After an off day on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the L.A. Angels. The teams previously faced off in May, with the Angels taking two of three from the Dodgers in the Freeway Series at Angel Stadium.
The Dodgers opened their current homestand by splitting two games with the Houston Astros. At 65-44, they enter play trailing the first-place San Francisco Giants by four games in the National League West standings.
The Angels, at 55-54, are 10 games behind the Astros in the AL West. Their best chance at sneaking into the postseason would appear to be as a Wild Card team as they trail the Oakland Athletics by a much more manageable six games.
The Dodgers send David Price to the mound in Friday’s Freeway Series opener. With so much uncertainty surrounding the rotation, he has been building back up as a starter after pitching most of the season out of the bullpen.
Price last appeared in a game on August 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, tossing a scoreless seventh inning. His previous four appearances came in the form of starts, allowing a combined seven runs over 17 innings pitched.
Price is 4-1 with a 3.55 ERA, 3.93 FIP and 1.45 WHIP in 45.2 innings this season. In 18 career starts against the Angels, he owns a 7-7 record, 3.28 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 105 strikeouts over 112.1 frames.
The Angels counter with Patrick Sandoval, who is coming off a solid performance against the Athletics. He yielded just one run on four hits in 5.2 innings of work but nonetheless fell to 3-5 as L.A. was shut out in the contest.
Sandoval has been one of the Angels’ most reliable starters this season as he enters with career-bests in ERA (3.38), FIP (3.99), WHIP (1.15) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.1).
Sandoval pitched against the Dodgers in relief on May 7 and earned his only save of the season, giving up one run and two hits over 3.1 innings pitched.
The left-hander historically has struggled against L.A. as evidenced by his 0-2 record, 5.25 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in three career appearances.
Despite the Dodgers coming out of an off day, Cody Bellinger is not in the lineup. He hasn’t been able to find much success this season, and struggled against lefties.
Mookie Betts returns to right field, with Max Muncy sliding over to second base so Albert Pujols can start at first base.
The Dodgers may get their first look at Trea Turner, who was activated and is available off the bench. Victor Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list, and Jimmy Nelson was transferred to the 60-day IL due to requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery and a right flexor tendon repair.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Max Muncy
1B: Albert Pujols
SS: Corey Seager
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: AJ Pollock
C: Austin Barnes
P: David Price
Angels lineup
2B: David Fletcher
1B: Phil Gosselin
LF: Justin Upton
C: Max Stassi
RF: Jo Adell
SS: Jose Iglesias
CF: Juan Lagares
P: Patrick Sandoval
3B: Jack Mayfield
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