The Los Angeles Dodgers are on a six-game winning streak and have the best record in baseball as they begin the second leg of their road trip by facing the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Julio Urías takes the ball in the series opener for his sixth start of the season. Urías is part of a Dodgers rotation that has a 1.83 ERA, which is the best mark in the Majors.
Urías is coming off just 65 pitches over six innings against the San Francisco Giants. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the short outing was due to the Giants making hard contact and Urías losing some sharpness.
The left-hander admitted he always wants to remain in games, but also accepted Roberts’ decision and recognized it was with the bigger picture in mind.
On the season, Urías is 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. He faces a Pirates team that is four games below .500 but 8-1 when scoring at least five runs.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers look to keep their success going against José Quitana. He’s also making a sixth start of the season, but enters 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Quitana has not earned a decision since his first start of the year.
Mookie Betts enters play with a nine-game hitting streak, with five of those being multi-hit efforts. Betts is batting .389/.410/.667 with one double, three home runs, eight RBI and two walks during the streak. Betts recently said this was the best he’s felt at the plate all season.
Dating back to June 7, 2018, the Dodgers have won 16 straight games against the Pirates.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
DH: Justin Turner
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Hanser Alberto
C: Austin Barnes
2B: Gavin Lux
Pirates lineup
3B: Ke’Bryan Hayes
DH: Bryan Reynolds
2B: Michael Chavis
1B: Yoshi Tsutsugo
SS: Diego Castillo
LF: Ben Gamel
RF: Jack Suwinski
CF: Jake Marisnick
C: Michael Perez
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