Dodgers Preview: Dodgers Look to Continue Win Streak with 3-Game Set vs Arizona

LOS ANGELES, CA—After securing a series sweep over the Wild Card hopeful Cincinnati Reds earlier this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers will carry their four-game win streak into their weekend date with the Arizona Diamondbacks to close out the homestand.

After escaping San Diego with a win on Sunday, the Dodgers handed the Reds their first series sweep of the year thanks to timely hitting and elite pitching by Emmet Sheehan, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani.

After the sky was falling for all of July and the start of August, the Dodgers have finally, hopefully turned a corner on their season.

Entering tonight’s game, the Dodgers have won six of their last ten, are on a four-game win streak, and are 14-11 in August, the 10th-best mark in baseball and the 5th-best in the National League.

The offense, which has struggled for most of the month, is starting to figure things out now, ranking as the 10th-best offense with a 112 wRC+. It will only get better as the team is expected to see the return of Max Muncy, Hyeseong Kim, and eventually Tommy Edman in September.

However, what has really carried the Dodgers this month is their starting rotation, which, for the first time this season, is fully healthy.

In August, the Dodgers ’ starters rank fourth in innings pitched (137.0), third in ERA (3.28), first in FIP (3.12), and second in fWAR (3.5) behind just the Philadelphia Phillies.

Clayton Kershaw, who should be up for consideration for National League Pitcher of the Month, led the charge with an outstanding August, posting a 1.88 ERA and going undefeated.

For the Diamondbacks, it has been a lost season as they are at the tail end of the postseason picture just two years after winning the National League Pennant.

As it stands right now, Arizona is in fourth place in the National League West, 11.5 games back of the leading Dodgers, and are 6.5 games back for the final Wild Card spot.

Still, Arizona has played Los Angeles very well this season, with the Dodgers posting a 4-3 record against them.

Like the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks are also having a decent August, winning fourteen of their last twenty-five games played this month, keeping them in the hunt as we enter the final weeks of the season.

It’ll be the first time since the two have met this season since May, when the Dodgers took two of three at Dodger Stadium between the 19th and 21st.

Pitching matchups

Game One: Blake Snell (LHP) (3-2, 1.97 ERA) vs Zac Gallen (9-13, 5.13 ERA)

Game Two: Tyler Glasnow (1-2, 3.36 ERA) vs Eduardo Rodríguez (LHP) (5-8, 5.67 ERA)

Game Three: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8, 2.90 ERA) vs Brandon Pfaadt (12-8, 5.24 ERA)

Game Times

Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Dbacks.TV, MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

Game Two: 6:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Dbacks.TV

Game Three: 1:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Dbacks.TV

Who’s in & who’s out?

With each passing day, more and more Dodgers seem to be getting healthier.

Third baseman Max Muncy is expected to possibly rejoin the team on the upcoming road trip, likely in Baltimore. Muncy has been on the IL since early August due to a right oblique strain.

Hyeseong Kim is nearing the completion of his minor league rehab, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicating that Kim is likely to join the Dodgers roster in September when rosters expand.

Tommy Edman, although not yet ready, is targeting a mid-September return and has begun ramping up his baseball activities, including running, which is a good sign for his sprained right ankle.

Right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech is also gearing up to return, possibly this weekend or on the Dodgers’ upcoming road trip in Pittsburgh. The righty pitched another scoreless inning for his fifth rehab appearance on August 24th.

However, the team placed left-handed high-leverage specialist Alex Vesia on the 15-day injured list with an oblique strain, which he hopes will keep him out for the minimum fifteen days.

Listed as day-to-day is left-handed hitting first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Alex Call, who both were left out of Wednesday’s series finale lineup versus Cincinnati.

Freeman is dealing with a neck issue but should be in the lineup tonight, per Dave Roberts. Call has a lower back strain, but it is not considered to be IL-worthy.

Day-to-day (2): Freddie Freeman, Alex Call

10-day Injured List (4): Tommy Edman, Hyeseong Kim, Max Muncy

15-day Injured List (2): Brock Stewart

60-day Injured List (9): Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Evan Phillips

It has been an injury-riddled season for the Diamondbacks this year, with six players currently on the 60-day injured list, including former National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes.

First baseman Pavin Smith is considered day-to-day and could be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to tonight’s games versus the Dodgers due to left quad tightness.

Smith will fly back to Arizona for additional imaging, and his status is to be determined.

Right-handed pitcher Ryan Thompson, who has been on the 15-day injured list since July 6th with a low trap strain, is expected to rejoin the team this week after completing his minor league rehab assignment.

The righty threw one inning for Triple-A Reno on August 26th and is ready to throw again on August 29th.

Fellow right-hander Anthony DeSclafani is also eying a late-week return versus Los Angeles after dealing with right thumb soreness in early August.

Day-to-day (1): Pavin Smith

10-day Injured List (00):

15-day Injured List (4): Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk, Ryan Thompson, Anthony DeSclafani

60-day Injured List (6): Blake Walston, Corbin Burnes, Tommy Henry, Christian Montes De Oca, Cristian Mena, Kevin Ginkel

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