Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their six-game homestand as they welcome the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers to Chavez Ravine.
The Dodgers are coming off back-to-back series losses to divisional opponents, losing last weekend to the San Francisco Giants and this past week to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In both series, the Dodgers’ pitching staff was embarrassed, getting blown out on more than one occasion.
Despite that, the Dodgers are still six-and-four over their last ten games and maintain a six-and-a-half game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres. However, they will need to get back to their winning ways, as the Friars are eleven-and-four over their last fifteen games.
The Brewers came into 2024 searching for a new identity after longtime manager Craig Counsell jumped ship to their rivals in Chicago and traded their ace to the Baltimore Orioles over the winter.
The Brewers, who were predicted by many to miss the postseason and finish bottom in the division, have defied expectations. Many insiders and fans were focused on the young, energetic teams in the National League Central, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, or the Chicago Cubs. However, the Brewers have emerged as the leading team in the division.
Fast-forward to today and the Brewers are the leading team in the division thanks to a resurgence from former 2018 National League Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich, a much-needed power bat in former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins, a typical dominant bullpen, and a great first-time manager in Pat Murphy.
The Brewers come into town riding high, having won seven of their last ten games. They currently have a record of 52-36, which is less than that of our mighty Los Angeles Dodgers.
For the Dodgers, this begins a stretch of six games facing division-leading teams because, after this series, the Dodgers travel out East to take on the Major League-leading Philadelphia Phillies.
Pitching match-ups
Game One: Tyler Glasnow (8-5, 3.23 ERA) vs Aaron Civale (2-6, 5.7 ERA)
Game Two: James Paxton (LHP) (7-2, 4.28 ERA) vs Freddy Peralta (6-4, 3.83 ERA)
Game Three: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SNLA, Bally Sports Wisconsin
Game Two: 4:15 PM PT, FOX
Game Three: 1:10 PM PT, SNLA, Bally Sports Wisconsin
Who’s in & who’s out?
Not much has changed on the Los Angeles Dodgers injury front; however, there are a few key updates before tonight’s series starts.
For starters, left-handed hitting outfielder Jason Heyward was removed from last night’s game after attempting to make a play on Joc Pederson‘s home run. Heyward would play a few more innings before being removed with left knee soreness.
Heyward stated after the game that it was a discomfort he had not felt in his Major League career and that he would get more imaging done. The team has not made any comments yet, but it is likely that the 34-year-old veteran will be placed on the injured list for the second time this season.
Sunday’s starter, which was penciled as Bobby Miller, has been changed to TBA, and according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, they are still determining whether they will call up a starter or go with a good old-fashioned bullpen game.
One pitcher they won’t be calling up is righty Kyle Hurt, who was removed from his game last night in the middle of an at-bat, which is never a good sign. There have been no further updates at this time.
Some other notes prior to this series are that right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen was removed from the 40-man roster after clearing waivers this past week, and left-handed pitcher Matt Gage took his place. Joe Kelly also began his rehab assignment this past week but won’t return until after the all-star break.
The Brewers also caught the injury bug this past week, placing one of their best bats on the injured list before Independence Day.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Brewers placed Joey Ortiz on the 10-day IL with neck inflammation and right-handed pitcher Enoli Paredes on the 15-day IL with right forearm tendonitis.
For days, the Brewers and Ortiz had expressed confidence that his stiff neck was nothing more than a day-to-day annoyance. However, after appearing in only two of seven possible games between June 27 and Tuesday and making only one start, the club decided it was time for Ortiz to take a more extended break. They’ll also be without Paredes, who has pitched effectively for most of his Brewers tenure but allowed two walks and a hit while recording only one out on Tuesday night at Coors Field.
Right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale will also be making his Brewers debut this series as the righty was shipped out of Tampa Bay as the Brewers are looking for starting pitching depth this deadline.
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