The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to two games by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in Monday’s opener at Dodger Stadium and now are in position to win the series with another victory on Tuesday.
The matchup is notable in that it will be played in front of a full capacity crowd for the first time this season. The first 25,000 fans in attendance to “Reopening Day” will receive a Justin Turner bobblehead.
Julio Urias makes his 13th start and looks to build on a solid performance against the Texas Rangers. In six innings of work, he allowed three runs and six hits en route to his Major League-leading ninth win of the year.
Urias enters with an overall 9-2 record, 3.56 ERA, 3.18 FIP and 0.97 WHIP in 78.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 85 batters against 11 walks, which translates to a National League-best 7.73 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Urias is a perfect 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in three career appearances against the Phillies, last facing them during the 2019 season.
Philadelphia counters with Zach Eflin, who is coming off one of his better starts of the year. He held the Atlanta Braves to one run and eight hits in six innings, notching seven strikeouts against two walks.
Eflin brings with him into Tuesday’s start a 2-5 record, 3.89 ERA, 3.11 FIP and 1.23 WHIP across 74 innings pitched (12 games). The right-hander has not fared well against the Dodgers in his career, going 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 22.2 frames (five starts).
While the Dodgers earned a 3-1 win against the Phillies in Monday’s opener, they were outhit 8-3 and struggled to solve the three rookie pitchers thrown at them. “It’s not an excuse, but it was three guys we hadn’t seen,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game.
“The first one pitched at the top, he did a nice job with a little cutter, a little change. And the lefty, we hand’t seen him. They kind of matched up a little bit with guys we hadn’t seen.
“Certainly we’ve seen Eflin, a really good arm, good Major League pitcher, so we’ve got our hands full but I expect us to throw out more than three hits.”
Dodgers lineup
CF: Mookie Betts
SS: Gavin Lux
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
LF: Matt Beaty
2B: Chris Taylor
1B: Albert Pujols
RF: Zach McKinstry
P: Julio Urias
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