Coming off of a series loss against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Dodger Stadium for a three-game series to continue their homestand.
The National League West has spun its wheels this past week, allowing the Dodgers to drop five of their last 10 games while maintaining a three-game lead in the division. Their +97 run differential ranks second in the NL and with the trade deadline fast approaching, manager Dave Roberts has new pieces to the puzzle.
Among them is Amed Rosario, who was acquired Wednesday in a trade that sent Noah Syndergaard to the Cleveland Guardians. Rosario is starting at shortstop and batting fifth for his Dodgers debut.
The team eventually intends to play him at second base and center field as well.
Miguel Rojas is starting at second base, a position he hasn’t played since appearing there in three games off the bench in 2019. Rojas’ last start at second was Sept. 25, 2018.
The Dodgers look to provide run support for Bobby Miller in the 11th start of his young career season. Miller enters with a 4.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and .236 batting average allowed. With a record of 6-1, he’s continued to put the team in a position to win each time he takes the mound.
Miller’s six wins in his first 10 starts are tied with Orel Hershiser and Luke Prokopec for second-most among Dodgers rookies since 1980. He trails Fernando Valenzuela (eight wins, 1981) and Kazuhisa Ishii (eight, 2002).
The 24-year-old is coming off six solid innings against the Texas Rangers. Although he allowed a first-inning home run, Miller settled in to provide the Dodgers with his fourth quality start of the year.
A trend with Miller has begun to sprout up, as the majority of the damage allowed has come in the fifth inning. In his 8.2 innings that have come in that frame, he’s allowed 12 earned runs on 13 hits.
Miller faces a Reds lineup that ranks near the bottom in baseball since the All-Star break. An inability to work walks, coupled with a 27.2% strikeout rate, make up a chunk of their offense that has a .280 on-base percentage in the second half.
The Reds send Brandon Williamson to the mound for his 13th start of the year. The lefty is 2-2 with a 4.60 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and .233 batting average allowed.
The 25-year-old went into the year as one of the Reds top-10 prospects. Since joining their rotation in the middle of May, he’s provided them with 58.2 innings in a youthful starting rotation.
Williamson primarily relies on a five-pitch mix that consists of four-seam fastball, cutter, sweeper, changeup and curveball. His fastball-heavy arsenal will again be on display, and the Dodgers should try to focus on hammering the cutter, which has been hit to the tune of a .674 slugging percentage.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: J.D. Martinez
SS: Amed Rosario
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Kiké Hernández
2B: Miguel Rojas
Reds lineup
3B: Elly De La Cruz
CF: TJ Friedl
SS: Matt McLain
RF: Jake Fraley
2B: Jonathan India
1B: Joey Votto
LF: Spencer Steer
C: Tyler Stephenson
DH: Will Benson
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