Highlighted by Corey Seager’s two doubles and four RBI performance, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Tuesday’s series opener at Dodger Stadium.
With the win, the Dodgers improved to 2-1 on the season against the Rays. At 98-54, the club continues to trail the New York Yankees and Houston Astros by only one game for the best record in all of baseball.
Having dropped two consecutive games, the Rays now find themselves clinging to a slim half-game lead over the Cleveland Indians for the second American League Wild Card spot.
Looking to find the win column once again, Tampa Bay sends Brendan McKay to the mound for his 10th start of the season. Wednesday additionally marks the left-hander’s first career appearance against the Dodgers.
McKay is coming off a disappointing outing against the Texas Rangers in which he allowed three runs on six hits across 3.1 innings of work. The 23-year-old has been deployed as an opener of sorts, logging no more than 3.2 frames over his last three starts.
In 10 overall starts this season, McKay has compiled a 2-4 record, 5.27 ERA, 4.30 FIP and 1.45 WHIP with 50 strikeouts against 14 walks over 42.2 innings pitched.
After a solid first half, the rookie has taken a considerable step back since the All-Star break. In eight second half starts, he owns a 1-1 record, 6.25 ERA and 1.71 WHIP across 31.2 innings.
The Dodgers counter with Casey Sadler as they are utilizing an opener for the second straight game. The Dodgers acquired Sadler from the Rays earlier this season and in 30 appearances between the two teams, he has pitched to a 2.27 ERA, 4.41 FIP and 1.12 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and 11 walks in 43.2 innings.
Tony Gonsolin, who last pitched on Sept. 12 in a relief appearance against the Baltimore Orioles, will again come out of the bullpen after originally being slated to start. He is still expected to throw multiple innings after Sadler.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the change was in effort to provide Gonsolin with another opportunity to fill a role he might in October.
Since allowing six runs (four earned) in his first career start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 26, Gonsolin has strung together seven consecutive outings in which he has yielded two runs or less.
The right-hander enters with an overall 3-2 record, 2.83 ERA, 3.79 FIP and 1.00 WHIP in 35 innings pitched this season (eight games, six starts). In three games at Dodger Stadium, he has posted a minuscule 1.20 ERA and 0.87 WHIP.
Gonsolin additionally looks for continued success in the second half as he makes a push for his inclusion on the Dodgers’ National League Division Series roster. He has posted a superb 2.03 ERA in seven appearances since the All-Star break.
A win will mark the Dodgers’ 58th at home, which would set a new franchise record at Dodger Stadium. The 2017 club currently holds the L.A. franchise record with 57 home wins.
Dodgers lineup:
1B: David Freese
LF: A.J. Pollock
3B: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Kiké Hernandez
2B: Max Muncy
SS: Corey Seager
C: Will Smith
P: Casey Sadler
Rays lineup:
RF: Austin Meadows
LF: Tommy Pham
3B: Nate Lowe
1B: Ji-Man Choi
C: Travis d’Arnaud
2B: Joey Wendle
CF: Avisail Garcia
SS: Willy Adames
P: Brendan McKay
