The Los Angeles Dodgers can secure a two-game sweep with Bobby Miller taking the mound at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After winning a tight 5-4 contest on Tuesday where Julio Urías pitched six shutout innings, the Dodgers have now gone 8-2 in their last 10 and have a five-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for first place in the National League West. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, have completely eroded and are 10 games back in the division, having lost seven in a row.
Miller comes in at 6-2 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. In his last outing, Miller labored through 3.2 innings against the San Diego Padres, giving up six hits and collecting three strikeouts. Over his last three starts, Miller has logged just 14.3 innings and given up eight runs (seven earned), but also collected 15 strikeouts.
Miller, 24, was brought up probably earlier than the Dodgers intended to, and has mostly delivered beyond expectations for a rookie who was probably at least another Minor League season away from making his debut. The Diamondbacks have yet to face Miller so far this season.
They counter with Merrill Kelly, who is 9-5 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He is having a good season, striking out 118 batters over 112 innings. Kelly is arguably the ace of the staff along with Zac Gallen, whose expectations have been high.
In Kelly’s last start, he pitched six innings against the Minnesota Twins, giving up two runs and striking out nine.
The Dodgers have not been Kelly’s friend, however. In his 14 starts against them, Kelly has a 5.45 ERA and the Dodgers have a .302 batting average.
The Dodgers again are without J.D. Martinez, who is still dealing with a nagging left groin/adductor injury.
The 1-2 punch of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have anchored the Dodgers lineup this season, and both of them have success against Kelly. Betts has three home runs off the righty and Freeman is hitting .333 against him. Max Muncy has the most success with a .400 batting average against Kelly in 30 at-bats.
Will Smith and Chris Taylor also have success versus Kelly, having hit .320 and .286, respectively.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
LF: David Peralta
CF: Chris Taylor
RF: Jason Heyward
DH: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
Diamondbacks lineup
RF: Corbin Carroll
2B: Ketel Marte
DH: Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
1B: Christian Walker
LF: Tommy Pham
3B: Jace Peterson
CF: Alek Thomas
C: Jose Herrera
SS: Geraldo Perdomo
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