The Dodgers (46-37) dropped two out of three video games to the Kansas Metropolis Royals (25-59) this weekend in a fairly poor exhibiting. Nonetheless, they’ve gained seven of their final eleven and issues are comparatively nonetheless trending in the precise route. It’d be nice for the crew to maintain that up or go on a successful streak with six consecutive house video games earlier than the All-Star break.

They’ll begin a 4 sport sequence in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight, seeking to return the favor as they dropped two of three to Pittsburgh again in April. The Pirates will open the sequence with the right-handed Mitch Keller on the mound, the ace of their employees. The Dodgers counter with Michael Grove.

	7:10 P.M.		Los Angeles
LF	Palacios (L)	RF	Betts
DH	Reynolds (S)	1B	Freeman (L)
CF	Suwinski (L)	C	Smith
1B	Santana (S)	3B	Muncy (L)
RF	Davis	DH	Martinez
SS	Gonzales	LF	Peralta (L)
2B	Castro (S)	CF	Heyward (L)
3B	Triolo	2B	Vargas
C	Hedges	SS	Rojas
P	Keller (R)	P	Grove (R)

Mookie Betts will begin in proper subject tonight, with Jason Heyward in heart subject and David Peralta in left. Miguel Rojas will probably be at quick as Miguel Vargas is at second base. James Outman has the break day and Max Muncy bats cleanup.

Right here’s how these two offenses matchup.

The Dodgers and Pirates do characteristic some similarities of their offensive profiles. They’re proper subsequent to one another in batting common, strikeout price, and stroll price. As ordinary the principle distinction is slugging, the place the Dodgers are fourth in baseball at .444, whereas Pittsburgh is twenty fourth at .392. The Dodgers have hit the third most house runs in baseball at 130, whereas the Pirates have simply 77.

Someplace they differ considerably is on the basepaths. The Pirates are fifth in baseball in steals at 79. They’ll run all day with out worry as they’ve additionally been caught stealing a whopping 27 occasions, probably the most within the sport. That offers them the fifth lowest success price at 74.5%. With a mediocre and or beneath common offense (Pittsburgh), stealing is normally extra helpful because the offense is much less more likely to produce extra-base hits and generate constant offense with runners on base, so transferring them into scoring place is oftentimes definitely worth the danger. 16.4% of their steals (13/79) got here in three video games in opposition to the Dodgers the final time these two groups met. An atrocious efficiency by LA. Hopefully the crew is healthier ready this time.

Jack Suwinski has been the perfect place participant on the Pirates this yr, with a 131 wRC+ and .857 OPS whereas taking part in a really serviceable heart subject. Andrew McCutchen has been nice this yr, with a 129 wRC+ however isn’t beginning tonight. Bryan Reynolds has taken a slight step again from his 2021 All-Star season, however has nonetheless managed to place up a 118 wRC+ and .811 OPS whereas coping with again irritation. Ji Hwan Bae has only a .609 OPS and 69 wRC+ this yr, however does lead Pittsburgh in stolen bases with 20.

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Grove has thrown simply 37 innings this season, however right here’s how he compares to Mitch Keller. Keller has given up simply eight extra earned runs than Grove this yr with an extra 68 innings pitched.

With Clayton Kershaw formally occurring the Injured Listing with left shoulder irritation, Grove will begin in his place. Grove made 5 appearances in June and posted a 6.86 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 21 innings throughout that point. He’s actually struggled, however each outing is an opportunity to show the nook.

Mitch Keller however has been nice, and is the one All-Star for the Pirates this yr. Barely off matter, however The Pirates’ nearer, David Bednar, was arguably snubbed from the All-Star sport as he has 16 saves in 17 makes an attempt and a 1.44 ERA in 31.1 innings. Keller is having an excellent yr up to now, with a 3.34 ERA and a 9-3 report in 105 innings, deserving off his All-Star choice. He’s been very reliable as effectively, with the tenth most innings pitched in baseball at 105.0. In his final outing, he allowed one earned run on 4 hits and two walks whereas hanging out 5 throughout six innings. Nearly as good as he’s been, he has a 4.68 ERA over his final seven begins and 42.1 innings pitched. Over that stretch, he has 41 strikeouts to 14 walks, a 22.7% strikeout price and seven.7% stroll price. I like when pitchers determine one thing out and carry out effectively, however these numbers are extra in keeping with his profession 4.60 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 22.5% strikeout price and 9.0% stroll price.

The Dodgers want to see him pitch extra like his former self tonight, however the bats should present up regardless. They had been all however silenced yesterday by Brady Singer and his 5.88 ERA.

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Twitter remains to be having some points refreshing and embedding correctly in threads, so I’ll summarize all the things occurring.

Kershaw is happening the Injured Listing with shoulder irritation and is eligible to return submit All-Star Break. Victor Gonzalez was optioned to Oklahoma Metropolis, as Grove and Gavin Stone had been recalled. Stone didn’t make his final begin so is on the market at any time when the crew sees match.

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First pitch is at 7:10 PM on SNLA.