The Los Angeles Dodgers proved again on Tuesday that they are one of the toughest teams to defeat when playing at home. Down to their final strike in the ninth inning, they strung together five consecutive walks en route to an improbable 5-4 walk-off victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It was the fourth consecutive walk-off victory for the Dodgers dating back to their last homestand which featured an MLB record being set behind a rookie hitting a walk-off home run in three straight contests.
Another walk-off on Wednesday would put the Dodgers in rare territory, as only the 2004 Oakland Athletics have won in such fashion in five consecutive games. Moreover, a victory in general would propel Los Angeles to a series sweep.
Walker Buehler makes his 16th start of the season and looks to bounce back from a rough outing against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. In just 5.2 innings of work, he allowed seven runs on 13 hits and saw his ERA increase by over 40 points.
The 24-year-old enters with an 8-1 record, 3.43 ERA, 2.87 FIP and 0.97 WHIP across 97 innings pitched. More impressive has been the right-hander’s command this season, to which he has struck out 104 batters against a mere 14 walks.
Buehler has fared well against the Diamondbacks over the course of his career, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.47 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 23.1 innings pitched (four starts). Though, he has had his ups-and-downs when facing Arizona this season, registering a 4.91 ERA in two outings.
The Diamondbacks counter with Merrill Kelly, who faces the Dodgers for the first time in his career. In his last start against the San Francisco Giants on June 28, he allowed three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts over five innings of work.
The 30-year-old, in his first big league season, has compiled a 7-8 record, 4.00 ERA, 4.33 FIP and 1.27 WHIP with 79 strikeouts against 28 walks across 99 innings pitched to date (17 starts).
The right-hander enjoyed a terrific month of June, posting a 3-2 record, 2.75 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 39.1 innings (six starts). He looks to overcome his struggles on the road this season, to which he owns a 4.99 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in nine starts.
Wednesday is Justin Turner Bobblehead Night at Dodger Stadium, but he again is not in the lineup. Turner was unavailable in the series opener due to residual soreness from being hit by a pitch in his left elbow.
Dodgers lineup:
1B: Joc Pederson
CF: Alex Verdugo
SS: Chris Taylor
RF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Matt Beaty
C: Austin Barnes
P: Walker Buehler
Diamondbacks lineup:
RF: Jarrod Dyson
CF: Ketel Marte
LF: David Peralta
2B: Eduardo Escobar
1B: Christian Walker
3B: Jake Lamb
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Carson Kelly
P: Merrill Kelly
