After going 4-2 on their road trip, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a homestand that features eight games over seven days. The stretch starts against the Philadelphia Phillies, who will become a familiar opponent over the next week.
The series at Dodger Stadium marks a span of seven head-to-head meetings between the Dodgers and Phillies over the next 11 days. The Pittsburgh Pirates hadn’t won a series against the Dodgers since 2016, and now the Phillies try to accomplish the same in L.A. for the first time since 2014.
L.A. hands the ball to Tyler Anderson, who has continued to pitch well in his first season with the team. Anderson began the year in the bullpen but now takes the mound for his third start in place of the injured Andrew Heaney.
Anderson enters 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across five games. He’s yet to allow more than two earned runs in any game and is coming off a seven-strikeout performance against the Chicago Cubs.
Some of that success was due to a changeup grip Anderson has reverted back to throwing and gaining more comfortability with.
The Phillies counter with ace Zack Wheeler in his return from the COVID-19 injured list. Wheeler finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting lats season but has been inconsistent so far in 2022.
Wheeler has two starts in which he allowed at least four earned runs, but three others of one or no runs. Wheeler is coming off back-to-back scoreless starts, complete with seven strikeouts in each game. However, he did issue four walks against the Colorado Rockies on April 28.
Wheeler faces a Dodgers lineup that includes Edwin Ríos for a third consecutive game. Ríos swung a hot bat during the Pirates series, going 5-for-10 with one double, two home runs and seven RBI over three games (two starts).
Justin Turner receives a night off, which has Max Muncy starting at third base. Both players are off to slow starts this season, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains confident they will soon find success at the plate.
Prior to the game the Dodgers selected the contract of Yency Almonte and optioned Ryan Pepiot to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
DH: Edwin Ríos
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Phillies lineup
1B: Rhys Hoskins
3B: Alex Bohm
DH: Bryce Harper
RF: Nick Castellanos
2B: Jean Segura
C: J.T. Realmuto
LF: Kyle Schwarber
SS: Johan Camargo
CF: Roman Quinn
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