After clawing back from a five-run deficit, only to suffer a walk-off loss, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to get back on track against the Philadelphia Phillies. Even with Tuesday’s result, the Dodgers are 4-1 against the Phillies this season.
They hand the ball to Kenta Maeda for his second start after the All-Star break. His first was solid, if forgettable, as he allowed three earned runs in 5.2 innings against the Boston Red Sox.
Maeda’s struggles last Friday are part of a season-long trend where he has struggled on the road. Away from Dodger Stadium, Maeda holds a 5.44 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. At home, those numbers shrink to 2.26 and 0.81, respectively.
On the season, Maeda holds a 7-6 record and 3.82 ERA, becoming a reliable back-end starter on baseball’s best team.
Nick Pivetta takes the mound for Philadelphia as it struggles to get back on track after a major post-All-Star break slump.
The Phillies have lost four out of five to fall back into the second NL Wild Card spot, overtaken by the surging Washington Nationals, who swept a head-to-head series last weekend.
Pivetta is 4-4 with a 5.81 ERA in 2019. The third-year right-hander looks to break a slump of his own Wednesday. Since June 14, Pivetta is 0-3 in five starts with a 6.99 ERA. Opponents have a .304 batting average and .954 OPS in against him in that time.
Joc Pederson is batting leadoff for a third consecutive game, though is back to playing in left field. Pederson hit one of the Dodgers’ five home runs on Tuesday night. Their lineup does not include Justin Turner and Alex Verdugo.
Kenley Jansen is not available after taking a line drive off his right ankle in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ loss. Jansen said his foot lost feeling and he regretted continuing to pitch through the game.
Meanwhile, Phillies closer Hector Neris was fined and received a three-game suspension for throwing at David Freese. Neris is appealing the ruling and therefore available to pitch Wednesday.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Max Muncy
1B: David Freese
RF: Cody Bellinger
CF: A.J. Pollock
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Russell Martin
P: Kenta Maeda
Phillies lineup:
2B: Cesar Hernandez
SS: Scott Kingery
RF: Bryce Harper
1B: Rhys Hoskins
3B: Brad Miller
CF: Adam Haseley
LF: Nick Williams
C: Andrew Knapp
P: Nick Pivetta
