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Orioles Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Freddie Freeman Remains Out Of Lineup

Matthew Moreno
4 Min Read
Jul 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) runs after hitting a single against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have dropped two of the last three since having their five-game winning streak snapped and now look to avoid losing a series to the Baltimore Orioles.

This week’s series is rematch of the 1966 World Series, which saw the Orioles sweep the Dodgers. Their visit to Dodger Stadium is Baltimore’s first since 2016.

Even with their loss on Tuesday night, the Dodgers enter play tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in baseball at 78-54. The Orioles 1.5 games back of both teams with a 77-56 record.

Walker Buehler takes the mound as he tries to find any sort of rhythm for the Dodgers this season and live up to the confidence expressed after his last outing.

“I’m so tired of saying that I feel closer. But I kind of explained to people I felt like a bad version of myself in ’21 and I think that’s as close as I’ve felt to kind of me of old as I’ve I felt this year,” Buehler said after throwing four innings against the Seattle Mariners.

“I didn’t throw the ball well, and our team really helped me out and got us back into the game. And I don’t want to sound too optimistic about it, kind of because of the results. But you know, I came out of that one feeling pretty good about where I’m at and what we’ve done this week in terms of the delivery.

“And now it’s, I’ve been saying this, ‘I got to perform, and I got to perform,’ but I feel like I can actually perform now. And I’m going to have five, six days to throw and feel the same thing that I’ve been feeling the past three or four days. I feel better about it.

“And I think also this is the power of being on a team like this, right? I can throw the ball not great, we get their guy out of there quickly, and kind of chip away at it and then explode. And we got guys off the bench that are veteran players and really prepared, and J-Hey hits a big homer and wins us the game.

“So, yeah, it sucks, it’s hard to say keep sticking with me, but I feel a lot better about it. And obviously it’s nice not to lose every game that I start.”

The Dodgers appear to be at somewhat of a pitching disadvantage with Corbin Burnes starting for the Orioles. He enters 12-6 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 26 starts this season.

Burnes faces a Dodgers lineup that does not include Freddie Freeman for the second consecutive game. Freeman is just 3-for-23 since sustaining a hairline fracture in his right middle finger on Aug. 17.

Manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers’ loss on Tuesday that Freeman was not available off the bench.

Dodgers lineup

DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
SS: Tommy Edman
CF: Kevin Kiermaier
1B: Kiké Hernández

Orioles lineup

LF: Colton Cowser
DH: Adley Rutschman
SS: Gunnar Henderson
RF: Anthony Santander
1B: Ryan O’Hearn
CF: Cedric Mullins
3B: Ramón Urías
2B: Jackson Holliday
C: James McCann

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com