Dodgers at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers won't have much time to recharge their batteries on the heels of their marathon contest that spanned 16 innings and ended with a position player on the mound. The first-place clubs will reconvene at Citizens Bank Park a shade over 11 hours after the final out was recorded for the rubber match of the three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.
Trevor Plouffe launched a walk-off three-run homer off Enrique "Kike" Hernandez in the 16th inning for Philadelphia (56-44), which has won 15 of 23 to regain sole possession of first place in the National League East. Nick Williams also went deep and Jorge Alfaro belted a two-run shot to tie the contest in the seventh inning to hit safely for the seventh time in eight outings. Los Angeles' Yasmani Grandal went deep for the third time this series following his 10th career multi-homer performance on Tuesday. Grandal has a seven-game hit streak and is batting 20-for-49 in July for the NL West-leading Dodgers (56-45), who fell for the third time in 10 outings.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet Los Angeles, NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (4-2, 3.45 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (7-6, 3.47)
The well-traveled Buehler is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to get the start on Wednesday afternoon. Manager Dave Roberts, who reportedly is contemplating a six-man rotation through the current 17-game stretch, said he expects the 23-year-old prized pitching prospect "to stick around for a while." Buehler, who has limited the opposition to a .228 batting average, overcame a pair of solo homers in five innings to settle for a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on July 13.
Arrieta was roughed up in his first post-All-Star break start on Friday, allowing five runs on six hits with three walks over 3 1/3 innings of a no-decision versus San Diego. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner pitched significantly better in his last meeting with the Dodgers, scattering six hits over seven scoreless innings in a 6-1 triumph on May 29. Former Phillie Chase Utley (1-for-16) and Joc Pederson (0-for-7, four strikeouts) have struggled in their careers against Arrieta.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia LF Rhys Hoskins has six hits, including three homers, eight RBIs and five runs scored in his last five contests.
2. Pederson is 8-for-14 with a homer and four runs scored in his last four outings.
3. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 5-for-9 with two homers, three RBIs and as many runs scored in the series.