Pittsburgh Pirates Prepare to Head West to Play Surging Dodgers

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds second base after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 9, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds second base after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 9, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 11: David Price #33 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 11, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 8-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 11: David Price #33 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 11, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 8-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Dodging the big arms

The Dodger starting rotation has seemingly had a big three for the last decade. Who the big three have been has changed, but there has seemingly always been a big three. The one consistent in the big three has always been Clayton Kershaw. However, Kershaw is currently on the injured list and will begin a throwing program on Monday. Due to this, the Pittsburgh Pirates will not see Kershaw in this series.

With Kershaw on the shelf the big three have become Scherzer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urías. As was mentioned above Scherzer started on Sunday nigh for the Dodgers. Buehler pitched Saturday afternoon and Urías pitched Friday night. Due to this, the Pirates will not face Buehler in this series.

Currently, the Dodgers do not have a starting pitcher listed for Monday or Wednesday night. While at first Urías could have been a candidate to get the ball on Wednesday night he was placed on the IL on Sunday. Due to this the Pittsburgh Pirates will manage to avoid each of the Dodgers top arms in this series.

The lone announced Dodger starter for the series is lefty David Price. The former American League Cy Young Award winner has been used as both a starter and a reliever this season, having made 9 starts and 21 relief appearances.

While Price is not the dominant strikeout machine he was in his prime facing him is still no easy task. This season the veteran owns a 3.60 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 6.3% walk rate and a 19.6% strikeout rate in 55 innings pitched. Pirate batters will have their hands full on Tuesday night.