After dropping the series opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back and evened the series against the Boston Red Sox. Behind a solid outing from Ross Stripling and another strong showing from the bullpen, the Dodgers put together a shutout for their 61st victory of the season.
Entering Sunday, both the Dodgers and Red Sox find themselves closely behind their respective division leaders. The San Francisco Giants lost to the Washington Nationals, meaning the Dodgers can pull within one game of their rivals with a series-clinching victory.
The series finale on Sunday features two veterans of the game, as Brandon McCarthy faces off against southpaw David Price. While newly acquired Rich Hill was scheduled to make the start on Sunday, he felt a new blister forming after a bullpen session on Friday.
McCarthy is hoping to move on from his previous start, which was his shortest outing of the season.
In a road loss against the Colorado Rockies, the 33-year-old allowed three hits, five walks, and three runs (two eared) in just three innings pitched. McCarthy’s five walks were a career high. He said after the loss there wasn’t much feeling for the baseball.
Stemming back to his days in the American League, McCarthy has faced the Red Sox in 10 games (seven starts); his last start against the Red Sox came in 2013. In the career outings, he’s 3-4 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
On the season, McCarthy is 2-2 with a 2.76 ERA, 3.07 FIP and 1.02 WHIP. He hasn’t completed more than four innings in either of his past two starts.
Price was roughed up a bit on on the road by the Seattle Mariners in his last start. He didn’t earn a decision and allowed four runs on seven hits over seven innings. Price faced the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in 2013 and allowed an unearned run in seven innings.
Price’s start is his third of the Red Sox’s 10-game road trip that concludes Sunday. Overall this season he’s 9-7 with a 4.30 ERA, 3.29 FIP and 1.25 WHIP. Price’s 9.4 hits allowed per nine innings is on pace for a career-high, while his 4.30 ERA and 1.25 WHIP are the highest they have been since his second season in the Majors.
The Dodgers have a new face in their lineup as Rob Segedin was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Segedin starts in left field and bats eighth in his Major League debut.
Charlie Culberson was optioned to Triple-A and Trayce Thompson was moved to the 60-day disabled list to clear room for Segedin on the active and 40-man rosters.
Segedin, who was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team, hit .354/.426/.626 with seven doubles, four home runs and 18 RBIs off lefties.
Both Adrian Gonzalez and Howie Kendrick have logged over 20 at-bats against Price, but have not faired particularly well. Gonzalez, sitting one home run away from No. 300 in his career, is a forgettable 3-for-21, while Kendrick is 6-for-27.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Howie Kendrick
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Josh Reddick
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Rob Segedin
P: Brandon McCarthy
Red Sox lineup:
RF: Mookie Betts
CF: Jackie Bradley Jr.
SS: Xander Bogaerts
2B: Dustin Pedroia
1B: Travis Shaw
3B: Brock Holt
C: Bryan Holaday
LF: Andrew Benintendi
P: David Price
