After a successful homestand in which they posted a 6-1 record against the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, the Los Angeles Dodgers hit the road for eight consecutive contests and begin a three-game series with the rival Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
At 41-19, the Dodgers enter play with the second-best record in all of baseball by winning percentage (.683). The club is 9-1 over their last 10 games and hold a commanding nine-game lead over the second-place Colorado Rockies in the National League West.
With a 30-30 record, the Diamondbacks currently reside in fourth place in the division. They’re in the midst of a two-game winning streak, but currently trail the Dodgers by a whopping 11 games.
Walker Buehler makes his 12th start of the season and looks to propel Los Angeles to a six-game winning streak of their own. He struggled a bit in his last outing against the Mets, allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings of work.
Prior to that start, Buehler had allowed a combined two runs over his last three starts. He finished the month of May with a 2-1 record, 2.90 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 31 innings.
The right-hander overall owns a 5-1 record with a 4.03 ERA, 3.38 FIP and 1.09 WHIP in 60.1 innings pitched this season. Monday marks just his second start against Arizona this year; he allowed five runs on five hits in what amounted to a no-decision back on March 31.
In his career against the Diamondbacks, Buehler has a 4.70 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 15.1 innings pitched (three starts). Opposing him on the mound is left-hander Robbie Ray, who looks for better results against the Dodgers this time around.
In his lone start against Los Angeles this season, Ray yielded three runs on three hits with nine strikeouts against five walks across five innings pitched. He was tabbed with a no-decision as the Diamondbacks went on to win, 5-4.
Ray has dominated the Dodgers in recent years, and for his career, owns a 7-3 record, 2.82 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 130 strikeouts compared to 46 walks over 95.2 innings.
In 12 starts this season, Ray is 4-2 with a 3.59 ERA, 3.29 FIP and 1.44 WHIP across 62.2 innings pitched. He is striking out batters at an elite rate, but has vastly struggled with his command, issuing five walks per nine innings in the early going.
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who missed the previous four games with hamstring tightness, returns to the lineup and bats third. Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy are each receiving a night off, and Joc Pederson is starting against a left-hander for the first time this season.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
1B: David Freese
SS: Corey Seager
C: Will Smith
RF: Alex Verdugo
LF: Joc Pederson
P: Walker Buehler
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: Jarrod Dyson
3B: Eduardo Escobar
LF: David Peralta
RF: Adam Jones
SS: Ketel Marte
1B: Christian Walker
2B: Ildemaro Vargas
C: Carson Kelly
P: Robbie Ray
