Dodgers @ Angels July 7, 2018: LA looks to rebound in Anaheim with Stripling start

(Via)

The Dodgers (47-40) look to even up the Freeway Series against the Angels (45-44) on Saturday. After Friday’s walk-off loss to the Halos, they fell out of first place to one game back of the D-backs in the NL West. With nine games remaining before the All-Star Break, a push to position themselves well for the second half seems ideal.

Dodgers
Angels
4:15 PM
Anaheim
CF
Pederson
RF
Calhoun
3B
Muncy
SS
Simmons
DH
Turner
CF
Trout
1B
Bellinger
LF
Upton
LF
Kemp
1B
Pujols
C
Grandal
DH
Ohtani
SS
Taylor 3B Valbuena
RF
Puig
C
Maldonado
2B
Hernandez
2B
Kinsler
P
Stripling (R)
P
McGuire (R)

Ross Stripling (6-2, 2.27 ERA, 2.68) has been fantastic so far this year for the Dodgers. He seized the opportunity in the Dodgers’ starting rotation, and the right-hander is definitely worthy of an All-Star nod. Last time out against the Colorado Rockies was one of his shakier starts. He allowed four runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in six innings and 92 pitches in the no-decision.

Chicken Strip is a control freak. His excellent command has been the key to his success this season. He’s tied with Miles Mikolas in the NL for the lowest walk rate (3.9%) among pitchers with at least 70 innings. His rotation mate Alex Wood is second (4.2%). Stripling’s fourth in ERA (2.27) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (24.7%) and 10th in K/9 (10.37). If that performance isn’t All-Star worthy, I don’t know what is.

Stripling has one start against the Halos in his career, in Anaheim, back on May 19, 2016. He allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings for the loss, but that was only the eighth game into his major-league career.  Mike Trout hit a home run against him in the game, because Trout. Trout went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout against Kenta Maeda and the Dodgers in the series opener Friday night.

Insert obligatory all hands on Deck McGuire pun here. McGuire (0-1, 7.56 ERA, 8.57 FIP) was purchased by the Angels on June 19 from the Texas Rangers. Texas claimed the 29-year old right-hander off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays where he was a former first-round draft pick in 2010.

The Angels have been desperate for healthy starting pitching, so they turned to McGuire. He made his first start for the Angels on Sunday after two appearances out of the bullpen, and it wasn’t pretty. He went 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on five hits including home runs to Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo of the Baltimore Orioles. This will be McGuire’s first career start against the Dodgers and fourth career start in the majors.

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The lineup looks similar to Friday’s, but Justin Turner is the DH and Max Muncy will play at third. Joc Pederson moves to center field, and Cody Bellinger returns to first base. Kiké Hernandez gets the start at second base, batting ninth.

There were also some roster moves prior to Saturday’s matchup in the OC. Kenta Maeda, who pitched admirably after getting little sleep the night prior when his son was born, was moved to the paternity list. New acquisition Dylan Floro joined the team in Anaheim and will wear No. 51. Pat Venditte may also rejoin the team (he’s there), and Yimi Garcia may be heading to the DL with a sore elbow.

Rich Hill will still make his scheduled start despite a stiff neck.

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It’s going to be another hot one in So Cal, but the Dodgers’ bats have been cooling off. They haven’t hit a home run since Enrique Hernandez‘s sixth-inning homer against the Pirates on Tuesday. After a 31-run attack on Pittsburgh, they only scored two runs against the Angels Friday. It’s an afternoon FOX game, so get your drinks ready when #shadows are mentioned.

About Stacie Wheeler

Stacie Wheeler, born and raised in So Cal, has been writing about the Dodgers since 2010. She wrote daily as the co-editor of Lasorda's Lair for five long years, and she has also written for Dodgers Nation, Dodger Blue 1958 and The Hardball Times. She currently contributes to True Blue LA. Stacie graduated from the University Of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Cinema-Television. You can also watch her videos on her YouTube channel, DishingUpTheDodgers.