Preview: Zack Greinke, Dodgers Go For Series Win Over Phillies

It has been an up-and-down season for the Los Angeles Dodgers up to this point, but with four games remaining until the All-star break the Dodgers record of 48-38 sits atop the National League West with a five-game lead over the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks.

They are currently in the midst of a 10-game homestand, and a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers have won two of the first three games, and now send their co-ace and Major League Baseball’s ERA leader Zack Greinke to the mound. Greinke is 7-2 with a 1.48 ERA in 17 starts this season. He also leads all Major League starters with a 4.9 WAR and 16 quality starts. This is Greinke’s last start before the All-Star break, where he and three of his teammates will head to Cincinnati to represent the Dodgers and the National League in the Midsummer Classic.

To add to all the terrific stats Greinke has posted, he is in the midst of a 27.2 innings scoreless streak.

The Majoor League worst Phillies (29-58) will send Severino Gonzalez to the mound. The rookie is 3-2 with a 8.28 ERA in his six starts this season. His last start came on June 28 when he allowed six hits and four runs in 5.1 innings of work against the Washington Nationals. The outing was Gonzalez’s longest of his career.

Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who played his whole career in Philadelphia before this season, is 4-for-12 with a homer and five RBIs in the series against his former team. Rollins will bat seventh for the Dodgers Thursday.

Alberto Callaspo, who is 18-for-63 (.286) since being traded to the Dodgers, gets the start at third base as Justin Turner gets the day off against the right-handed Gonzalez.

Dodgers Lineup:

CF: Joc Pederson

2B: Howie Kendrick

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

C: Yasmani Grandal

LF: Andre Ethier

RF: Yasiel Puig

SS: Jimmy Rollins

3B: Alberto Callaspo

P: Zack Greinke

Phillies Lineup:

cF: Ben Revere

2B: Cesar Hernandez

3B: Maikel Franco

1B: Ryan Howard

LF: Cody Asche

RF: Domonic Brown

SS: Freddy Galvis

C: Cameron Rupp

P: Severino Gonzalez