The Los Angeles Dodgers look to win their sixth consecutive home series as they face the New York Yankees in the second matchup of a three-game set, which is the first meeting between the two clubs since 2019.
With a win Saturday or Sunday, the Dodgers would also clinch their first series win over the Yankees at Dodger Stadium since taking two of three games from June 18-20, 2004.
It is just the fifth time the Bronx Bombers have come to Chavez Ravine in the regular season, but the two squads met 11 times in the World Series from 1941-1981, with Dodger Stadium involved in four of them.
Since the start of Interleague play in 1997, the Dodgers and Yankees have met 17 times, with the Dodgers holding a 9-8 advantage. L.A. is 4-3 in Interleague games this year and has the best home record in the National League at 20-8, in addition to winning 14 of their last 16 contests at Dodger Stadium.
Michael Grove is on the mound for the Dodgers as he returns from a stint on the 15-day injured list that began on April 21 because of a right groin strain. He is taking the rotation place of top prospect Gavin Stone, who struggled in his opportunity.
Grove spent multiple weeks at Camelback Ranch before beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City late last month. The right-hander allowed just two runs and while striking out 14 against one walk in two outings prior to being activated.
Grove is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in four starts this season, but nine of his 15 earned runs allowed came during one outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 9. To make room for Grove on the roster, Justin Bruihl was optioned to Oklahoma City.
The Yankees counter with Gerrit Cole, one of MLB’s top pitchers and a true workhorse with an arsenal designed for registering strikeouts. The 32-year-old has gone 6-0 in his 12 starts this year, registering a 2.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 73.2 innings with 79 strikeouts to 26 walks.
Cole had a dominant month of April with a 1.30 ERA in 34.2 innings, but he had some struggles in May, posting a 5.18 ERA in 33 innings across six starts. The right-hander gave up five earned runs in back-to-back outings against the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles.
Most of the Dodgers’ regulars are in the lineup except for Miguel Vargas, who gets a day off with Mookie Betts sliding into the infield. David Peralta was inserted back into the lineup after getting the day off in the series-opening victory on Friday.
J.D. Martinez enters play on a 16-game hitting streak.
Also prior to the game, the Dodgers placed Phil Bickford on the 15-day IL due to lower back tightness and recalled Tayler Scott from OKC.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: David Peralta
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Yankees Lineup
2B: Gleyber Torres
RF: Aaron Judge
1B: Anthony Rizzo
DH: Josh Donaldson
3B: DJ LeMahieu
LF: Jake Bauers
CF: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa
C: Jose Trevino
SS: Anthony Volpe
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