With a come-from-behind victory on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in position to complete a three-game sweep of the National League East-leading Washington Nationals. The Dodgers enter play on a season-high five-game winning streak, and have won seven of their last eight games.
What’s more, Los Angeles is 13-3 at Dodger Stadium over the last 16 games. Julio Urias makes just the sixth start of his career, but fourth against a team that has at least a share of first place in their respective division.
While it was speculated that this might be the last start for Urias for the time being, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said the young lefty has earned at least one more start beyond Wednesday.
Thus far, Urias is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 1.50 WHIP, 29 strikeouts and eight walks over 22 innings pitched. He has been exceptional in two home starts, giving up just one run in nine innings of work while striking out 15 and walking just two.
Urias is coming off his best start as a big leaguer, as he threw five scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last Friday. The Nationals counter with a young starter of their own in right-hander Joe Ross.
The 23 year old, who is the younger brother of San Diego Padres pitcher Tyson Ross, is 6-4 with a 3.13 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.17 WHIP in 13 starts. His only start against the Dodgers came last August when he gave up six hits, four walks and five runs in 4.2 innings in a losing effort.
Ross has a 2.80 ERA in eight road starts this season. Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig is 2-for-3 with a home run off Ross in his career. Puig returned from the disabled list on Tuesday and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker, who is being honored Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium by bobbleheads of the former Dodger being given out, has decided to put catcher Wilson Ramos ahead of first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in his lineup.
Ramos leads all Major League catchers with a .332 batting average and 38 RBIs, while ranking second with 11 home runs.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
P: Julio Urias
Nationals lineup:
CF: Michael Taylor
LF: Jayson Werth
RF: Bryce Harper
2B: Daniel Murphy
C: Wilson Ramos
1B: Ryan Zimmerman
3B: Anthony Rendon
SS: Danny Espinosa
P: Joe Ross
