micah Johnson and Trayce Thompson from the Chicago White Sox to the Dodgers.
L.A. traded Brandon Dixon, José Peraza and Scott Schebler to the Cincinnati Reds, and the White Sox received Todd Frazier.
Then in August 2016, the Dodgers traded Montas, Grant Holmes and Jharel Cotton to the Oakland Athletics for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
Montas made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2015 but didn’t reach the Majors again until doing so with the A’s in 2017. He’s also pitched for the New York Yankees and Reds.
Milwaukee acquired Montas from Cincinnati at the trade deadline this year in exchange for Jakob Junis, Joey Wiemer and cash considerations.
Montas went 4-8 with a 5.01 ERA, 4.94 FIP and 1.44 WHIP in 19 starts for the Reds before getting traded. He’s 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts for the Brewers thus far.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
2B: Gavin Lux
3B: Kiké Hernández
CF: Kevin Kiermaier
C: Austin Barnes
SS: Nick Ahmed
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