The Los Angeles Dodgers conclude their six-game homestand Sunday without a chance to clinch the National League West and needing a win to avoiding being swept by the San Francisco Giants.
They’ve suffered a pair of consecutive one-run losses but remain above .500 in such contests this season at 25-21. The Dodgers additionally remain an impressive 55-20 at Dodger Stadium, and are on pace to set an L.A. franchise record with a .733 winning percentage at home.
Julio Urias makes a second start since returning from suspension as he works to continue building up. Urias taking the mound Sunday pushes Walker Buehler back to Tuesday, giving the right-hander extra rest.
Though, the decision was also made with Urias very much in mind. “With Julio, we wanted to get him on a regular routine,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained.
“So to have him make this start and potentially another one, gives him the best chance to get his pitch mix right, work up to three (innings) and 45 (pitches). It’s more of the three and 45, four and 60 range. Can he get up and down four times? Absolutely.”
Urias is 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.07 WHIP in 28 games (seven starts) this season.
He’ll be backed by a Dodgers lineup that does not include Justin Turner, who instead is available off the bench because of some minor left ankle trouble. Turner went 0-for-2 with a walk and hit by pitch in Saturday’s 1-0 loss.
Justin Turner has been dealing with a sore ankle. Is available off the bench today and expected to start on Tuesday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 8, 2019
Turner did receive positive news this weekend by way of winning the appeal of his one-game suspension that stemmed from a dispute with umpire Rob Drake last month. Turner was still required to pay the undisclosed fine.
The Giants counter with Dereck Rodríguez, who is coming off a stellar start in which he allowed just one run over seven innings. In similar fashion to Urias, Rodríguez has been used both out of the bullpen and as a starter this year.
He’s 5-8 with a 5.15 ERA in 23 games (14 starts).
Dodgers lineup:
RF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
LF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Matt Beaty
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
C: Russell Martin
P: Julio Urias
Giants lineup:
2B: Donovan Solano
C: Buster Posey
1B: Austin Slater
3B: Evan Longoria
CF: Kevin Pillar
LF: Mike Yastrzemski
RF: Jaylin Davis
SS: Mauricio Dubon
P: Dereck Rodríguez
