The Los Angeles Dodgers return home to host the L.A. Angels at Dodger Stadium for the first installment of the Freeway Series, and both clubs need a turnaround.
The two teams faced off at the end of Spring Training, when the Angels took two of three. After each then got off to an impressive start this season, they have struggled of late. The Angels enter the series at 29-33 and not far removed from a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak.
On May 15, the Angels were 11 games over .500 and looked primed for a postseason run. With trending in the wrong direction, manager Joe Maddon was fired and replaced by interim skipper Phil Nevin.
The Dodgers currently share the top spot in the National League West with a 37-23 record. However, they have struggled as of late and it prompted manager Dave Roberts to publicly call on an improved mentality.
Since June 1, the Dodgers’ offense has posted a .682 on-base plus slugging percentage, .301 wOBA, and wRC+ of 95; each of which ranks in the bottom 10 among all teams.
The Dodgers send Tony Gonsolin to the mound on Tuesday as he again tries to play the roll of stopper. Gonsolin enters with a 7-0 record, 1.58 ERA, 3.21 FIP and 0.86 WHIP.
Gonsolin has completed at least six innings in each of his last five starts, dating back to May 16. In that stretch, he has allowed a .146 batting average to opposing hitters.
His success has not come as a shock to Dodgers teammates but in a rotation headed by Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Julio Urías, Gonsolin has surprised.
The Angels counter with Noah Syndergaard, who is coming off of a solid outing against the Boston Red Sox in which he yielded just one earned run and five hits over six innings.
Syndergaard is looking to rebound from a brutal month of May that saw opposing hitters to post a .313 batting average. In 23.1 combined innings, he surrendered 14 earned runs and only struck out 16.
On the season, Syndergaard carries a 4-4 record and 3.69 ERA over 46.1 innings.
Despite manager Dave Roberts initially not expecting it, Chris Taylor is in the Dodgers lineup. He received stitches and has a scratch after crashing into the wall at Oracle Park on Sunday.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
DH: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Angels lineup
RF: Taylor Ward
CF: Mike Trout
DH: Shohei Ohtani
3B: Anthony Rendon
1B: Jared Walsh
C: Max Stassi
LF: Brandon Marsh
SS: Andrew Velasquez
2B: Tyler Wade
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