Miami @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 5, Miami 0
The Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to rebound from a disastrous home series when they begin a three-game set against the Miami Marlins in their own ballpark on Friday. Los Angeles was swept in its three-game showdown with San Francisco, which defeated Atlanta on Thursday to increase its lead over the Dodgers in the National League West to three games. Los Angeles, which is 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot, had won eight of 11 prior to its series with the Giants.
Miami enters with a 4-4 record on its 11-game road trip after dropping both ends of a doubleheader at Arizona on Wednesday. The Marlins allowed a total of only six runs in the twinbill but scored just two. Hanley Ramirez faces his former club for the second time since being traded on July 25. The star infielder went 6-for-13 with five RBIs during a three-game series in Miami from Aug. 10-12.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (4-8, 4.03 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (10-9, 3.44)
Eovaldi will be facing his former team for the first time since being acquired in the Ramirez trade. The 22-year-old improved to 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in five starts with Miami when he allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings at Colorado on Saturday. Eovaldi has yielded two earned runs in four of his five outings with the Marlins.
Billingsley has been superb since the All-Star break, winning each of his six starts while allowing fewer than two runs five times. The 28-year-old has tossed 15 scoreless frames over his last two outings, including a seven-inning performance at Atlanta on Sunday. Billingsley, who is 3-4 in 11 starts at home, owns a 4-0 record with a 2.31 ERA in seven career games - six starts - against the Marlins.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit half of his 26 home runs this season against NL West teams.
2. Los Angeles INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. is slated to undergo hip surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.
3. Miami OF Emilio Bonifacio was placed on the disabled list with a sprained right knee and could miss the rest of the year.