The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, July 22 for a 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies. Eric Lauer takes the ball for Los Angeles against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola in what shapes up as a challenging road matchup. The game airs on SportsNet LA for Dodgers viewers and NBCSP for the Philadelphia market, with radio coverage on Dodgers Radio AM570 and Spanish-language listeners served by KTNQ 1020 and the iHeart App.

Pitching Matchup: Lauer vs. Nola at Citizens Bank Park

Aaron Nola is the defining challenge here. The Phillies right-hander has spent years as one of the National League's most reliable starters, and Citizens Bank Park is his home turf. He commands a deep arsenal, works deep into games, and limits walks — the kind of pitcher who punishes a Dodgers lineup if they come in passive. Los Angeles will need to grind at-bats, work pitch counts, and manufacture pressure early before Nola settles into a rhythm.

Eric Lauer draws the road start for the Dodgers. The left-hander has shown the ability to keep a lineup off-balance with a mix of offerings, but facing a Phillies lineup that carries legitimate lineup-to-lineup danger means Lauer will need his command to be sharp from the first inning. Soft contact and avoiding the big inning will be his path to keeping the Dodgers in this game.

Philadelphia Phillies Lineup to Watch

The Phillies are sending out a lineup that commands respect. Trea Turner leads off at shortstop — a former Dodger who knows how to set a table. Kyle Schwarber hits second as the DH, bringing left-handed pop and an ability to alter a pitcher's approach with one swing. Bryce Harper slots in at first base in the three-hole, and Alec Bohm anchors the cleanup spot at third base. That 1-through-4 stretch gives the Phillies genuine run-scoring capability at every turn.

• Trea Turner (SS): Leadoff threat with speed and contact ability — Lauer cannot afford to let him reach base cheaply.
• Kyle Schwarber (DH): A left-handed power bat who can change the game with one swing against any pitcher.
• Bryce Harper (1B): The middle-of-the-order anchor. Keeping Harper in the ballpark is a priority for Lauer.
• Alec Bohm (3B): A disciplined hitter in the cleanup spot who drives in runs with consistency.

Keys to the Game for Los Angeles

The Dodgers' path to a win Wednesday runs through a few specific areas. First, Lauer needs to navigate the top of the Phillies order cleanly. Allowing Turner to reach base and then feeding Schwarber and Harper with runners on is a formula for a short night. Second, the Dodgers offense — lineup still unconfirmed ahead of first pitch — needs to make Nola work early. He is at his best when the game flows at his pace. Disrupting that rhythm through patient at-bats and baserunner pressure is the clearest way to manufacture offense.

Bullpen management will also factor in. If Lauer exits before the sixth inning, the Dodgers will need reliable arms behind him in a road environment where the crowd can shift momentum quickly.

Prediction

This is a tough draw. Aaron Nola at home is one of the better assignments a National League offense can face, and the Phillies lineup from top to bottom carries real threats. That said, the Dodgers are built to compete in exactly these kinds of road games. Call it a close contest that comes down to whether Lauer can deliver five-plus innings and whether the Dodgers lineup can scratch enough runs against Nola to keep it within reach. Edge to Philadelphia, but this one should go deep into the evening before it's decided.