The Los Angeles Dodgers enter play Sunday in danger of suffering their first sweep and second three-game losing streak of the season. The Arizona Diamondbacks are 4-2 against the Dodgers in 2017, and have won the past four matchups.
Brandon McCarthy is tasked with helping the Dodgers get back on track before they move on to San Francisco for a four-game series against the Giants. The 33-year-old has performed well through his first three starts this season.
McCarthy is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 1.18 WHIP and 178 ERA+. He faced the Diamondbacks in his last start, allowing two runs on five hits, while recording eight strikeouts in five innings. McCarthy didn’t factor into the decision of the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss.
Upon returning from Tommy John surgery last season, McCarthy faced the Diamondbacks once, in a start at Chase Field. In what was arguably his best outing of the year, the right-hander held his former club scoreless over six innings, scattered three hits and had eight strikeouts.
The Diamondbacks counter with Shelby Miller, who is coming off a quality start on the road against the San Diego Padres. He allowed just one run on four hits and walked two in 7.1 innings pitched.
Miller faced the Dodgers twice in 2016 season, which was a turbulent first season with the Diamondbacks. During the Sept. 6 outing at Dodger Stadium, the Texas native gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in just 4.1 innings.
The second start came 11 days later at Chase Field, where Miller allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. In seven career games (five starts) against the Dodgers, the 26-year-old is 1-3 with a 6.95 ERA and 1.96 WHIP.
Overall this season, Miller is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2.90 FIP and 122 ERA+. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez is a career 5-for-12 against Miller, with a double, a home run and four RBIs.
Both Corey Seager and Joc Pederson are 3-for-5, while Andrew Toles is 3-for-4. Justin Turner enters with an eight-game hitting streak in tow. The Dodgers recalled Adam Liberatore from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned Brett Eibner, giving the club an eight-man bullpen.
First pitch in Sunday’s series finale is set for 1:10 p.m. PT, and SportsNet LA will simulcast the game on KTLA5.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Andrew Toles
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Chase Utley
P: Brandon McCarthy
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: Jeremy Hazelbaker
RF: David Peralta
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Jake Lamb
2B: Brandon Drury
LF: Daniel Descalso
C: Chris Iannetta
SS: Nick Ahmed
P: Shelby Miller
