An unexpected doubleheader required the Los Angeles Dodgers to adjust their pitching plans against the Miami Marlins, and the ripple effect involved the upcoming Cleveland Guardians series.
Rather than Bobby Miller taking the ball in the finale of the Dodgers’ homestand, he’s now lined up to face the Guardians on Tuesday. Miller’s 15th start of the season comes on an extra day of rest.
Miller threw 74 pitches and allowed just one run over six innings to earn a win against the Milwaukee Brewers. His dominant performance came to an end only because the Dodgers are looking to manage Miller’s workload heading into the postseason.
He’s due to be followed by Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday, and the longtime Dodgers ace is also taking the mound with one extra day of rest.
Kershaw has allowed one run and pitched five innings in both of his starts since coming off the 15-day injured list. What was expected to be a relatively short absence due to left shoulder trouble turned into six weeks.
Kershaw bypassed a rehab assignment in favor of multiple simulated games prior to being activated and is looking to pitch deeper into his outings while also improving.
“Better to be lucky than good,” Kershaw said after facing the Brewers. “Getting through five again and just kind of building up kind of slow. Get ready for the next one.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts declined to name a probable starter for the series finale at Progressive Field, but it stands to reason it will be Lance Lynn.
Lynn last pitched on August 17, and pitching in the third game against the Guardians would come on six days’ rest. Thus, pushing the veteran right-hander back any further on the calendar would appear unlikely.
Noah Syndergaard facing Dodgers
The start of the road trip is going to begin with the Dodgers facing former teammate Noah Syndergaard. He was traded to the Guardians in exchange for Amed Rosario.
Syndergaard struggled during his half-season with the Dodgers and has only marginally improved since joining the Guardians, going 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA, 7.29 FIP and 1.45 WHIP in four starts.
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