The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to avoid back-to-back sweeps Sunday as they close out their series against the Baltimore Orioles. After five straight losses, including Saturday’s collapse, the finale offers a critical chance to reset before the stretch run.
On the mound, Los Angeles will turn to Clayton Kershaw, the 37-year-old left-hander who has provided steadying presence amid a rash of pitching injuries. Kershaw (9–2, 3.28 ERA) will oppose Baltimore veteran Tomoyuki Sugano (10–7, 4.41 ERA), who struggled in his last start against the Giants.
The Dodgers lineup looks different again, with Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages still sidelined. Michael Conforto slides into the cleanup spot, while Ben Rortvedt draws the start at catcher after a string of roster shuffles behind the plate.
Earlier Sunday, the club placed Dalton Rushing on the 10-day injured list with a right shin contusion, the result of fouling a ball off his leg earlier this week. Rushing avoided a fracture, but the bone bruise was too severe to play through. With Will Smith already out due to a bone bruise in his throwing hand, the Dodgers selected Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City to serve as backup. That means Rortvedt, who owns just a .092 batting average this season, now carries the load.
“It’s not ideal,” manager Dave Roberts admitted pregame. “But we’ve got guys who are going to step up.”
Dodgers Starting Lineup
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- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Mookie Betts (R) SS
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Michael Conforto (L) LF
- Alex Call (R) RF
- Miguel Rojas (R) 3B
- Hyeseong Kim (L) 2B
- Enrique Hernández (R) CF
- Ben Rortvedt (L) C
Orioles Starting Lineup
- Jeremiah Jackson (R) RF
- Ryan Mountcastle (R) DH
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Emmanuel Rivera (R) 3B
- Alex Jackson (R) C
- Dylan Carlson (S) LF
- Coby Mayo (R) 1B
- Jorge Mateo (R) CF
- Luis Vázquez (R) 2B
First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. PT on SNLA.