Game: Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m.
Odds: Brewers +199, Dodgers -222
Total: 8.5
The Los Angeles Dodgers took a chance by offering J.D. Martinez a $10 million contract for 2023 despite his declining power and run production in 2022. The Dodgers’ current challenge is to keep Martinez healthy as he approaches 36 years of age. It’s the least they could do after Martinez returned the favor this year by earning another All-Star selection.
Martinez played on Tuesday for the first time since August 6 and went 1-for-4 last night. The Dodgers’ description of the injury’s location—anywhere from the groin to the hamstring to the lower back—has left some room for interpretation. An MRI did not reveal anything substantial.
What Martinez means to the Dodgers is simpler to understand. In the sixth inning on Tuesday, his RBI double off the left-field wall gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game, 2-1. The Dodgers went on to win 6-2 as a result of the five-run inning. Martinez’s 77 RBIs rank third on the team in a talented offense. He trails only fellow All-Stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
Clayton Kershaw (10-4, 2.51 ERA), a three-time Cy Young winner for the Dodgers, is scheduled to start the game tonight. On Thursday, Kershaw made his comeback from a short stint on the injured list. In five innings against the Colorado Rockies, he allowed one run on three hits. Kershaw has a 7-5 record and a 2.97 ERA in 17 starts against the Brewers in his career. On May 10, Kershaw started at Milwaukee and went seven innings, giving up one run on five hits while striking out eight.
The Brewers will respond with left-hander Wade Miley (6-2, 2.90). In 17 appearances (16 starts), he has a 4.47 ERA against the Dodgers with a career record of 4-7. Miley has made two starts since going on the injured list for almost a month due to left elbow discomfort. He has given up a total of two runs on five hits in 10 innings since his return. Milwaukee ultimately dropped both contests.
Tuesday’s Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Hauser did well in the first four innings, allowing just one hit, but he was removed from the game in the sixth when the Dodgers scored five runs to take the lead. The Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate during the inning, which featured three Brewers pitchers in action.
Milwaukee’s four-game winning streak was snapped as a result of last night’s loss. It will be a challenging road trip for Milwaukee. The Brewers travel to Texas to play the American League West-leading Rangers after their trip to Los Angeles.
Despite the loss last night, the Brewers still led the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs in the National League Central by 3.5 games. The Dodgers lead the NL West by nine games over San Francisco. Los Angeles has now won nine straight games and eight in a row at home.
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