Dodgers at Cardinals
After having their franchise-record road winning streak snapped at 15 games, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to begin a new run on Wednesday. The Dodgers have split the first two games of the series against the St. Louis Cardinals, whose bullpen was the difference in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory. Seth Maness has been a revelation, allowing four of his 32 inherited runners to score, and fireballer Trevor Rosenthal has been superb in front of closer Edward Mujica.
The Dodgers are 15-3 since the All-Star break and five games ahead of Arizona in the National League West, while St. Louis sits two behind first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central. Los Angeles remains optimistic about shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who has missed two straight contests with a jammed right shoulder. Nick Punto has started the first two games of the series in place of the 29-year-old Ramirez, who is hoping to avoid a trip to the disabled list.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ricky Nolasco (7-9, 3.78 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (11-7, 2.89)
Nolasco earned his seventh win on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs despite allowing three solo home runs in five innings. The 30-year-old is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA in five starts with the Dodgers since being acquired from Miami. Matt Holliday is 11-for-24 with two home runs against Nolasco, who is 2-0 with a 0.46 ERA in his last three outings against the Cardinals.
Miller was staked to an early 12-0 lead and earned his 11th win on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing three runs while striking out eight in five innings. The 22-year-old received a no-decision against the Dodgers on May 26, when he yielded three runs over 5 1/3 frames. Miller, who leads all major-league rookies in wins, hasn’t worked past the sixth inning since June 1.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers are unbeaten in their last 13 series (9-0-4) and have not lost a set since June 14-16 against the Pirates.
2. St. Louis has turned a major league-leading 134 double plays.
3. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez is a career .366 hitter (26-for-71) at Busch Stadium.