The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped the Texas Rangers’ winning streak at six games and now can secure a third series victory on their road trip.
At worst, the Dodgers are going to finish with a winning record on their road trip out of the All-Star break. If trends through the first two series hold, L.A. should come away with another victory on Saturday.
They look to do so with Bobby Miller on the mound for his second start of the second half. Miller enters 5-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through nine starts.
Miller began his MLB career on a historic note but has experienced some regression over the past month. The right-hander did bounce back a bit his last time out against the New York Mets, as Miller allowed just one run but he only pitched 4.2 innings.
He began to struggle a bit in the fifth and also dealt with right knee discomfort, although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that wasn’t going to be any cause for concern moving forward.
The Rangers counter with Dane Dunning, who is enjoying the best season of his four-year career. Dunning has gone 8-2 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 21 games (13 starts) and been part of the Rangers’ rotation since the first week of May.
In facing a right-handed starter, the Dodgers lineup again includes three left-handed hitting outfielders in David Peralta, James Outman and Jason Heyward. That shifts Mookie Betts back into the infield, where he’d been playing recently.
Betts’ start in right field on Friday was his first at the position since July 8.
Corey Seager is not in the Rangers lineup after leaving the series opener due to a sprained right thumb. Seager went 2-for-3 with a home run in his first game against the Dodgers since signing with the Rangers in free agency.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
LF: David Peralta
RF: Jason Heyward
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Rangers lineup
2B: Marcus Semien
LF: Travis Jankowski
1B: Nathaniel Lowe
RF: Adolis García
3B: Josh Jung
DH: Jonah Heim
C: Mitch Garver
SS: Ezequiel Duran
CF: Leody Taveras
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