Yankees at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have recorded back-to-back walk-off victories and a major league-best 12 on the year as they enter a crucial three-game series against the visiting New York Yankees that begins on Friday. The Dodgers are two games ahead of New York for the best record in the majors, which brings the reward of home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Los Angeles was blanked on one hit over eight innings on Thursday, but Corey Seager's two-run double and Enrique Hernandez's RBI single helped it post a dramatic 3-2 win over Toronto. The sweep of the Blue Jays boosted the Dodgers' home record to 51-16, which includes triumphs in 10 of its last 11 at Chavez Ravine. The Yankees have matched a season worst by losing four straight contests and opened a nine-game West Coast trip by losing straight in Oakland. Gleyber Torres, who went 4-for-4 with two solo homers in Thursday's 5-3 setback, has gone deep 11 times in 69 at-bats this month to raise his season total to 31 and join Joe DiMaggio (46 in 1937) as the only players in franchise history to hit 30 or more shots at age 22 or younger.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Facebook Watch, YES (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH James Paxton (9-6, 4.53 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-3, 1.64)
Paxton has won each of his last four starts after being roughed up for 14 runs - 11 earned - over 7 1/3 innings in his previous two turns. The 30-year-old Canadian wasn't overly sharp while defeating Cleveland in his last turn as he gave up four runs and six hits over five frames. Paxton escaped with a no-decision in his lone career start against the Dodgers as he surrendered five runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings on April 13, 2015.
Ryu yielded four runs and six hits - two homers - over 5 2/3 innings while losing to Atlanta in his last turn. The 32-year-old South Korean was on a strong run before the shaky turn, giving up two runs over 39 2/3 frames during a six-start span. Ryu has faced the Yankees once in his career, losing on June 19, 2013 after permitting three runs and five hits in six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Torres became the fourth player in Yankees history with eight multi-homer performances in a season, joining Babe Ruth (1927), Mickey Mantle (1961) and Alex Rodriguez (2007).
2. Los Angeles MGR Dave Roberts said RHP Kenley Jansen (six blown saves, career-worst 3.70 ERA) will remain the club's closer.
3. New York OF Giancarlo Stanton (knee) has been sidelined for nearly two months but could take batting practice sometime during the road trip.