After a tough, late-game loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on the Fourth of July, the Los Angeles Dodgers send Bobby Miller to the mound hoping for a bounce-back game.
After going 12-12 in June, the Dodgers have started July by losing three of four games. In those contests, they have been outscored 26-17 in matchups against the Kansas City Royals and Pirates, two teams with losing records. Giving up an average of 6.5 runs a game will not win many ballgames.
Miller is 4-1 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Miller started his MLB career by giving up only two earned runs in his first 23 innings, but he has since allowed 16 over the last three starts. Considering Miller was called up fairly early in his development, some growing pains were to be expected.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has expressed confidence in Miller’s ability as he continues to gain experience. One area the heralded prospect is looking to improve on is pitching out of the stretch.
The Pirates counter with Osvaldo Bido, a rookie who has started four games so far this season. He is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Bido throws a slider (33%), four-seam fastball (27.5%) and sinker (23.5%) while occasionally mixing in a changeup and cutter.
Hitters have a .346 batting average against Bido’s fastball, so look for the Dodgers to be hunting for the hard stuff.
Offensively, the Dodgers have scored 6.85 runs per game over their last seven. They have been led by Mookie Betts, who is hitting .550/.667/1.400 with four home runs in his last 20 at-bats.
Prior to the game the Dodgers optioned Gavin Stone and recalled Bryan Hudson from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Stone threw 50 pitches in two innings out of the bullpen on Tuesday.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
LF: David Peralta
RF: Jason Heyward
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Pirates lineup
DH: Andrew McCutchen
LF: Bryan Reynolds
RF: Henry Davis
1B: Carlos Santana
CF: Jack Suwinski
2B: Nick Gonzales
SS: Tucupita Marcano
3B: Jared Triolo
C: Austin Hedges
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