New York @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2021 ) NY Mets 1, LA Dodgers 4
Having already made easy work of the New York Mets last week, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler can continue to show he is ready for the stretch drive when the teams meet again Friday.
Buehler held the Mets to one run over seven innings in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory at New York on Saturday. He will look to repeat the same form, this time at home.
Buehler (12-2, 2.09 ERA) has allowed one run or none in five consecutive starts, going back to July 22, and two runs or fewer in his past seven outings. Two of those five starts of one run or none came last month against the San Francisco Giants, who continue to lead the Dodgers by 2 1/2 games in the National League West with just over six weeks remaining in the season.
Against the Mets on Saturday, Buehler gave up four hits while walking three and striking out 10. It was his third double-digit strikeout game of the season and first since he had 11 on June 19 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Buehler threw 110 pitches vs. New York and ran into trouble in his last inning but escaped unscathed.
"If they're gonna leave me in there and trust me to have the ball, the goal is to get out of it," Buehler said. "You're just trying to grab whatever you have left and empty it, and luckily it worked out for us."
Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: "There's a switch that goes off with the great ones."
Buehler's two losses this season have come in games when the Dodgers failed to score a run, including June 24 when they were no-hit by the Chicago Cubs. Buehler does not have a decision in three career starts against the Mets, having compiled a 4.24 ERA over 17 innings.
The Mets enter having lost all four games against the Dodgers this season, including a 4-1 decision Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. New York has lost six of its past seven, while Los Angeles is on a seven-game winning streak and has won 11 of 12.
J.D. Davis had an RBI double for the Mets on Thursday, but otherwise the New York offense was held in check as the Dodgers earned the victory while sending seven pitchers to the mound.
Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 10.32) will start for the Mets on Friday in just his fifth outing of the season. He was roughed up Sunday against the Dodgers, giving up six runs on six hits and a walk in two innings of a 14-4 Los Angeles victory. Carrasco served up home runs to Justin Turner, Will Smith and Max Muncy.
Out for the first three months of the season due to a torn right hamstring, Carrasco is struggling to find his form. He has lasted just three total innings over his past two starts while allowing 10 runs.
"They are a really good team. They hit everything," Carrasco said about the Dodgers following his Sunday start. "I tried to do my best. I tried to do everything I could, but it didn't work this time.
"Tomorrow is another day. I just have to go back to work and do the best that I can. I just have to get it right from the start."
--Field Level Media