After taking three out of four against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park to move into first place in the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers welcome the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to town for the Dodger Stadium portion of the Freeway Series.
Getting the start for the Dodgers in the first game of the series is rookie Walker Buehler, who returns from the disabled list after missing time due to a microfracture in his ribs.
In 10 games (nine starts) this season, the 23-year-old is 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA, 2.61 FIP and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 54 and walking 12 in 52.1 innings.
Those numbers are a bit inflated by one poor relief appearance when he was activated from the disabled list without any rehab starts against the Chicago Cubs a couple weeks ago. In his nine starts, he has pitched to a 2.63 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
Buehler has enjoyed the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium this season, yielding a 2.87 ERA at home compared to 4.29 ERA on the road. Again, that home ERA would be even lower if it were not for that one poor relief outing.
Opposing Buehler for the Angels is right-hander Felix Peña, who the Dodgers faced last week at Angel Stadium. Peña gave up three hits and two runs in 5.1 innings, striking out a career-high eight hitters compared to just one walk. He earned a no-decision in that start.
Overall in six games (four starts) for the Angels this season, Peńa is 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA, 3.40 FIP and 1.30 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and only six walks in 22.1 innings.
As expected, Justin Turner is out of the lineup for the Dodgers after suffering an adductor injury in Thursday night’s win over the Padres. Max Muncy gets the start at third base in his place.
The Angels will be without first baseman Albert Pujols for the series as he was put on the disabled list on Friday with knee inflammation. With the games being played in an NL park, they will also be without Shohei Ohtani in their starting lineup for the entire series. He will be relegated to pinch-hitting duties.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
SS: Chris Taylor
CF: Andrew Toles
2B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Walker Buehler
Angels lineup:
RF: Kole Calhoun
SS: Andrelton Simmons
CF: Mike Trout
LF: Justin Upton
3B: Luis Valbuena
2B: Ian Kinsler
1B: Jose Miguel Fernandez
C: Jose Briceno
P: Felix Peña
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