The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to extend their winning streak to a Major League-best eight games and finish the first leg of the road trip with a series sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Dodgers enter play with a National League-best 27-12 record and lead all clubs in run differential at +89, which is largely right around where they expected to be. The Phillies, however, are far from where they hoped to be after an aggressive offseason as they are currently sitting third in the NL East with an 18-22 record despite a +10 run differential.
Tony Gonsolin takes the mound for his eighth start of the season, looking to build upon what he has learned from Clayton Kershaw.
The right-hander has posted a 1.64 ERA in 33 innings while striking out 30, but his FIP is much higher at 3.51 because of 15 walks. Gonsolin turned in one of his best outings of the season last week against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he pitched six innings, allowed two runs on three hits, struck out seven and walked just two.
Gonsolin has faced the Phillies one time previously in his career and it came last year when he threw 3.2 innings and allowed one run on four hits.
Zach Eflin takes the ball for the Phillies, and may be remembered as one of the players the Dodgers acquired when they traded Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres in 2014. One day later, L.A. traded Eflin to the Phillies in the deal for Jimmy Rollins.
Eflin has thrown 30 innings across six starts this season, posting an ERA of 3.90 and FIP of 2.59 with 23 strikeouts to only five walks. Despite the limited walks, he has still faced a lot of trouble on the bases as he has also given up 31 hits.
In his last outing, the right-hander threw six innings while allowing just one run against the San Diego Padres, giving up only five hits and adding five strikeouts.
Eflin has made six starts against the Dodgers in his career, but it hasn’t gone well for him as he has allowed 27 earned runs in 27.2 innings, giving him an ERA of just under nine. He did post one quality start with seven innings of two-run ball, but that was back in 2017.
The Dodgers’ offense has remained near the top of the league, posting a team line of .246/.333/.410 with a 116 wRC+ and 39 home runs. They have also been even stronger against righties, batting .250/.342/.425 with a 122 wRC+ and 27 homers.
Recently, their offense has been carried by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Freeman had three hits and two RBI in the Dodgers’ 4-1 win on Friday before Betts followed with three hits and three RBI on Saturday in their 7-4 win.
Justin Turner has also been swinging a hot bat as of late and added three hits of his own on Saturday.
The Phillies have been about middle-of-the-pack offensively, slashing .250/.311/.413 with a 105 wRC+ and 45 home runs. Against right-handers, they are roughly the same, hitting .250/.311/.400 with a 102 wRC+ and 29 homers.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
DH: Edwin Ríos
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
Phillies lineup
1B: Rhys Hoskins
3B: Alec Bohm
DH: Bryce Harper
RF: Nick Castellanos
LF: Kyle Schwarber
2B: Jean Segura
CF: Odúbel Herrera
C: Garrett Stubbs
SS: Bryson Stott
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