The Los Angeles Dodgers again went hitless with runners in scoring position but still clawed out a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night and now have a chance to complete a Freeway Series sweep.
Both teams entered the Interleague matchup mired in a rut, with the Dodgers having just been swept by the San Francisco Giants, and the Angels losing 16 of their last 18.
Although the Dodgers’ offense is still trying to emerge from a collective slump, their pitching probables for the Freeway Series were favorable. Tony Gonsolin added to his impressive season, and now Tyler Anderson looks to follow suit.
The southpaw enters 7-0 with a 3.07 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 11 games (nine starts). Anderson can join Gonsolin as the only National League pitchers with eight wins so far this year.
Anderson is coming off a no-decision and shortest start of the season as he labored through three innings against the Chicago White Sox. That saw his scoreless streak end at 28 consecutive innings.
Anderson is 0-3 with a 13.83 ERA in four career starts against the Angels, with two particularly shaky outings coming last year. Anaheim scored a combined 13 runs (12 earned) and Anderson managed to pitch just 3.2 innings in the games.
He’s opposed Wednesday night by Reid Detmers, who’s enjoyed a successful rookie campaign thus far in 2022. Detmers enters 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, and is coming off back-to-back scoreless starts. However, both outings saw the left-hander only pitch 4.1 innings.
Detmers faced the Dodgers last season in just his second career start, allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings and taking the loss.
The Dodgers lineup includes several holdovers from that game, but many of whom are stuck in a rut.
“I don’t know that answer,” manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded six on Tuesday. “All I know is that I have confidence in the guys and we’ll figure it out together.”
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Angels lineup
RF: Taylor Ward
CF: Mike Trout
DH: Shohei Ohtani
3B: Matt Duffy
1B: Jared Walsh
LF: Juan Lagares
C: Kurt Suzuki
2B: Luis Rengifo
SS: Andrew Velazquez
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