Cardinals at Dodgers
Rookie Dustin May will have an opportunity to be a YouTube sensation when the Los Angeles Dodgers try for a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon. May, who is 6-6, 180 pounds with red hair that hasn't been cut since high school, makes his second career start after losing his debut Friday at Dodger Stadium as Wednesday's contest will air only on the internet.
"We'll go from there," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts told reporters after May's debut. "But it was fun to see him really keep his composure throughout that start." St. Louis' Jack Flaherty takes the mound Wednesday after recording arguably the best outing of his career and will try to assume the stopper's role as the Cardinals have lost four straight, remaining 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and one-half game behind Philadelphia for the second wild-card spot. The Dodgers, who have won four in a row and seven of eight, own the best record in baseball (76-40) with the top run differential at plus-182. Justin Turner has recorded three two-hit performances in his last four contests, recording four RBIs and three runs during that span after enduring a 4-for-28 stretch over his previous eight contests.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, YouTube
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (5-6, 3.93 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Dustin May (0-1, 4.76)
Flaherty allowed one hit - a single in the sixth inning - and two walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings of an 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday that marked St. Louis' last victory. The 23-year-old, who grew up in Burbank, Calif. and went to high school in Los Angeles, notched his first win since May 14 after going 0-3 with a 4.05 ERA in his 12 previous turns. Joc Pederson is 3-for-9 with two solo home runs against Flaherty, who is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts versus the Dodgers after posting a 7-2 victory on April 10 in which he yielded one run and three hits while striking out eight batters in six frames.
May allowed four runs - three earned - and nine hits with three strikeouts on 97 pitches over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 loss to San Diego on Friday. "He's got a good arm, he's got the stuff for it," Los Angeles' Cody Bellinger told reporters regarding the 21-year-old Texan. "The results might not have been what he wanted, but he's definitely got a bright future." May has acquired the nickname "Gingergaard'' because his long hair resembles that of the New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard, who also stands 6-6.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers on Tuesday placed OF Alex Verdugo (oblique) on the 10-day injured list, recalled LHP Caleb Ferguson and INF Edwin Rios from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned RHP Tony Gonsolin to the affiliate after he pitched six scoreless innings on Monday.
2. Cardinals C Yadier Molina (thumb) returned to St. Louis to be evaluated after hitting a home run for Triple-A Memphis on Monday. He is expected to resume his rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Thursday.
3. Los Angeles on Tuesday improved to 11-15 this season when not hitting a home run.