Bullpen woes plaguing Dodgers ahead of finale vs. Phillies

With bullpen woes ongoing, the Los Angeles Dodgers will take any relief they can get as they try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

The Phillies (91-61) have taken advantage of the Dodgers' bullpen in each of the first two games of the series, scoring five of their six runs off Los Angeles relievers Monday and all nine of their runs against the group Tuesday.

The Dodgers received five no-hit innings on the mound Tuesday from Shohei Ohtani, who remains on a limited workload as a starter. He also hit his 50th home run of the season at the plate in a 9-6 setback.

Left-hander Blake Snell (4-4, 2.79 ERA) will start for Los Angeles on Wednesday. He is 0-3 with a 4.28 ERA in six career starts against the Phillies

The star of last year's postseason, the Dodgers' bullpen has a 4.30 ERA this season, which is 20th in the major leagues.

"Sometimes you look back and try to understand what's going on and you try to pinch yourself when things aren't going well," said Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen, who was the losing pitcher in each of the past two games.

"Sometimes there are no words to describe it. I know it's frustrating to the fans. I can promise you from the bottom of our hearts, we're trying our darndest every single night. ... It's not an effort thing. It's not a preparation thing."

Ohtani became the sixth player in major league history with consecutive 50-homer seasons, along with Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire and Babe Ruth (twice).

The Dodgers (84-67) still have a two-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres in the NL West but failed to pad the advantage in either of the previous two games.

Even after clinching their second consecutive NL East title Monday, the Phillies returned with a lineup of regulars and rallied from a four-run deficit with a six-run sixth inning. Rafael Marchan hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth.

Philadelphia is 1 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the chase for the best record in the NL.

Left-hander Jesus Luzardo (14-6, 4.03) will start for the Phillies on Wednesday. He is coming off his longest start of the season when he struck out 10 in eight innings in a 6-4 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.

In five career appearances against the Dodgers (four starts), Luzardo is 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA. In an April 4 start against the Dodgers at home, he earned the win by allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings.

Not only did Marchan hit a key home run Wednesday, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler each went deep in the six-run sixth. Marchan had two hits out of the No. 9 spot Tuesday after Monday's No. 9 hitter, Weston Wilson, belted a two-run home run.

Marchan's opportunity came as J.T. Realmuto was out with an illness.

"It gave Marchan a chance and he came through, he delivered so that's great. He had a heck of a night," Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters. "He caught a good game, had some really good at-bats and was a big part of it."