The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game set with the division-rival San Francisco Giants with a chance to take hold of first place in the National League West by the end of the series.
At 62-37, S.F. holds the best record in baseball and sits two games ahead of the 61-40 Dodgers. The two teams faced each other last week in L.A. as the Giants took three out of four thanks to two ninth-inning comebacks on blown saves by Kenley Jansen.
Julio Urias starts the series opener and enter with a 3.63 ERA and 3.63 FIP. He is also tied for the league lead in wins with 12.
Urias has made three starts against the Giants this season, pitching 18 innings and posting a 4.50 ERA. In his career against S.F., Urias has thrown 64.2 innings with a 2.78 ERA.
The Giants have been one of the more successful teams against left-handers this season, hitting .241/.328/.413 with a 103 wRC+, which makes them the second-best offense in the NL against lefties.
Right-hander Logan Webb, who has a 3.54 ERA and 3.32 FIP in 61 innings this year, makes the start for the Giants.
Webb has made two other starts against the Dodgers this year. In those outings, he allowed four runs (three earned) over 10 innings pitched, giving him a 2.70 ERA. He has made five starts in his career against L.A., throwing 23.2 innings with a 4.18 ERA.
The Dodgers have the NL’s top offense with a .248/.345/.428 batting line and 114 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, but injuries have slowed them down recently.
Luckily, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger return to the lineup, which will be a big boost to the offense. Especially with Muncy’s success against the Giants.
In 13 games against the San Francisco this season, Muncy is hitting .317/.440/.927 with eight home runs and eight walks against seven strikeouts. His 1.367 on-base plus slugging percentage against the Giants is his highest against any team he’s played more than three games against.
This is also the final series before the 2021 MLB trade deadline, so hug watch will be in full effect and the Dodgers will likely be adding reinforcements soon.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: AJ Pollock
RF: Billy McKinney
LF: Luke Raley
P: Julio Urias
Giants lineup
CF: Austin Slater
C: Buster Posey
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
1B: Darin Ruf
3B: Wilmer Flores
LF: LaMonte Wade Jr.
2B: Donovan Solano
SS: Thairo Estrada
P: Logan Webb
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