After splitting the first two games of the series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will square off on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match at Chase Field.
On the heels of Tuesday’s 3-2 victory, the Dodgers improved to a Major League-best 55-26 with just 11 games remaining in the first half of play. Los Angeles currently holds a commanding 13-game lead over the second-place Colorado Rockies in the National League West, and an even better 15-game advantage over the third-place Diamondbacks.
Ahead of Wednesday’s three-game finale, the Dodgers activated one of their top pitching prospects in Tony Gonsolin, who makes his MLB debut. Will Smith was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City as the corresponding move.
Gonsolin takes the mound on five days’ rest, having last pitched on June 20 for the Oklahoma City Dodgers. In eight appearances at the Dodgers’ top Minor League affiliate this season, the right-hander accumulated a 1-1 record, 2.77 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 31 strikeouts against 13 walks over 26 innings pitched.
Gonsolin never logged more than five innings pitched in any of his outings this season, so it will be interesting to see how long of a leash the Dodgers extend him against the Diamondbacks.
As one would expect with a player making his first career MLB start, Gonsolin admitted that he is fighting through nerves ahead of taking the mound at Chase Field. Though, the 25-year-old maintained confidence that he can compete with any opponent he is tasked with facing.
The Diamondbacks counter with rookie Taylor Clarke, who looks to rebound from a disappointing outing against the San Francisco Giants. In only three innings of work, he allowed six runs on seven hits while recording three strikeouts and two walks.
Tuesday marks Clarke’s second career start against the Dodgers. The right-hander previously faced Los Angeles on June 4 and was tabbed with a loss, yielding six baserunners and three runs (two earned) in five innings pitched.
Clarke has struggled at Chase Field this season, going winless in two starts while posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over eight innings pitched. The bulk of his opportunities have come on the road, where the 26-year-old is 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 25.1 frames (six games, five starts).
Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy return to the Dodgers’ lineup, batting cleanup and fifth, respectively.
Dodgers lineup:
1B: Joc Pederson
CF: Alex Verdugo
LF: Matt Beaty
RF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Max Muncy
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Russell Martin
P: Tony Gonsolin
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: Jarrod Dyson
RF: Tim Locastro
LF: David Peralta
3B: Eduardo Escobar
1B: Jake Lamb
2B: Ildemaro Vargas
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Caleb Joseph
P: Taylor Clarke
