The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to complete a series sweep of the Washington Nationals after scoring 19 runs in their previous two games.
The series has thus far gone about as expected for both teams as the Dodgers are first in the National League with a 29-13 record and +102 run differential while the Nationals are next to last at 14-30 and with a -64 run differential.
Mookie Betts, the Dodgers’ hottest hitter as of late who had two home runs on Tuesday to take the NL lead, takes a seat on the bench for a scheduled day off. Had Betts played, he would have been looking to break a tie with Rafael Furcal for the Dodgers’ record of 12 consecutive games with a run scored, which he tied in their 9-4 win.
Cody Bellinger also is out of the Dodgers lineup as he remains under the weather. Betts was originally due to be off Tuesday, but started because Bellinger was unavailable due to illness.
The domino effect has Hanser Alberto making just a second career start in right field.
On the mound is Julio Urías for his ninth start of the season. In his previous eight outings, the southpaw has thrown 41 innings, posting a fantastic 2.63 ERA, but a 4.47 FIP suggests he has been fairly lucky to this point.
Urías has only struck out 18.9% of hitters, down from his career mark of 24%, but he has also only walked 4.9% compared to his 7% career mark.
Urías has appeared in five games (four starts) against the Nationals in his career and holds a 2.66 ERA against them in 23.2 innings.
The Nationals counter with Erick Fedde, is also making his ninth start of the year. In his previous outings, Fedde has posted a 4.08 ERA and 4.52 FIP in 39.2 innings while striking out 20.7% of batters and walking 12.1%.
The veteran right-hander has appeared in parts of six Major League seasons and owns a career 5.13 ERA and 5.11 FIP. Fedde previously faced the Dodgers one time in 2019 when he entered a game as a reliever and pitched a scoreless inning while walking one.
As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .251/.341/.431 with 32 home runs and an MLB-best 123 wRC+ against right-handers. Against southpaws, the Nationals have struggled to produce any offense, hitting .239/.307/.314 with a 78 wRC+ and three home runs.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Justin Turner
DH: Edwin Ríos
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Max Muncy
LF: Gavin Lux
RF: Hanser Alberto
C: Austin Barnes
Nationals lineup
2B: César Hernández
LF: Lane Thomas
RF: Juan Soto
DH: Nelson Cruz
1B: Josh Bell
3B: Maikel Franco
C: Riley Adams
CF: Victor Robles
SS: Alcides Escobar
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