The grind never stops. Fresh off taking two of three from the Yankees, marred only by a tight 2-1 loss in Sunday’s doubleheader finale, the Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to Philadelphia. Back in May, LA handled the Phillies with ease, outscoring them 16-7 over a three-game stretch. But that was home turf. Citizens Bank Park is a different beast entirely.
Monday’s opener belongs to Emmet Sheehan. He is pitching on extra rest, courtesy of East Coast rain that forced a weekend doubleheader and shuffled the rotation. Sheehan’s June was a horror show, marked by a bloated 6.00 ERA. Yet, he found his footing in July, surrendering just four runs across his last two starts. He will need that newfound control against Philly’s All-Star left-hander, Cristopher Sanchez.
On Tuesday, Eric Lauer takes the mound. He is a certified reclamation success story. Since putting on the Dodger blue, Lauer has dragged his ERA down from a hideous 6.69 to a respectable 4.81, posting a stellar 3.12 ERA in his seven appearances. Crucially, LA has not lost a single game he has pitched. That streak faces a massive threat in Zack Wheeler. The Phillies ace is putting up Cy Young numbers, boasting a 2.13 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 93 innings.
Wednesday’s finale features rookie sensation Justin Wrobleski. The young southpaw has been a savior for this injury-plagued rotation, carrying a 2.69 ERA. He is fresh off a dominant All-Star showing where he struck out five batters in just two innings. He will face Aaron Nola, who has struggled mightily this year, carrying a bloated 5.68 ERA through 20 starts. It is a prime opportunity for the Dodgers to steal a series on the road.
