The Phillies fly across the country for the first time since 2019 today as they open their first West coast trip of 2021 by taking on the defending champion Dodgers in Los Angeles. A stiff test for the Phillies, the Dodgers are surprisingly not laying waste to the National League (yet) as they have had to weather the injury bug snapping their team in twain. The Phillies are riding a four game winning streak, vaulting them over .500 for the first time in nearly a month. It’ll be a good test tonight in LA.
Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:
Who's staying up late with us? #RingTheBell
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 14, 2021
: @NBCSPhilly
: @SportsRadioWIP
: https://t.co/HhDxScbmEV // https://t.co/vgbMhIMsON pic.twitter.com/1MsyPG9OiE
Spencer Howard gets the start, but as we all know by now, he’ll be followed in a piggyback role by Bailey Falter, a right-left combination that worked with Howard and Ranger Suarez. Since Suarez is needed in more high leverage situations, Falter got called up to help.
For the Dodgers:
Tonight's #Dodgers lineup vs. Phillies: pic.twitter.com/W9SBAwGikc
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 14, 2021
As you can see, the Dodgers are down a few bats tonight, missing Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger. They’ll also be trying to get a piggyback game going as Tony Gonsolin only just returned from the injured list last week and may not have his arm strength built up.
Let’s talk about it.