The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Entering play Tuesday, the Dodgers are 89-38 and have a run differential of +286, both of which are the top marks in all of Major League Baseball. The Mets trail the Dodgers by eight games for the best record.
The Dodgers send Andrew Heaney to the mound for his 10th start of the season. The left-hander holds a record of 2-1 with a 1.94 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 1.01 WHIP across 41.2 innings pitched.
Tuesday is Heaney’s first outing against the Mets this year, which is unfortunate timing given the potency of their lineup and his rough patch in over the last three starts.
Heaney has logged 25 strikeouts in his past 13.2 innings, but he’s also allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits, including four home runs. Heaney’s 4.61 ERA since Aug. 13 is a stark contrast to the 0.64 ERA he held through his first six starts of the season.
Heaney has kept his ability to get a strikeout when needed at the forefront, but some poorly located pitches resulted in hard contact. The Mets are the fourth-toughest team in baseball to strike out.
The Mets counter with Taijuan Walker, who has been somewhat of a rollercoaster thus far in 2022. He makes his 23rd start of the season and enters 10-3 and a 3.38 ERA over 117.1 innings.
Walker last faced the Dodgers on June 2, taking the loss after lasting 5.2 innings and allowing only two earned runs. His results don’t match up with peripheral numbers, as Walker’s expected ERA is nearly a run higher than his current ERA, at 4.24.
Mookie Betts is back in the Dodgers lineup since being named NL Player of the Week. He appeared off the bench on Monday but did not make a plate appearance.
The Dodgers and Mets split a four-game series at Dodger Stadium during the first week of June. Francisco Lindor and Max Scherzer both expressed their excitement for the latest matchup.
Prior to the game the Dodgers added fresh arms to their bullpen in the form of Heath Hembree and Jake Reed. Phil Bickford and Michael Grove were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Eddy Alvarez was designated for assignment in order to make room for Hembree on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Joey Gallo
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Austin Barnes
Mets lineup
CF: Brandon Nimmo
RF: Starling Marte
SS: Francisco Lindor
1B: Pete Alonso
DH: Darin Ruf
LF: Mark Canha
2B: Jeff McNeil
3B: Eduardo Escobar
C: James McCann
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