Fresh off completing their 14th sweep of the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers now face another National League West opponent in the San Francisco Giants for the start of their final series before the playoffs.
Corey Seager returns after missing one game due to left hamstring tightness. The Dodgers removed Seager from Wednesday’s game but deemed it a precaution. Manager Dave Roberts said that night and again on Thursday that the plan was for Seager to return in the series opener at Oracle Park.
There’s a bit more uncertainty with Justin Turner, who is missing a second consecutive game because of back tightness. “When he’ll be back in there, I’m not sure. Training staff and Justin feel confident he’ll be fine,” Roberts said.
“But with the back feeling a little pain, we just decided to shut him down. Not ideal, but in talking to Justin and the training staff, it’s something that shouldn’t be of concern. We just want to make sure the back is in good health.”
On the pitching side of things, Walker Buehler makes his 30th and final start of the season. Buehler allowed four runs on five hits — including two home runs — in six innings his last time out.
He specifically is looking to get his pitching lanes in order before the start of the postseason. Buehler is a career 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts at the Giants’ home ballpark.
The Giants counter with veteran Johnny Cueto in what is just his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Cueto pitched five scoreless innings in each of his first two outings this year, but then issued five walks and allowed four runs to the Atlanta Braves.
The three games this weekend represent the last of manager Bruce Bochy’s career with the Giants as he’s set to retire. Bochy finished as the winningest visiting manager in Dodger Stadium history.
While the Dodgers enter play just one game back of the Houston Astros for the best record in baseball, they additionally remain in pursuit of the most wins in L.A. and overall franchise history.
The 2017 team went 104-58, while the 1953 Brooklyn club posted 105 wins. This year’s Dodgers need just one more win to match the L.A. record but must sweep the series in order to set a new franchise mark.
Dodgers lineup:
RF: Joc Pederson
1B: Max Muncy
LF: A.J. Pollock
CF: Cody Bellinger
SS: Corey Seager
C: Will Smith
2B: Gavin Lux
3B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Walker Buehler
Giants lineup:
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
1B: Brandon Belt
3B: Evan Longoria
C: Stephen Vogt
CF: Kevin Pillar
LF: Alex Dickerson
SS: Brandon Crawford
2B: Mauricio Dubón
P: Johnny Cueto
