After taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers return home for the start of a pivotal four-game series with the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers are 6-3 in nine matchups against the Giants this season and enter play only one game behind their rival for first place in the National League West standings.
Beginning with Monday’s opener at Dodger Stadium, the teams will meet seven times in the next 11 days. “We’re playing the team that’s in first place of the division, so that’s always big,” Will Smith said of the Dodgers’ upcoming matchups against the Giants. “But I don’t think these games are any bigger than the next 70 or 75, however many we’ve got left.”
Tony Gonsolin makes his first start since the All-Star break and looks to keeps things rolling. He concluded the unofficial first half of the season with a 1-0 record, 2.13 ERA, 3.53 FIP and 1.30 WHIP in 25.1 innings pitched (seven games, six starts).
Gonsolin has not faced the Giants this year, but for his career, owns a 1.80 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in two career games against them. Both appearances came in 2019 when he allowed two runs over five innings and collected six strikeouts.
San Francisco counters with Kevin Gausman, who was activated from the family emergency list prior to first pitch. The right-hander has been brilliant for the Giants this season as he enters at 9-3 with an MLB-best 1.73 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 0.82 WHIP in 114.2 innings (18 starts).
Gausman was selected to his first career All-Star Game but did not appear in the contest. He has pitched against the Dodgers twice this year, combining to allow five hits and three runs in 11 innings of work.
Gausman is 1-3 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in seven career games (six starts) against the Dodgers.
Mookie Betts was back in the Dodgers lineup after leaving Saturday’s game early due to right hip irritation and not appearing in the series finale at Coors Field, but got scratched just over one hour before first pitch.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers welcomed back Victor Gonzalez from the 10-day injured list but placed Gavin Lux on the IL with a left hamstring strain.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Chris Taylor
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Matt Beaty
LF: Zach Reks
2B: Zach McKinstry
P: Tony Gonsolin
Giants lineup
1B: LaMonte Wade Jr.
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
C: Buster Posey
3B: Wilmer Flores
LF: Alex Dickerson
2B: Donovan Sandoval
CF: Steven Duggar
SS: Thairo Estrada
P: Kevin Gausman
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
