After going .500 on their road trip that ended with a thrilling series victory against the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back at Dodger Stadium for a homestand that begins against Corey Seager and the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers.
On top of Seager dealing with left hamstring tightness that forced him to an early exit last Wednesday and caused the 30-year-old to miss the last three games, the Rangers hardly resemble last year’s championship-winning team.
The Rangers are just 31-34 as they try to remain afloat amid myriad injuries, while the Dodgers are 41-26 and sit 7.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres for first place in the National League West.
For Seager, the series represents his first time at Dodger Stadium since signing with the Rangers in free agency after the 2020 World Series. Seager was technically back for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, when Dodgers fans received him well.
Seager is not in the Rangers lineup on Tuesday night. Ezequiel Duran is starting at shortstop in his place.
James Paxton is on the mound for his 12th start of the season and looks to bounce back from a rough outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week.
The left-hander pitched just 1.2 innings and was charged with seven runs (six earned). The start was Paxton’s shortest of the season and it was the most runs he’s allowed.
Paxton generally has otherwise been relatively successful in his first season with the Dodgers, going 5-1 with a 4.19 ERA and 1.49 WHIP.
The Rangers counter with Dane Dunning, who is 4-4 with a 4.09 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 10 starts this season. He missed time in May because of a right rotator cuff strain.
Since returning from the 15-day injured list, Dunning has allowed at least three runs in two of three starts. He’s also failed to pitch more than five innings in a start during that span.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
LF: Teoscar Hernández
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Andy Pages
RF: Jason Heyward
3B: Miguel Rojas
Rangers lineup
2B: Marcus Semien
DH: Robbie Grossman
RF: Adolis García
C: Jonah Heim
LF: Wyatt Langford
1B: Nathaniel Lowe
SS: Ezequiel Duran
3B: Davis Wendzel
CF: Leody Taveras
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