Propelled by Will Smith’s late-game heroics, the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets in the series opener at Citi Field. It allowed L.A. to keep pace with the San Francisco Giants, who defeated the Colorado Rockies to extend their winning streak to six games.
The Dodgers and Mets are back at it on Saturday as Walker Buehler makes his 24th start of the season. The 27-year-old is coming off a decent outing against the L.A. Angels in which he allowed only one run over six innings but also tied a career high with four walks.
Buehler nonetheless improved to 12-2 on the season as the Dodgers went on to win 8-2. He enters Saturday’s start with an MLB-best 2.13 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 0.94 WHIP and 152 strikeouts in 147.2 innings pitched.
Buehler only has faced the Mets twice in his career, with both appearances coming in the 2019 season. He allowed seven runs and nine hits in 10 innings of work, collecting seven strikeouts against three walks.
New York counters with Taijuan Walker, who has struggled mightily in the second half. After a dominant first two-plus months of the season that culminated with his first career All-Star selection, he has posted a 9.86 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in five starts.
Walker has accumulated an overall 7-7 record, 3.89 ERA, 4.40 FIP and 1.21 WHIP in 111 innings pitched over 21 starts. Having previously spent three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he has seen plenty of the Dodgers over the years.
In seven career starts against L.A., Walker owns a 3-1 record, 4.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 34 strikeouts across 34.2 innings.
Justin Turner is available to pinch-hit off the bench and could be back in the Dodgers lineup for the series finale. Turner hasn’t played since last Sunday due to left groin discomfort.
Justin Bruihl, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen and Kenley Jansen are all unavailable due to recent usage. Meanwhile, less than an hour before first pitch the Dodgers placed Julio Urias on the 10-day injured list due to a left calf contusion and recalled Zach McKinstry from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
SS: Corey Seager
LF: AJ Pollock
3B: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Billy McKinney
P: Walke Buehler
Mets lineup
CF: Brandon Nimmo
2B: Jeff McNeil
1B: Pete Alonso
LF: Dominic Smith
RF: Michael Conforto
3B: J.D. Davis
SS: Jonathan Villar
C: Tomas Nido
P: Taijuan Walker
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