The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to become the first team in baseball to reach the 80-win mark this season and extend their winning streak to 13 games in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals.
With 13 consecutive victories, the Dodgers would tie their L.A. franchise record, joining the 1962 and 1965 teams, and surpassing the 1976 club, who they are currently tied with at 12 straight.
The only team in franchise history to win more consecutive games was the 1924 Brooklyn Robins, who won 15 games in a row.
Tyler Anderson takes the ball coming off one of his strongest outings of the season when he pitched seven shutout innings against the high-powered San Diego Padres’ offense while giving up just two hits. The veteran southpaw was able to find success by relying on his cutter rather than his changeup as he earned his 13th win.
The 2022 All-Star has posted a 2.72 ERA and 3.32 FIP across 122.1 innings while striking out 97 with a 1.00 WHIP across 21 games (19 starts). His stats show a massive improvement over his career 4.31 ERA in 746 innings.
“I don’t think anyone could have forecasted this,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Anderson’s last start.
“But to his credit, he’s worked his tail off to be a top-end pitcher. And he’s a winner. He’s a winner and every time he goes out there, takes the mound, we expect to win a baseball game.
Behind the plate and making his first start with the Dodgers is Tony Wolters, Anderson’s old batterymate with the Colorado Rockies, who the Dodgers recalled after Austin Barnes was placed on the family emergency list.
Wolters made his MLB debut with the Rockies and appeared in 391 games with the team from 2016-2020.
The Royals counter with Brady Singer, who has been one of their more effective pitchers. The right-hander pitched 7.1 innings while giving up just one run in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox.
In his last seven games, Singer has pitched to an ERA of 2.45 in 44 innings, and overall on the season he owns a 3.49 ERA and 3.65 FIP in 98 innings with 100 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP. Over his 290.2 career innings, the 26-year-old posted a 4.24 ERA.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Joey Gallo
DH: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Tony Wolters
Royals lineup
CF: Michael A. Taylor
SS: Bobby Witt Jr.
C: Salvador Perez
1B: Vinnie Pasquantino
3B: Hunter Dozier
DH: Brent Rooker
LF: Kyle Isbel
RF: Nate Eaton
2B: Nicky Lopez
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