The Los Angeles Dodgers had their six-game winning streak snapped in a 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday and now look to get back on track in the second of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Max Scherzer makes his 28th overall start of the season and ninth as a member of the Dodgers. He has been nothing short of dominant since being acquired by L.A. at the MLB trade deadline, posting a 6-0 record with a 0.88 ERA, 1.26 FIP and 0.67 WHIP in 51 innings pitched.
Scherzer is coming off a nearly perfect outing against the San Diego Padres in which he allowed only one hit over eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
The future Hall of Famer notched his 3,000th career strikeout in the contest, becoming only the 19th pitcher in MLB history to reach the threshold.
Scherzer previously faced the Reds on May 25 while he was still with the Washington Nationals, and received a no-decision after yielding two runs on five hits in five innings pitched.
Cincinnati counters with Sonny Gray, who looks to build on a solid start against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed just two runs on three hits in seven innings of work while recording six strikeouts against one walk.
Gray for the season owns a 7-7 record, 3.80 ERA, 3.77 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in 120.2 innings across 23 starts with 141 strikeouts against 42 walks.
The right-hander made his only other start against the Dodgers this year on April 28 and was tabbed with a tough-luck loss after giving up just two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts.
After making a pinch-hit appearance in Friday’s series opener, Chris Taylor returns to the Dodgers lineup for the first time since Sept. 10, batting sixth and playing center field.
Gavin Lux additionally is back in the Dodgers lineup after being scratched from Friday’s contest with what the team described as a right forearm injury.
Lux’s return was required in some part due to Cody Bellinger dealing with soreness as a result of a non-displaced fracture in his left ribs.
The Dodgers lineup also has a bit of a different look as Corey Seager is batting second, with Max Muncy dropped to the cleanup spot.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
P: Max Scherzer
Reds lineup
2B: Jonathan India
LF: Max Schrock
RF: Nick Castellanos
1B: Joey Votto
3B: Mike Moustakas
SS: Kyle Farmer
C: Tucker Barnhart
CF: Delino DeShields
P: Sonny Gray
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