The struggling Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to turn to right-hander Tyler Glasnow as they look to avoid a series sweep against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game set.
Glasnow (1-0, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to come off the injured list, while the Brewers will counter with left-hander Jose Quintana (6-3, 3.44).
Milwaukee handed the Dodgers their season-high fifth consecutive loss, 3-1, on Tuesday behind a dominant performance by hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski, who bounced back after giving up Shohei Ohtani’s National League-leading 31st homer to open the game.
Misiorowski pitched six innings — allowing four hits, walking one and striking out a career-high 12 — to outduel veteran Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers have scored just one run in four of their five recent losses, including the first two games against the Brewers. After Misiorowski departed, relievers Jared Koenig, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill each tossed a perfect inning.
“We’ve got to do it again tomorrow,” said Megill, who struck out two of the three batters he faced for his 21st save. “They can come out and do whatever they do tomorrow. It could be different. We’ve just got to lock it down and get it done.”
Despite the skid, the Dodgers still have the best record in the National League at 56-37 and a five-game lead in the West.
Glasnow made five starts before going on the injured list April 28 with right shoulder inflammation. After tossing five scoreless innings in his first start of the season, he was 0-0 with a 6.23 ERA in four starts in April.
Glasnow made three rehab starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City, giving up eight runs in 8 2/3 innings. He pitched 4 1/3 innings in his last minor league start, allowing three runs on six hits, with eight strikeouts.
“I think that getting his pitch count built up in his rehab, I thought was important,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday’s game. “I honestly don’t know where his delivery is at. I’m excited to get him back on the mound. He’s excited to be back on the mound. So we’ll see, but I’m expecting him to pitch well.”
The Dodgers, who used five relievers in the series opener after starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto failed to get out of the first inning, on Tuesday called up former All-Star reliever Alexis Diaz, who had 37 saves with Cincinnati in 2023.
Diaz had a 12.00 ERA in six appearances this season with the Reds before being traded to the Dodgers in late May. After the trade, Diaz made six appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City with a 9.64 ERA.
Milwaukee moved a season-high 12 games above .500 with Tuesday’s victory. Quintana won his first four starts but was on the 15-day injured list in late May with a left shoulder impingement. In five starts in June, he was 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA, striking out 17 but walking 16 in 26 innings.
Quintana lost his last start, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 road defeat against the New York Mets on Thursday.
He is 3-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 13 career games (10 starts) against the Dodgers.