The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off of back-to-back losses as they begin a seven-game road trip with a matchup against Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox went into the 2022 season with extremely high expectations but after a very choppy start, find themselves two games under .500 at 25-27 and with the fourth-worst run differential in the American League.
L.A. on the other hand enters the series at 35-19 and remain 2.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West standings.
Prior to the regular season, the Dodgers and White Sox made a trade that benefitted both teams. AJ Pollock was sent to Chicago to bolster the White Sox outfield and Craig Kimbrel had a new home as the Dodgers’ closer to replace Kenley Jansen.
Pollock has struggled in Chicago thus far, producing a .586 on-base plus slugging percentage and only three home runs in 36 games. Kimbrel has been a positive addition to the Dodgers, regardless of his 4.00 ERA, grades out in the 97th percentile in whiff rate, 91st in hard-hit rate and 92nd percentile in expected batting average.
Joe Kelly is another player with ties to the Dodgers, as he signed with the White Sox in the offseason on a two-year, $17 million contract.
Pollock is not in the White Sox lineup but available off the bench. Kelly is still on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring. Meanwhile, Kimbrel was put on the paternity list.
The Dodgers send Mitch White to the mound for his fourth start of the season as he continues to fill in for the injured Clayton Kershaw. White has a 4.76 ERA as a starting pitcher, and in 11.1 innings, he has allowed six runs on nine hits.
White ranks in the 1st percentile in chase rate against a White Sox team that has the third-highest chase rate in MLB.
The White Sox counter with Michael Kopech, who is off to a solid start with a 2.20 ERA in nine outings. He is coming off of his worst start of the season after surrendering five runs in just three innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kopech ranks in the bottom 15 percent in MLB in walks allowed and giving up hard contact. L.A. currently ranks second in MLB in team wRC+, and ranks first in both OPS and walk rate.
The Dodgers are 11-14 against the White Sox since Interleague play began in 1997. However, they swept the White Sox in a two-game series their last time playing in Chicago in 2017.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
C: Will Smith
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
DH: Eddy Alvarez
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
White Sox lineup
SS: Danny Mendick
LF: Andrew Vaughn
CF: Luis Robert
1B: José Abreu
RF: Gavin Sheets
DH: Jake Burger
3B: Yoán Moncada
C: Reese McGuire
2B: Josh Harrison
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