A rain delay that lasted 2 hours and 37 minutes, coupled with time of actual game play taking nearly four hours, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies face the challenge of fighting off fatigue as they complete a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The teams traded victories through the first three games, and the Dodgers overall are 5-1 against the Phillies this season. At worst, L.A. will finish 4-3 on their road trip out of the All-Star break.
Ross Stripling takes the mound for the afternoon matchup, looking to give the Dodgers a final boost before their flight home. Thursday’s start is Stripling’s fifth since moving into the rotation in place of an injured Rich Hill.
The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.29 ERA in those outings, but is coming off a start in which he held the Boston Red Sox to just one run in five innings. Stripling attributed the success to having his full assortment of pitches working.
Stripling has been a bit hamstrung in his career at Citizens Bank Park, allowing six home runs in 10 innings.
The Phillies counter with staff ace Aaron Nola, who is 8-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 20 starts this season. Nola has been dominant of late, going 3-1 with a 0.76 ERA in his past five starts.
Nola became the first Phillies starter since Cole Hamels in 2014 to allow one earned run or fewer in five consecutive outings. Nola has yet to face the Dodgers this season.
Thursday’s game is an exclusive MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube broadcast. It can be viewed via mobile device, a smart TV and/or on desktop.
MLB Network play-by-play announcer Scott Braun, SportsNet LA analyst Orel Hershiser, NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst John Kruk and MLB Network reporter Alexa Datt will be on the call.
Stephen Nelson and analyst Cliff Floyd will host pregame coverage from MLB Network’s studios, beginning at 9 a.m. PT.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
CF: Alex Verdugo
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Max Muncy
1B: Matt Beaty
SS: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
P: Ross Stripling
Phillies lineup:
CF: Scott Kingery
SS: Jean Segura
RF: Bryce Harper
1B: Rhys Hoskins
C: J.T. Realmuto
2B: Cesar Hernandez
3B: Maikel Franco
LF: Adam Haseley
P: Aaron Nola
