Preview: Phillies, Taijuan Walker face off against the Dodgers at 10:10 EST

The Philadelphia Phillies open up a 3-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight at 10:10 EST.

Starting Pitchers

Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.97 ERA)
Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

The Phillies have played great baseball as of late, taking seven out of their last ten games and winning their last four series. Now up to 15-14 on the season, the Fightins take on a Dodgers team that isn’t as good as their record shows.

Offensive execution has been the key to success over the last two weeks, as the Phillies have finally started to put everything together at the plate. Although guys like Trea Turner are in a bit of a funk, the team is being carried by Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh, while Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto have started to swing the bat better as of late.

The Dodgers have played good baseball, but they aren’t the scary team that they’ve been in years past. The loss of Gavin Lux at the beginning of the season has hurt them, and they’re not playing with the firepower that they’ve always been known for.

Their pitching hasn’t been ideal, as Clayton Kershaw is the only starter with an ERA under 3. The entire roster of Dodgers pitchers currently ranks 18th in ERA, 23rd in strikeouts, and have allowed the 12th most earned runs in all of baseball.

Unfortunately, we won’t get to see Bryce Harper tonight, as he’s set to make his return tomorrow night vs. Julio Urias. Trea Turner will slot into the DH spot tonight, which seems like a confidence move from Rob Thomson. Turner has been in a funk over the last two weeks, and Thomson wants to get the shortstop off of his feet for the night before tomorrow night’s return of Harper.

Phillies Starting Lineup

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Taijuan Walker vs. Tony Gonsolin

Taijuan Walker makes his first start since exiting last week with a forearm injury. Luckily Walker’s injury wasn’t anything serious, because the Phillies can’t afford to go down another starter at this point in time.

Walker has logged a 2-1 record with a 4.97 ERA this season in 25.1 total innings. He’s allowed 21 this while striking out 23 and holds a 1.38 WHIP on the season.

Tony Gonsolin makes just his second start of the year after his return from a sprained ankle in training camp.

His only start of the year came on Wednesday in an 8-1 loss to the Pirates where he logged three and a third innings with two hits allowed. Gonsolin tallied a 2.14 ERA in 24 starts last year for the Dodgers.