After losing four straight games, the Los Angeles Dodgers have rebounded by winning the last two games against the worst team in MLB in the Houston Astros.
Heading to the mound today for the boys in blue is Hiroki Kuroda, who has allowed more than three runs in his last ten games only once in a loss to the Mets. The pitcher from Osaka, Japan has not had much offense behind him to win games in which he starts, so his record is a bit misleading considering he has an ERA of 3.01.
Kuroda lost five of his last six games and he is coming off a loss to Philadelphia where he allowed nine hits in 6.1 innings pitched, but only allowed three earned runs.
On the mound for the Houston Astros is rookie right-hander Jordan Lyles. Lyles is having a rough start to begin his career as he has allowed 10 home runs in only 79.1 innings he pitched this season. In his last ten starts, the Astros have managed to only win one of them, when Lyles defeated the Cincinnati Reds at home on Aug 3 going seven strong innings.
Lyles doesn't throw particularly hard, but has four pitches in his repetoire and commands them well, which translates to only 18 walks this season.
Matt Kemp is looking to stay hot as he is hitting .333 in the month of June with a .388 OBP. He hit his first home run of the month yesterday to give him 27 for the season.
Lineups:
LOS ANGELES DODGERS:
1. LF Gwynn
2. 2B Carroll
3. RF Ethier
4. CF Kemp
5. 3B Miles
6. 1B Loney
7. C Navarro
8. SS Sellers
9. P Kuroda
HOUSTON ASTROS:
1. CF Shuck
2. 2B Altuve
3. LF Martinez
4. 1B Lee
5. RF Bogusevic
6. 3B Paredes
7. SS Sanchez
8. C Quintero
9. P Lyles
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