Diamondbacks at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are running away with the National League West and one of the reasons is their superb success at home. Los Angeles looks to improve to 34-9 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday when it opens a two-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Los Angeles holds a 12-game lead over the Colorado Rockies in the division race but was a bit lackluster while going 3-4 on a road trip against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Arizona won two of three games in the series against the Dodgers, exploding for eight runs in each of the victories. Los Angeles star Cody Bellinger has torched the Diamondbacks all season by batting .441 with five homers, 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored in 34 at-bats. Arizona's Ketel Marte, who joins Bellinger as a National League All-Star starter, is 1-for-14 over the past three games after going 32-for-58 over his previous 15 appearances.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Taylor Clarke (2-3, 6.10 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (3-2, 3.08)
Clarke defeated the Dodgers in his last turn on Wednesday when he gave up two runs and three hits over five innings. The 26-year-old lost to Los Angeles on June 4 when he gave up three runs (two earned) and four hits over five innings. Clarke has received no-decisions in each of his last three road starts - allowing 12 runs in 10 innings - and is 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in six road appearances (five starts).
Stripling is making his second straight start after 14 consecutive relief outings and the hope is he can pitch five innings this time. The 29-year-old was pulled after 60 pitches and three innings in a no-decision against Arizona last Tuesday when he gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits over three innings. Stripling is 1-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 21 career appearances (six starts) against the Diamondbacks and he has experienced issues with David Peralta (8-for-20, five doubles) and Nick Ahmed (5-for-10, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles INF David Freese (hamstring) could be activated later this week.
2. Arizona 1B Christian Walker is 1-for-18 with eight strikeouts over the past six games, a stretch that followed a nine-game hitting streak.
3. Bellinger, who is just 2-of-14 over the past three games, is 2-for-3 with a homer, triple and three RBIs versus Clarke.