The Los Angeles Dodgers are staring down a tough stretch, hoping to snap a four-game losing streak and avoid a sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals this Sunday afternoon. After dropping two games to the Miami Marlins at home, the Dodgers have now lost the first two games of this series in St. Louis, leaving them in a deep offensive slump that has been historically quiet.
Friday's 3-2 loss was closer than the score suggests, but the Dodgers’ bats didn't come alive until the ninth inning. With two outs, they finally found some momentum, putting runners on base and even pushing a run across thanks to a series of Cardinals defensive miscues. However, a Dalton Rushing strikeout ended the rally, leaving the tying and winning runs stranded. It was another frustrating chapter in a recent trend where strong pitching performances—like Roki Sasaki's solid start—go unrewarded by an offense that has struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position.
For today's matchup, the Dodgers are looking to turn things around with a lineup that features Alex Freeland at second base and Hyeseong Kim at shortstop. Will Smith is getting a day off, with Dalton Rushing stepping in behind the plate. The big story, though, is starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski, who has been a surprising bright spot for the team. With a 4-0 record and a stellar 1.50 ERA over five games, Wrobleski has defied expectations. While his whiff and strikeout rates are in the bottom 5% of MLB pitchers, his run value metrics—including fastball and breaking ball efficiency—rank in the top 6%, showing he knows how to work around contact.
On the other side, the Cardinals are sending former Dodger Dustin May to the mound. May has struggled this season with a 5.28 ERA and a 3-2 record, but he excels at limiting walks, boasting a walk rate in the top 10% of pitchers. However, his inability to generate whiffs (ranking in the 3rd percentile) could give the Dodgers an opportunity to put the ball in play and build some momentum.
First pitch is set for 11:15 a.m. at Busch Stadium, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet LA in Southern California. For Dodgers fans, this is a crucial moment to see if their team can break out of their slump and get back on track. Will Wrobleski continue his surprising run, or will the Cardinals complete the sweep? It's all to play for in this early-season test of resilience.