PREVIEW: Dodgers at Pirates

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Dodgers will aim to complete a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday evening at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. EDT under a forecast of 85-degree temperatures and rain.

Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 3.12 ERA) is set to start for the Dodgers, who own the best record in the National League at 43-24. Right-hander Mitch Keller (5-3, 3.98 ERA) will counter for the Pirates, who enter the series finale at 34-33.

Los Angeles has dominated the first two games of this series, winning Tuesday 12-3 and Wednesday 2-1. The Dodgers have won six of their last seven games overall.

Players to Watch

Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer has been sharp in three consecutive starts, all victories. In his most recent outing on June 9 against these same Pirates, Lauer pitched 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball, striking out five, before departing with the lead. He also earned wins over Arizona (June 2) and Colorado (May 26), allowing a combined five earned runs over 16 1/3 innings.

Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes, notably the player Pittsburgh acquired in the blockbuster trade for Lauer this offseason, has struggled during a five-start losing streak. In his last outing June 9 against the Dodgers, Skenes allowed two earned runs over six innings but received no run support in a 12-3 defeat. Over his previous four starts, the rookie has surrendered 15 earned runs in 20 innings.

By the Numbers

The Dodgers are installed as -1.5 run favorites, according to Interstat. The game total is set at 8.5 runs, with the simulator projecting a 6-5 final in favor of Los Angeles.

Up Next

Following this series, the Dodgers travel to Chicago for a three-game set against the White Sox beginning Friday. Pittsburgh returns home to host Miami for a three-game weekend series starting Friday.