PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
No release available.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
LET’S GET ONE FOR THE THUMB: The Dodgers drubbed the Phillies last night by a final count of 13-4, establishing a season high in hits (15) and matching their season high in runs (also April 3 vs. COL). The victory gives the Boys in Blue four consecutive wins, which is a season high and vaults the club into sole possession of first place in the National League West for the first time since the conclusion of play on April 26. The Dodgers have won eight of their last 11 contests and are 10-6 at Dodger Stadium. The 10 home victories are tied with Miami for the most in the National League. Los Angeles was relentless on offense last night, piling up the previously mentioned season highs as well as matching their season highs in homers (4) and extra-base hits (7). Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman had three hits apiece, and Philly-killer David Peralta drove in four runs, including his second homer of the season. Tonight, the Dodgers will look to earn a series win over the Phillies and continue their unblemished homestand (4-0). Following the 1:10 p.m. matinee to close out the stand tomorrow, the club will be off Thursday, before beginning a six-game road trip with the first of three vs. the Padres at Petco Park on Friday night. The trip also features three games in Milwaukee against the Brewers next week. The Dodgers last five-game winning streak was from Sept. 16-20, 2022. The Dodgers went 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position last night and are now hitting .252 with RISP on the season, which ranks eighth in the National League. The club’s .819 OPS with runners in scoring position ranks second on the Senior Circuit, trailing only the Pirates (.879). The Dodger bullpen was solid again last night, allowing just one run in 4.1 innings. Dodger relievers have permitted just 27.1% (16-of-59) of their inherited runners to score, the eighth-best mark in the Major Leagues. Los Angeles dropped four of seven games with Philadelphia last season, including three of four at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are 13-8 vs. the Phillies since 2019.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM: Dodger outfielder David Peralta went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a season-high four RBI, a walk and a three-run homer as he continues to torment Philadelphia. In his career Peralta is slashing .358/.400/.612 with seven homers and 28 RBI in 38 games vs. the Phillies. Among active players with 100 at-bats vs. Philly, Peralta’s .358 average ranks second, trailing only Starling Marte (.383). Mookie Betts comes in third place on that list as he has hit .345 (38-for-110) in 27 games vs. the Phillies.
JASON RETURNS: Dodger outfielder Jason Heyward has been on fire of late, batting .700 (7-for-10) with five runs scored, three doubles, a homer and three RBI in his last four games. The Georgia native’s homer off Taijuan Walker last night traveled 413 feet to dead center.
RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL: The Dodgers stole another base last night, as rookie Michael Busch recorded the first theft of his big-league career. After a very slow start, the Dodgers have stolen 15 bases in their last 11 contests since April 20, which is the second most in the Majors, trailing only the Pittsburgh Pirates (20) during that stretch. Freddie Freeman and James Outman are tied for the club lead with four stolen bases apiece.
THE ROOK: Rookie James Outman went 0-for-3 with a run scored and two walks last night and his 20 RBI are tied for 10th in the National League.
The native of Redwood City has hit safely in nine of his last 14, batting .302 (16-for-53) with four doubles, four homers and 10 RBI during that span. He currently leads all rookies in homers (7), slugging (.596), triples (3), extra-base hits (14), OPS (.973) and total bases (59) while ranking second in RBI (2) and tying for second in runs scored (18). Outman’s seven homers in April/May tied for the most by a Dodger Rookie since Will Smith clubbed eight homers in August of 2019. Last Saturday, Outman became the first Dodger rookie ever to club 6+ homers in March/April, passing Alex Guerrero and Joe Ferguson for the all-time mark in those two months.
LONG BALLS: The Dodgers smashed four home runs last night, matching their season high, also accomplished on April 1 vs. Arizona and April 22 at the Cubs. The Boys in Blue continue to lead the National League with 51 home runs, three more than the San Francisco Giants. Tampa Bay leads the Majors with a whopping 61 long balls. The Dodgers have recorded 3+ homers in 10 games this season, which ranks second in baseball, trailing only the Rays (11). The Dodgers are second in the League with 23 games with at least one homer, behind the Rays (26), who have homered in all but three games this season. Dodger third baseman Max Muncy was named National League Player of the Week from April 17-23 after hitting .389 (7-for-18) on the week with five home runs, seven RBI, nine walks, one stolen base and five runs scored to go along with a 1.222 slugging percentage and a .593 on-base percentage. He led NL hitters that week in homers, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, tied for first in walks and was tied for second in total bases (22). Muncy is tied with Pete Alonso for the most homers in the Major Leagues with 11 and ranks fifth with a 1.050 OPS. His 23 walks on the season are second in the Majors, trailing only Juan Soto (28).
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. PHILLIES: LHP JULIO URĺAS (3-3, 4.41 ERA in 6 GS)
2023 NOTES:
• Over six starts, the southpaw owns a 3-3 record with a 4.41 ERA (16 ER/32.2 IP) with 35 strikeouts and seven walks…has given up seven homers and has produced a 1.29 WHIP
• In his start against the Rockies on April 4, he hurled six innings of shut-out baseball, tabbing his 600TH career strikeout against Kris Bryant
• Tossed six innings on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks, giving up four hits and two earned runs while sitting down six…was his first Opening Day nod of his career
• El Culichi is tied for fifth in the National League in wins (3)
• Garnered a 1-1 record over three starts in Cactus League play, producing a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/11.2 IP) with six strikeouts against just three walks
• Key participant in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico, firing 9.0 innings in two starts against Colombia and Puerto Rico…struck out nine batters and walked three while allowing just one earned run on two hits
VS. PHILLIES:
• Went 1-1 against the Phils last season with a 4.09 ERA (5 ER/11.0 IP) and a 0.91 WHIP, striking out eight over two starts
• Owns an overall 3-1 record in six games (four starts) with a 3.42 ERA (10 ER/26.1 IP) vs. the club, tallying 19 strikeouts and just six walks…has allowed 23 hits in 112 batters faced