The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win on Tuesday night and now look to complete a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in the Freeway Series finale at Angel Stadium.
That won’t be an easy task as Shohei Ohtani is making his first career start as a pitcher against the Dodgers in the regular season. The two-way star is 6-2 with a 3.29 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 1.05 WHIP and 11.5 strikeouts per nine in 82 innings pitched across 14 starts this season.
“That’s a great question. Given the choice, I’d probably rather him just hit because it’s only four at-bats,” manager Dave Roberts said when asked if he’d rather have the Dodgers face Ohtani as a hitter or pitcher. “Where you’re looking at 110 pitches, that’s pretty daunting.”
The Dodgers of course have already seen Ohtani in the Freeway Series as he went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts on Tuesday. That’s an accomplishment in itself for L.A. as the 28-year-old is batting .295/.379/.623 with an MLB-leading 24 home runs and 58 RBI this season.
Ohtani has been on another level this month, hitting .377/.476/.884 with six doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 20 RBI in 18 games. He was named American League Player of the Week after a stellar performance on the Angels’ road trip.
“It’s going to be tough,” Roberts said. “It’s an elite fastball, it’s strike throwing, it’s big stuff, there’s a split in there, breaking ball. I’m actually as a fan looking forward to seeing him on the mound and then hitting high up in the order. It’s like back to Little League.”
Michael Grove was expected to start for the Dodgers as he’s been recalled five days after getting optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Grove remained with the Dodgers on their taxi squad since that point.
However, Brusdar Graterol is instead being utilized as an opener in what’s expected to be a more traditional bullpen game rather than having Grove fill the bulk role for a second time this year. He’s 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across seven games (six starts) for the Dodgers this season.
The Dodgers placed Shelby Miller on the 15-day injured list due to neck pain in order to recall Grove without having him wait the required 15 days.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
LF: David Peralta
DH: J.D. Martinez
RF: Jason Heyward
2B: Miguel Vargas
CF: James Outman
3B: Michael Busch
Angels lineup
RF: Mickey Moniak
P: Shohei Ohtani
CF: Mike Trout
2B: Brandon Drury
LF: Taylor Ward
1B: Jared Walsh
C: Chad Wallach
3B: Luis Rengifo
SS: Andrew Velazquez
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