Brett Anderson starts homestand finale for Dodgers vs. Brewers

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers end their "first half" on Sunday, and no matter what happens in their series finale with the Brewers, the Dodgers will head into the All-Star break in first place in the National League West. But Sunday gives a chance to enter the break on a high note and mostly prevent four days of incessant whining.

This has been a rather unimpressive homestand by the Dodgers, facing three teams that at the start of the 10-game test feature the two worst records in the National League and the second-worst offense in the league.

So far the Dodgers are 5-4 against the Mets, Phillies and Brewers, with Sunday's game waiting to swing the narrative in one of two directions.

Brett Anderson gets the start for the Dodgers, looking to end his own first half on a high note. The left-hander with the massive ground ball rate has been very effective so far this season with a 3.12 ERA in 17 starts, but more importantly has been healthy.

Anderson lasted just five innings on Tuesday but has otherwise been pitching deep into games, lasting at least six innings in eight of his last 10 starts. After a downward blip in strikeouts, with 21 in a six-start stretch from May 25 to June 21, Anderson in his last three starts has 22 strikeouts and just five walks in 19 innings.

It is the most strikeouts in any three-start stretch for Anderson since whiffing 23 with Oakland from July 24 to Aug. 3, 2009, his rookie season.

The Dodgers will face Kyle Lohse, who has been terrible this season for the Brewers. The right-hander is 5-10 with a 6.29 ERA, including a very convenient 7.11 over his last nine starts.

Lohse has allowed 20 home runs and 23 doubles in 103 innings this season.

Game info

Time: 1:10 p.m.

TV: SportsNet LA