While the Los Angeles Dodgers had their modest three-game winning streak snapped, they can still win a third consecutive series by taking the rubber match from the San Diego Padres. Los Angeles is 5-3 in their head-to-head meetings this season.
The Dodgers enter play Sunday afternoon a mere 2-2 in rubber matches this season and are 7-7 in day games, but have won their last three. Walker Buehler will look to do his part in keeping that streak alive as well as build on what’s been encouraging outings.
The start is Buehler’s seventh this season, and he enters 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA, 2.40 FIP and 0.97 WHIP. Buehler was working on a perfect game his last time out, and though it was lost, he held the Colorado Rockies to one run on two hits over seven innings.
Buehler endured an injury scare as a line drive struck him on the ribs, leaving the right-hander with a baseball-sized bruise and some soreness. When Buehler last faced the Padres he threw six innings of a combined no-hitter.
San Diego turns to Matt Strahm as the starter in a bullpen game. Padres relievers have combined for a 3.07 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, which rank fifth and seventh, respectively, amongst all teams. Additionally, they’ve held opponents to a .224 batting average and .644 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Strahm has made three career starts, with each of those coming in 2017. His longest relief appearance this season is twice completing two innings.
Strahm could provide some trouble for Dodgers lineup that’s struggled against left-handers. However, one exception has proven to be Matt Kemp, and he’s also excelled against his former club.
Kemp is batting .358/.407/.604 off southpaw this season and four of his six home runs have come against the Padres. He’s back in left field with Yasiel Puig returning to the lineup to bat eighth and start in right field.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
CF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Logan Forsythe
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Walker Buehler
Padres lineup:
CF: Travis Jankowski
1B: Eric Hosmer
LF: Jose Pirela
3B: Christian Villanueva
2B: Cory Spangenberg
RF: Franmil Reyes
SS: Freddy Galvis
C: Raffy Lopez
P: Matt Strahm
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