The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided falling three games back of the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants with a walk-off win and now can pull into a tie for first place in the division on Wednesday night.
While the Dodgers have remained close to the Giants for multiple weeks, they have fallen short each time in recent opportunities to tie them atop the NL West standings.
Julio Urias looks to do his part to help change that trend in what’s a third start this season against the Dodgers’ storied rival. Urias faced the Giants in back-to-back outings during May, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning at Oracle Park, but then struggling at Dodger Stadium.
Overall this season Urias is 12-3 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 19 starts. He was the first pitcher in the Majors this year to reach 12 wins, which was achieved by pitching into the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies his last time out.
“Obviously it’s a very nice accomplishment,” Urias said through a translator. “It’s always nice to get some of those goals, go out there and compete, and put your best effort in an outing like that to give your team a chance to win, which is the ultimate goal.”
The Giants counter with Logan Webb, who enters 4-3 with a 3.54 ERA. The right-hander has been on the 10-day injured list three separate times this season and has only pitched twice for the Giants since returning from his latest shoulder trouble.
Webb had seven strikeouts and held the Dodgers to two runs (one earned) over five innings to get the win at Dodger Stadium on May 29, when he started opposite Urias.
The Dodgers head into the swing game of the series with mounting injury concerns as Justin Turner (left knee contusion) and Max Muncy (right shoulder contusion) both were removed early Tuesday night as a result of being hit by a pitch from Alex Wood.
Turner and Muncy did each take another at-bat after being plunked, though the latter was described by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts as having trouble raising his right arm. Just as Roberts indicated would b the case, Turner is not starting.
L.A. also is facing continued uncertainty with Mookie Betts battling right hip irritation that is said to be the most aggravated it’s been all season. Betts now has been out of the lineup the past four games, though did make a pinch-hit appearance on Monday night.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Max Muncy
RF: Matt Beaty
C: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
1B: Albert Pujols
3B: Zach McKinstry
P: Julio Urias
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