Preview: Dodgers Go To Bullpen Game In Series Opener Against Phillies

Following a series loss to the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are now 6-4 in their last 10 games, take on the Philadelphia Phillies, owners of the have the worst record in the Majors.

Making his first career start for the Dodgers is relief pitcher Yimi Garcia. The 24 year old has not made a start for a professional team since 2011 with the Rookie level Ogden Raptors, the Minor League affiliate of the Dodgers.

In that outing Garcia went 5.2 innings, in which he allowed two runs on six hits and walked one. He also struck out six batters, and walked away with a no-decision. The right-hander has faced his share difficulties this season after getting off to a strong start.

Garcia has allowed the most home runs among Dodger relief pitchers with six and has given up hits to five of the last 10 batters faced. On the season Garcia has a 3.82 ERA of 3.82, 3.25 FIP and 1.05 WHIP.

The decision to start Garcia comes as somewhat of a surprise given the Dodgers called up Eric Surkamp to take Carlos Frias’ spot on the active roster. Frias was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with lower back tightness and Monday’s game is his spot in the rotation.

Surkamp has started seven Major League games over his career, making his debut in 2011 with the San Francisco Giants. He last pitched in the big leagues in 2014 with the Chicago White Sox, who used him exclusively as a reliever. Expect Surkamp to come into the game after Garcia is done with an expected brief outing.

Surkamp has pitched well in his last two starts for Triple A Oklahoma City, allowing just one run in each start. Although his ERA currently stands at 4.50 as a starter for OKC, removing his second start where he gave up five runs in three innings gives him an ERA of 3.24 as a starter.

The Phillies counter with Sean O’Sullivan who has struggled heavily this season with a record of 1-6. He enters with a 5.98 FIP and his lone win coming back on May 17 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s a combined 33 runs over eight starts since then.

The last time these two teams faced off, history was made as Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter on May 25, 2014 in Philadelphia. With Garcia starting the game, he’s batting eighth in the order, presumably to aid with pinch-hitting for him. After exiting Sunday’s in the fourth inning with a hand contusion, Adrian Gonzalez is in the lineup.

Dodgers Lineup:

CF: Joc Pederson

2B: Howie Kendrick

3B: Justin Turner

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

C: Yasmani Grandal

RF: Yasiel Puig

LF: Andre Ethier

P: Yimi Garcia

SS: Jimmy Rollins

Phillies Lineup:

RF: Ben Revere

2B: Cesar Hernandez

3B: Maikel Franco

1B: Ryan Howard

C: Carlos Ruiz

LF: Cody Asche

SS: Freddy Galvis

CF: Odubel Herrera

P: Sean O’Sullivan

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