Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Eduardo Escobar has placed his name alongside some historic figures and looks to add to his big offensive numbers when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Escobar joins Mickey Mantle, Ripper Collins and Jimmy Rollins as the only switch-hitters in major-league history to post 30 homers, 20 doubles and 10 triples in a single season after going deep in Arizona’s series-opening 11-5 win.
Escobar has collected 25 RBIs in his last 23 contests and teammate Ketel Marte is 18-for-45 during his 11-game hitting streak for the Diamondbacks, who are 4 1/2 games out in the race for the NL’s second wild card after winning four straight. Zac Gallen will try to continue his impressive pitching when he takes the mound for Arizona on Friday while the Dodgers counter with fellow rookie Tony Gonsolin, who has limited opponents to a .207 batting average in his first five major-league outings. Los Angeles could clinch its seventh straight NL West title within a week but is just 9-17 at Arizona since the start of the 2017 season after coughing up an early three-run lead on Thursday and watching the Diamondbacks score 10 times over the middle three innings. Justin Turner homered in the series opener, improving to 8-for-22 with three blasts and seven RBIs during his five-game hitting streak, while teammate Joc Pederson is 5-for-10 in his last two games after recording a pair of hits Thursday.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 2.74 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zac Gallen (2-4, 2.56)
Gonsolin has been outstanding since a rough major-league debut, allowing three runs and 12 hits over 19 innings in his last four appearances - three as a starter. The 25-year-old Californian gave up a solo homer over five frames to beat the New York Yankees last Saturday and has recorded 17 strikeouts with just two walks in 23 innings overall. The former ninth-round draft pick has yielded two runs over eight innings in his last two road contests.
Gallen has pitched well since coming over in a trade with Miami, permitting a total of five runs on 21 hits and 12 walks with 25 strikeouts across 20 innings The native of New Jersey gave up two runs and six hits (two homers) over five frames in a loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. A.J. Pollock has recorded a double and two walks in three plate appearances versus Gallen, who gave up two runs - one earned - over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Dodgers on July 19.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles RF Cody Bellinger, who went 1-for-3 with two walks on Thursday, has recorded eight homers and 16 RBIs in the season series.
2. Arizona 2B Wilmer Flores recorded three hits in the series opener and is 18-for-31 with four homers and 11 RBIs in his last nine games.
3. Dodgers 2B Max Muncy (33 homers, 87 RBIs) is expected to sit out until at least early next week with a right wrist injury.