Dodgers head to New York for a playoff test against the Mets
Game Three: Walker Buehler (3.14 ERA, 2.83 FIP) vs. Zack Wheeler (4.21 ERA, 3.61 FIP)
Walker Buehler had an inconsistent first half posting an ERA of 3.46 but he has been a little more consistent in the second half, pitching to an ERA of 2.60. In his last three starts, he struck out eleven batters in two of those outings and had a bad rocky start against Colorado sandwiched in between those two starts. Buehler will look to start stringing together strong outings and push to be the Dodgers’ game two starter in the postseason.
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Zack Wheeler was all over the trade rumors back in July but the Mets ultimately hung on to him and he has rewarded them with a strong second half. Wheeler has a 3.15 ERA in the second half after a disappointing first half in which he had an ERA of 4.69. Wheeler has allowed exactly one run in each of his last three starts.
Although this isn’t the best matchup of the three games, this will be the nationally televised game on ESPN Sunday night baseball. Both Wheeler and Buehler have averaged 96.5 MPH on their fastball this season, so there will be plenty of hight heat coming at batters on Sunday night. The Dodgers will get Max Muncy back on Friday just in time for his left-handed bat against three above-average right-handed starters.
This series will mark the end of the Dodgers’ travel east during the regular season. After this series, the farthest the Dodgers will travel is to San Francisco and San Diego. With just fourteen games remaining in the regular season, this would be the perfect time for the blue to get hot and carry momentum into the postseason.