After their 12th extra-innings loss of the season in 13 such games this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to even the Freeway Series with the L.A. Angels as the newly-acquired Trea Turner makes his first start since being acquired from the Washington Nationals.
Turner, who was activated off the COVID-IL on Friday, made his Dodgers debut as a pinch-hitter during the ninth inning of an eventual 4-3 loss.
The Dodgers hope the dynamic All-Star can provide a spark to the team, which has been mostly inconsistent despite their MLB-leading +165 run differential, as they sit second in the National League West with a 65-45 record, four games behind the San Francisco Giants.
The Angels, who are fourth in the American League West with a 56-54 record and -31 run differential, are playing without their four best hitters in Mike Trout, Jared Walsh, Anthony Rendon and two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
Trout, Walsh, and Ohtani are all on the injured list, while Ohtani is out due to the lack of the designated hitter in the NL.
Julio Urias takes the ball for the Dodgers with an ERA of 3.40 and FIP of 3.42 across a career-high 129.2 innings this season.
He last faced the Angels in a 9-2 loss on May 7, where he went five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. However, the Angels were playing closer to full strength at the time as Trout and Ohtani each had two hits.
The only other time Urias faced the Angels in his career was a relief appearance in 2019 where he pitched 1.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits.
Against southpaws, the Angels are hitting .255/.319/.441 with a 109 wRC+, which ranks as the seventh-best offense against left-handers in the league.
The Angels counter with Jaime Barria, who has a 4.12 ERA and 5.05 FIP in 19.2 innings and two starts this season.
He previously faced the Dodgers 2019 and threw five innings, only allowing one run and three hits while picking up the win.
The Dodgers are hitting .250/.343/.427 with a 112 wRC+ against right-handers, which places them third in the league against righties.
The players to keep an eye on for the Angels are their young outfielders Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh, who are two of the league’s future stars. Both have struggled to begin their careers, as Adell has hit .171/.221/.279 in 42 Major League games over the last two seasons and Marsh is hitting .153/.242/.220 in 16 games this year.
For the Dodgers, all eyes will be on Turner, who is hitting .321/.368/.519 with 18 home runs and 21 stolen bases this season, which puts him on pace for a 30-30 season over 162 games.
He also ranks 8th in the NL with 4.2 WAR and his 30.7 feet per second sprint speed is the fastest in MLB by players with a minimum of 50 opportunities and he has reached the 30 feet per second speed a total of 80 times this season, which is 30 more times than Amed Rosario, the next closest player, despite 21 less competitive runs.
Prior to the game the Dodgers called up Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed Darien Nuñez on the injured list.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
P: Julio Urias
Angels lineup
LF: Justin Upton
2B: David Fletcher
SS: Jose Iglesias
1B: Phillip Gosselin
C: Kurt Suzuki
RF: Jo Adell
CF: Brandon Marsh
P: Jamie Barria
3B: Jack Mayfield
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