The Los Angeles Dodgers have suffered back-to-back losses to start their final road trip before the All-Star break and now look to avoid being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies are going to be in their ever-popular powder blue uniform. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have not been swept in Philadelphia since May 18-20, 2004.
Anthony Banda is making the start as an opener in the series finale at Citizens Bank Park in place of Tyler Glasnow, who was put on the 15-day injured list this week because of lower back tightness. Thursday’s start was going to be Glasnow’s last of the first half.
Although the Dodgers aren’t concerned with his back trouble and Glasnow will receive an extended period of rest, he’s also going to miss an opportunity to pitch in the All-Star Game for the first time.
Landon Knack is expected to follow Banda after likely just one inning of work.
Knack had already earned a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation moving forward because of injuries to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler. He last pitched on the Fourth of July at Dodger Stadium, allowing four runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks over just 4.1 innings.
Knack was among multiple Dodgers pitchers tormented by Christian Walker, and he surrendered three home runs overall in the outing.
Home runs have been a trouble spot for Knack, who has given up at least one long ball in six of seven starts for the Dodgers.
The Phillies are third in the National League with 110 home runs hit this season.
On the pitching side for Philadelphia, they hand the ball to Aaron Nola. The right-handed ace enters 10-4 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 18 starts this season.
The Dodgers made an offer to Nola in free agency last winter but he reportedly was opposed to playing in Los Angeles.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
C: Will Smith
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
RF: Andy Pages
SS: Miguel Rojas
CF: James Outman
3B: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Phillies lineup
DH: Kyle Schwarber
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Bryce Harper
3B: Alec Bohm
2B: Bryson Stott
RF: Nick Castellanos
LF: Brandon Marsh
CF: Johan Rojas
C: Garrett Stubbs
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