Meeting for the first time since Game 5 of the 2018 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers were silenced by the Boston Red Sox pitching staff, mustering up just one run in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
Friday’s loss extended the Dodgers’ losing streak against the Red Sox to three games when dating back to last year’s Fall Classic. Los Angeles has lost four consecutive contests in general since dropping three straight to the San Diego Padres prior to the All-Star break.
Despite their recent woes, the Dodgers still hold the best record at 60-33 and a 12.5-game advantage over the second-place Colorado Rockies in the National League West standings. The Red Sox, at 50-31, have won five consecutive games and find themselves out of the postseason picture completely.
Ross Stripling makes his 10th start of the season and 24th overall appearance. The right-hander owns a 3-3 record, 3.79 ERA, 3.90 FIP and 1.28 WHIP with 62 strikeouts against 19 walks in 61.2 innings.
Stripling has struggled in the month of July, going 0-1 with an 8.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over just nine innings of work (two starts). Saturday marks his first career outing against the Red Sox, who are just 3-3 in Interleague play this season.
The right-hander has enjoyed far more success at home in comparison to when he takes the mound on the road this season. Pitching away from Dodger Stadium, Stripling is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 27.1 innings (14 games, four starts).
The Red Sox counter with their ace in Chris Sale, who has taken a bit of a step back after piecing together a dominant 2018 campaign. The left-hander has compiled a 3-8 record, 4.04 ERA, 3.32 FIP and 1.08 WHIP with 153 strikeouts in 107 innings pitched (18 starts).
Sale concluded the first half of play on a disappointing note, yielding a combined 10 runs over his last 11.2 innings in outings against the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox. He has uncharacteristically struggled at Fenway Park this season, pitching to a 4.27 ERA in eight home starts.
Sale made two appearances against the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series and enjoyed mixed results, first starting in Game 1 at Fenway Park. He lasted just four innings and allowed three runs in what was a no-decision.
Sale later appeared out of the bullpen in the deciding Game 5, recording the final three outs of the matchup at Dodger Stadium. He struck out Manny Machado to complete a perfect inning as the Red Sox captured their first World Series championship since 2013.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
DH: David Freese
RF: Cody Bellinger
CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Max Muncy
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
Red Sox lineup:
RF: Mookie Betts
3B: Rafael Devers
SS: Xander Bogaerts
DH: J.D. Martinez
LF: Andrew Benintendi
1B: Christian Vazquez
2B: Brock Holt
C: Sandy Leon
CF: Jackie Bradley Jr.
