While the Los Angeles Dodgers had their three-game winning streak snapped, they remain in position Sunday afternoon to finish off a four-game set against the Miami Marlins with a series victory. Los Angeles is 15-7 at home this season.
They hand the ball to Brandon McCarthy for his second start since coming off the 10-day disabled list. McCarthy missed time to dislocating his non-throwing shoulder. He enters the outing 3-1 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.
While the right-hander permitted two earned runs or less in his first four starts, McCarthy surrendered four runs in the outing prior to landing on the DL, and six runs in his return.
McCarthy has completed at least five innings in each of his seven starts. He’s previously faced the Marlins just once in his career, throwing a complete-game shutout in 2013 while a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Atlanta Braves and Marlins are the lone teams McCarthy has not faced multiple times in his career.
Miami counters with Vance Worley in what’s his debut with the organization. Worley takes the place of Tom Koehler, who was put on the disabled list on Thursday. Worley went 2-5 with a 4.43 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A New Orleans.
The right-hander is 33-30 with a 3.75 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 139 games (85 starts) over parts of seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles.
A.J. Ellis, who was the subject of a tribute video last Thursday, makes his first start in the series. Ellis is 4-for-33 with three walks and 10 strikeouts in 10 games (eight starts).
Cody Bellinger bats third for the second time in his career; the first came Saturday. By hitting his ninth home run in 24 games with the Dodgers, Bellinger became the fastest player in franchise history to nine homers.
Yasiel Puig once again is out of the lineup but available to pinch-hit. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is hoping to avoid calling on the 26-year-old. Puig was removed after four innings on Friday due to lower and mid-back tightness.
Marlins lineup:
2B: Dee Gordon
CF: Christian Yelich
LF: Marcell Ozuna
RF: Giancarlo Stanton
1B: Justin Bour
3B: Derek Dietrich
C: A.J. Ellis
SS: J.T. Riddle
P: Vance Worly
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
LF: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
3B: Chris Taylor
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Kiké Hernandez
P: Brandon McCarthy
