After dropping the first game out of the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Dodgers have responded with three consecutive wins to maintain the best record in baseball at 63-33. Monday’s victory helped them improve to 4-0 against the Philadelphia Phillies this season.
While the series opener at Citizens Bank Park skews it a bit, the matchups have been rather lopsided. The Dodgers outscored the Phillies, 18-6, en route to completing a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium. L.A. added to that by thumping Philadelphia, 16-2, on Monday night.
Any semblance of similar effort would figure to bode well in support of Walker Buehler. The right-hander takes the mound for the first time since throwing one inning in the All-Star Game.
In terms of the regular season, Buehler last pitched on July 3 when he went seven innings in a no-decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
On the year Buehler is 8-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 17 starts. His ERA dropped to a season-best 2.96 with a historic complete game on June 21, but that was followed by allowing seven runs in just 5.2 innings to the same Colorado Rockies team, causing a spike.
The Phillies counter with Vince Velasquez, who has bounced in and out of their starting rotation this season. Since returning to the role last month, he is 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA in four starts.
Overall this season, Velasquez is 2-5 with a 4.63 ERA in 20 games (10 starts). He’s twice faced the Dodgers in relief this year, allowing a combined two runs (one earned) on three hits (one home run) in 1.2 innings pitched.
Joc Pederson makes a second consecutive start in the leadoff spot, though this time is playing first base. In addressing concern over what impact participating in the Home Run Derby could have on his swing, Pederson argued a lack of regular playing time is more detrimental.
With the Boston Red Sox starting a trio of southpaws, he was limited to a pair of pinch-hit opportunities over the weekend.
Dodgers lineup:
1B: Joc Pederson
LF: Alex Verdugo
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Max Muncy
CF: A.J. Pollock
SS: Corey Seager
C: Austin Barnes
P: Walker Buehler
Phillies lineup:
2B: Cesar Hernandez
SS: Scott Kingery
RF: Bryce Harper
1B: Rhys Hoskins
LF: Jay Bruce
C: J.T. Realmuto
3B: Brad Miller
CF: Adam Haseley
P: Vince Velasquez
