Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers snapped their four-game losing and one-game hitless streak with a 6-2 win yesterday. A four-run, two-dong eighth inning gave the Dodgers a much-needed win. Tonight, the Dodgers look to guarantee at least a split of the four-game series and to keep pace with the Padres and Giants, who may never lose again.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 4:15 PM | Los Angeles | ||
| C | Contreras | RF | Betts |
| LF | Bryant | 1B | Muncy (L) |
| 1B | Rizzo (L) | 3B | Turner |
| SS | Baez | C | Smith |
| 3B | Wisdom | SS | Lux (L) |
| CF | Marisnick | CF | Taylor |
| RF | Heyward (L) | LF | Pollock |
| 2B | Alcantara (S) | 2B | McKinstry (L) |
| P | Mills (R) | P | Urias (L) |
Julio Urias starts for the Dodgers tonight, already at a career-high in innings pitched and starts. He’s been pretty bad over his last five starts dating back to the end of May. Urias allowed 21 runs in his first 10 starts this season and has allowed 18 over his last five. Last time out Urias allowed four runs in the first inning against San Diego and allowed two more in the fifth, making it the first time this season he failed to complete five innings. Urias also issued a season-high four walks last time out in what was his worst start of the season.
Alec Mills makes his 16th appearance and fourth start for the Cubs in 2021. He was a full-time starter last season, but has worked mostly out of the bullpen so far this season. He’s had a rough year overall with a 5.18 ERA (4.72 FIP) and 1.482 WHIP in 33 innings. He’s fared better in his three starts this season, allowing five runs and 13 hits in 13 1/3 innings as a starter. He’s coming off a great start against Miami where Mills shut out the Marlins over six innings. He’s topped out at 77 pitches this season, so he likely won’t go too deep into this game.
Mills isn’t a high-velocity pitcher, averaging 89.5 MPH with his sinker and 89.4 MPH with his four seamer, according to Baseball Savant. He also throws a curveball, slider and changeup. He’s also not a big strikeout pitcher, as his 16.2 percent strikeout rate is one of the lowest out of pitchers with 30 or more innings pitched (21st-worst out of 249 pitchers). He is a big ground ball pitcher, with a 57 percent ground ball rate this season (17th-highest of those 249 pitchers.
Cody Bellinger gets the night off, with Chris Taylor getting the start in center. With a lefty on the mound for the Dodgers, Joc Pederson sits for the Cubs.
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The only news for tonight’s game is not good.
The game will be shown on Fox with Joe Buck and John Smoltz on the call. Try to contain your excitement. First pitch is scheduled for 4:15 PM PDT.
