After a 3-2 homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back on the road for the start of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. The teams previously met in April, which amounted to the Dodgers completing a four-game sweep of the Reds at Dodger Stadium.
L.A., at 40-25, enters Tuesday’s matchup tied for first place with the San Diego Padres in the National League West. The Reds, with a 23-43 mark, own the second-worst record in the NL, ahead of only the Washington Nationals (24-46).
Tony Gonsolin makes his 13th start of the season and looks to continue what has been a stellar first half. He is tied for the Major League-lead with eight wins and owns a minuscule 1.42 ERA, 3.10 FIP and 0.82 WHIP in 63.1 innings pitched.
Gonsolin allowed just one hit over 6.1 scoreless innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels, extending his career-best streak of consecutive starts with at least six innings pitched to six.
“Just attacking guys,” the right-hander answered when asked what has made him so successful this season. “I made a point in Spring Training to just throw strikes and see what happens. I try to give whoever is hitting my best stuff, and whatever happens, happens.”
Gonsolin has faced the Reds only twice in his career (one start), posting a 4.26 ERA and 1.74 WHIP across 6.1 innings of work. The 28-year-old tossed four scoreless innings against Cincinnati on April 15.
The Reds counter with Tyler Mahle, who is coming off a complete-game shutout of the Arizona Diamondbacks that saw him allow only three hits and collect 12 strikeouts. The 27-year-old is 2-5 with a 4.46 ERA, 3.29 FIP and 1.25 WHIP in 74.2 innings pitched this season (14 starts).
Mahle owns a 2-2 record, 4.21 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 25.2 frames in five career starts against the Dodgers. That includes a start on April 17, when he gave up seven runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings.
With a right-hander on the mound, the Dodgers lineup features a bevy of left-handed hitters. Among them is Eddy Alvarez, who is getting his wish to atone for misplays in right field.
Prior to the game the Dodgers placed Caleb Ferguson on the 15-day injured list with left forearm tendinitis and called up Trayce Thompson. Walker Buehler was transferred to the 60-day injured list in order to make room for Thompson on the 40-man roster after he was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
DH: Justin Turner
RF: Eddy Alvarez
2B: Gavin Lux
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