The Los Angeles Dodgers have not lost a series since early of June, and they’ll look to keep that going Tuesday night as they welcome the Chicago White Sox to town for a two-game series.
The Dodgers have won 28 of their last 32 games at Dodger Stadium and are 12-3 in Interleague play this season, which includes sweeping the White Sox in a two-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field. Each of their wins was by one-run, and one came in a rain-shortened affair.
Alex Wood takes the mound in search of a 15th win this season, which would tie him with Clayton Kershaw for most in all of baseball. On the year, Wood is 14-1 with a 2.37 ERA, 2.66 FIP and 1.02 WHIP in 20 games (18 starts).
In 110.1 innings the left-hander has struck out 116 batters compared to only 30 walks. Tuesday marks his first career start against the White Sox.
Wood has won three of his last four starts, but owns a 5.32 ERA in that span. He’s 8-1 with a 2.95 ERA at home this season, compared to 6-0 with a 1.72 ERA on the road.
Opposing Wood is right-hander Miguel Gonzalez in what is something of a homecoming for the San Fernando, Calif., native. Gonzalez has made 18 starts on the season, going 6-10 with a 4.85 ERA, 5.10 FIP and 1.49 WHIP while striking out 61 and walking 38 in 107.2 innings.
Gonzalez faced the Dodgers earlier this season, and faired quite well as he gave up just one run on five hits in six innings. He struck out five but also issued as many walks and took the loss.
Gonzalez faces a Dodgers lineup that Yasiel Puig is now batting sixth in. Puig has spent much of this season hitting eighth, which is occupied Tuesday night by the struggling Joc Pederson.
Justin Turner is in his usual spot in the order and is in the midst of a hot stretch. Turner has six home runs and 12 RBIs in the last eight games and leads the National League with a .346 batting average.
Chris Taylor has hit safely in 23 of 27 games since the All-Star break, batting .358/.407/.706 in that span. He is 6-for-10 with a walk in his career of Gonzalez.
Logan Forsythe is the only other Dodgers player that has had extensive at-bats off Gonzalez, as he is 4-for-17.
Rookie Cody Bellinger currently sits at 34 home runs on the season, which ranks second in the NL. He is one away from tying the Dodgers rookie home run record of 35 set by Hall of Famer Mike Piazza in 1993.
White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia has swung a hot bat since coming off the disabled list last week. In five games he has gone 9-for-20 (.450 batting average) with four doubles and three RBIs.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Logan Forsythe
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Alex Wood
White Sox lineup:
SS: Tim Anderson
3B: Tyler Saladino
1B: Jose Abreu
RF: Avisail Garcia
C: Kevan Smith
LF: Leury Garcia
2B: Yoan Moncada
CF: Adam Engel
P: Miguel Gonzalez
