After splitting their first two meetings, the Los Angeles Dodgers face the St. Louis Cardinals in a rubber match with the chance to win the season series. L.A. has gone 3-2 against St. Louis this season.
The Dodgers are currently sitting on 105 victories, so one more would tie their franchise record and give them three consecutive full seasons reaching 106 wins. They previously reached that mark in 2019 and 2021, but missed it during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season where they played 60 games.
A win, or a New York Mets loss, would also clinch home-field advantage for the Dodgers throughout the National League playoffs. Their magic number to clinch home-field through the World Series is five.
Michael Grove takes the ball for the Dodgers as the club decided to push Tyler Anderson back by one day to give him extra rest. The right-hander has made five appearances this season and four starts.
Grove’s two previous starts have both come against the Arizona Diamondbacks and he went five innings in both of those, giving up two and three earned runs. This season, the 25-year-old has pitched to a 4.66 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with 18 strikeouts across 19.1 innings.
When previously discussing Grove’s time up with the Dodgers, Roberts said the rookie has already shown signs of growth in his opportunities.
“I think there’s conviction and trust. For any player, once you get to this level, to kind of have some success and belief in what you do is good enough, I think he’s starting to feel that,” Roberts said.
“It’s a leap of faith to trust your stuff and ability. To throw the fastball over the plate, to throw the curveball in the strike zone and trust that it’s good enough, those are things young players have got to kind of see.” I
The Cardinals give the ball to their longtime ace Adam Wainwright. Although he has had a solid season, he has struggled throughout September, pitching to a 5.57 ERA in four starts and 21 innings.
In 184 innings, the 41-year-old right-hander has a 3.38 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 138 strikeouts.
After missing Saturday’s game with an illness, Freddie Freeman returns to Dodgers lineup, batting third.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Justin Turner
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Joey Gallo
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Cody Bellinger
Cardinals lineup
2B: Brendan Donovan
RF: Lars Nootbaar
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Nolan Arenado
DH: Juan Yepez
LF: Corey Dickerson
CF: Dylan Carlson
C: Yadier Molina
SS: Tommy Edman
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