The Los Angeles Dodgers rode a fifth-inning offensive outburst to start their homestand on a positive note and now look to clinch a series win against the Washington Nationals.
The Dodgers enter play on Tuesday with a 33-22 record, good for first place in the National League West. They hand the ball to Tony Gonsolin, who’s enjoying a promising start to the regular season after beginning the year on the 15-day injured list because of a sprained left ankle.
Through six starts thus far, Gonsolin is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and a .152 batting average allowed. Although Gonsolin’s walk rate is higher than desired, the 29-year-old has found a way to navigate traffic with improved metrics and command of his four-seam fastball.
Gonsolin has leaned on the slider as his strikeout pitch early on, but a quality four-seamer and splitter (.065 batting average against) have been key to success as well.
In his most recent start against the Atlanta Braves, Gonsolin tossed 5.2 innings while allowing three runs on three hits, two of which left the ballpark.
He faces a Nationals lineup that has excelled in making contact. They lead the NL in team batting average (.264) and have the fewest number of strikeouts among teams in the league at 386.
As for their starter, the Nationals turn to rookie Jake Irvin in what’s his sixth start of the season. Through 22 innings pitched, he holds a 5.32 ERA, 5.92 FIP and 1.59 WHIP.
In his last three outings, Irvin has allowed 12 earned runs on 13 hits and nine walks. Irvin has struggled to generate both whiffs and chases from hitters, falling in the first percentile in both categories.
Against a Dodgers lineup that leads MLB in walks, Irvin could encounter a fair amount of trouble if he isn’t able to generate positive results on his own via strikeouts or inducing soft contact.
The Dodgers are being led by Freddie Freeman and his 18-game hitting streak, and J.D. Martinez having recorded a hit in 13 consecutive games.
Max Muncy is back in the Dodgers lineup after missing the series opener because of a left hamstring cramp. Muncy was deemed available to pinch-hit if a key moment arose.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: David Peralta
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
C: Austin Barnes
Nationals lineup
CF: Lane Thomas
2B: Luis García
3B: Jeimer Candelario
RF: Joey Meneses
1B: Dominic Smith
DH: Corey Dickerson
C: Keibert Ruiz
SS: CJ Abrams
LF: Ildemaro Vargas
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