The Los Angeles Dodgers came out of the All-Star break with consecutive thrilling wins and now can complete a series sweep of the Boston Red Sox.
The Dodgers have not swept the Red Sox since their first-ever regular season meeting, from June 21-23, 2002, at Dodger Stadium. The finale is being played in front of a national audience for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
Overall, the Dodgers have won four consecutive series against the Red Sox, dating back to 2016. They play each other every year now that MLB reverted back to a balanced schedule.
James Paxton takes the mound for his 18th start of the season, which is one shy of last year’s total. Paxton enters 7-2 with a 4.38 ERA, and is 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA at home this year.
Paxton has been an effective starter for the Dodgers but continues to be plagued by walks. He’s issued multiple free passes in seven of his last 10 starts.
Boston counters with Kutter Crawford, who is 6-7 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 19 starts. The right-hander is in the midst of an impressive stretch as he’s completed at least six innings and allowed one run or fewer in three consecutive starts.
Crawford faces a Dodgers lineup that is plenty potent but does not include Will Smith. Jason Heyward is back from the 10-day injured list, and the Dodgers optioned James Outman to Triple-A Oklahoma City as the corresponding roster move.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
LF: Teoscar Hernández
1B: Freddie Freeman
CF: Andy Pages
2B: Gavin Lux
SS: Miguel Rojas
RF: Jason Heyward
3B: Kiké Hernández
C: Austin Barnes
Red Sox lineup
1B: Romy Gonzalez
LF: Jarren Duran
RF: Tyler O’Neill
3B: Rafael Devers
C: Connor Wong
DH: Masataka Yoshida
2B: Jamie Westbrook
SS: David Hamilton
CF: Ceddanne Rafaela
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