Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Dramatic victories are becoming commonplace for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lead the majors with 58 wins. One day after extending their walk-off streak to four consecutive home games, the Dodgers look to complete a sweep of their brief two-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Los Angeles drew five straight walks with two outs in the ninth inning Tuesday and improved to 35-9 at Dodger Stadium with a 5-4 victory. Enrique Hernandez belted his 14th homer while Edwin Rios started at third base in place of Justin Turner, who was hit by a pitch Sunday and unavailable because of a sore left elbow but could return for the series finale. Arizona lost for the third time in its last four games despite three hits by David Peralta, who reached base safely in 16 straight contests last month and is batting .291 with nine home runs. Ketel Marte, who was selected to his first All-Star team last week, has two hits in 19 at-bats over the past four games after going 32-for-58 in his previous 15 appearances.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (7-8, 4.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (8-1, 3.43)
Kelly lost his second straight decision after giving up three runs on seven hits over five innings against San Francisco on Friday. “I just wasn’t very sharp,” Kelly told reporters. “I didn’t really feel like I had my best stuff. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t ideal. I wasn’t able to drop the curveball in for strikes.” The 30-year-old rookie, who is making his first appearance against the Dodgers, owns a 2-1 record and 1.83 ERA in his last three road starts.
Buehler followed his complete-game, 16-strikeout performance against Colorado on June 21 by allowing a career-high seven runs on 13 hits over 5 2/3 innings in Thursday’s no-decision against the Rockies at Coors Field. The ugly outing marked a rare misstep for the 2019 All-Star, who has struck out 104 batters against 14 walks over 16 starts covering 97 innings. Peralta is 2-for-11 against Buehler, who is 1-0 with a 3.47 ERA in four career starts versus Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodger starting pitchers are 28-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 375 strikeouts against 55 walks since April 25.
2. Arizona RHP Yoan Lopez has an 11-game scoreless streak covering 10 innings.
3. Dodgers OF A.J. Pollock (elbow) took at-bats in a simulated game Tuesday and could begin a minor league rehab assignment this week.