The Los Angeles Dodgers are on a season-best nine-game winning streak and have reached the end of their homestand with an opportunity to complete a sweep of the Minnesota Twins.
Doing so would give the Dodgers a third straight series sweep and send them out on the road after going undefeated during their latest stretch at home. A win additionally would give L.A. a season series sweep of Minnesota.
The Dodgers enter play with a 12-4 record in Interleague games this season, which is tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the best mark in baseball.
Although the Dodgers could have utilized off days to skip needing a fifth starter, Ryan Pepiot was recalled to fill in for the injured Clayton Kershaw. Pepiot made his MLB debut earlier this year and 1-0 with a 2.76 ERA over four starts for the Dodgers.
He joins the club after going a career-best seven innings in each of his last two games (one start) with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Overall in the Minors this year, Pepiot is 8-0 with a 2.27 ERA across 15 games (13 starts).
The Dodgers optioned Andre Jackson as the corresponding roster move. Jackson didn’t appear in a game after getting recalled when Yency Almonte was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday.
The Twins counter with Sonny Gray, who is 6-3 with a 3.19 ERA in his first season with the club. Since allowing five and six earned runs in back-to-back outings during June, the right-hander has held opponents to one run or fewer in his last three starts.
Gray walked a season-high five batters his last time out, which could spell trouble against a Dodgers lineup that has built its success on being disciplined and punishing pitches in the strike zone.
The Dodgers are in the midst of a 31-5 stretch that has opened a commanding lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West standings.
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