Taking the first game of the series by a score of 8-2 behind timely hitting and solid pitching, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to duplicate those results against the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
Monday’s victory combined with a San Francisco Giants loss has the Dodgers once again holding a four-game advantage in the National League West. There are 19 regular-season games contests remaining entering play on Tuesday, and the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch is 16.
After Jose De Leon turned in five innings, another rookie in Julio Urias gets his opportunity to take center stage at Yankee Stadium. Urias is 5-2 with a 3.69 ERA and has simply been dominant over the last two months of play.
In 68.1 innings (15 appearances), he’s posted a 3.15 FIP with 76 strikeouts — equating to exactly 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Excluding his two relief appearances, Urias’ numbers become even better.
In 62.2 innings pitched, he has pitched to a 3.59 ERA with a Major League-leading 2.94 FIP among rookie starting pitchers with a minimum of 60 frames.
In his last start against the San Diego Padres nearly two weeks ago, Urias allowed just two earned runs and three hits in 5.1 innings, striking out six and only walking one batter. Urias will likely shift to the bullpen after Tuesday’s start, as he is approaching his innings-cap for the season.
The Yankees counter with a lefty of their own in CC Sabathia. He’s 8-12 with a 4.27 ERA and is in the midst of his best campaign since the 2012 season. Sabathia is among the league leaders in preventing hard-contact, ranking 24th in the Majors with a 12.6 hard-hit rate percentage.
Last starting against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 8, he went four innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while striking out four.
Because he has primarily pitched in the American League over his 16-season career, Sabathia has faced the Dodgers just twice since debuting in 2001. In those starts he holds a 1-0 record, posting a 1.20 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Yasiel Puig bats cleanup on Tuesday, playing left field for the second time this season. He received a pinch-hit appearance on Monday and promptly homered to the porch in right field.
Justin Turner, who also homered to the short porch on Monday, is the designated hitter for the second game of the series. Adrian Gonzalez returns to his usual first base position.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Howie Kendrick
DH: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
LF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Carlos Ruiz
CF: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Rob Segedin
2B: Chase Utley
(P: Julio Urias)
Yankees lineup:
CF: Brett Gardner
LF: Rob Refsnyder
DH: Gary Sanchez
2B: Starlin Castro
1B: Mark Teixeira
C: Brian McCann
3B: Chase Headley
RF: Aaron Judge
SS: Ronald Torreyes
(P: CC Sabathia)
