AK’s Corner: Dodgers Rebound Just in Time for Giants Series
Just last week, I was concerned that the Los Angeles Dodgers were in serious trouble–what with their offense in a deep freeze, the end of their rotation struggling, and the San Francisco Giants hot on their trail. My timing was apparently impeccable, because the very same day that I published that article, the Dodgers went on a four-game winning streak, and have won five of six games altogether. Yes–they were at home, and yes–they were facing the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. But, the Dodgers haven’t exactly played their best baseball at Dodger Stadium this season, and they just lost two of three games to the Padres in San Diego two weekends ago.
Sep 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford (3) rounds third base on his way to scoring on a Juan Uribe (not pictured) single in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
How have the Dodgers rebounded? With pitching, of course, and timelier hitting. Dan Haren has won his last two starts, Hyun-jin Ryu has been excellent his last two starts, Clayton Kershaw was his usual dominant self on Monday night, and Zack Greinke is back on track after an inconsistent August. Matt Kemp is on a six-game hitting streak, Carl Crawford has nine hits in his last 12 at-bats with five extra-base hits and five RBIs, and during the Dodgers’ six game hot streak–Adrian Gonzalez (who’s in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak) has 10 RBIs, Hanley Ramirez has six RBIs, and Dee Gordon (who’s in the midst of a six-game hitting streak) has scored seven runs.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the Giants haven’t let up one bit. They had already won seven of nine games during the Dodgers’ slump, and they’ve since matched the Dodgers by winning five of their last six. While they’re firing on all cylinders, the three-game showdown series that starts Friday night in San Francisco lines up well for the Dodgers.
Sep 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
On Friday night, Ryu (4-1 2.76 ERA 1.04 WHIP career at Giants) faces Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (10-4 2.54 ERA 1.00 WHIP career vs. Dodgers). On Saturday, Greinke (1-0 2.19 ERA 1.05 ERA career at Giants) faces Tim Hudson (6-4 3.46 ERA 1.26 ERA career vs. Dodgers), and on Sunday, Kershaw (7-2 0.69 ERA 0.80 WHIP career at Giants) faces Yusmeiro Petit (1-3 4.83 ERA 1.14 WHIP career vs. Dodgers). The Saturday and Sunday match-ups clearly favor the Dodgers, and believe it or not, Ryu’s overall numbers are very similar to Bumgarner’s this season.
The Dodgers have won six games and lost seven against the Giants this season, but swept the last series in San Francisco, in late July. As usual, the Dodgers will have to pay special attention to Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, and Hunter Pence, but amazingly, the Dodgers have kept all three at bay this season. Posey is only hitting .239 against the Dodgers this season, Sandoval is hitting .196, and Pence is hitting .250.
Sep 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) is greeted by third base coach Lorenzo Bundy (49) after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Three of the Dodgers’ most important hitters, however, have a history of success at AT&T Park and they will be counted upon to generate runs all weekend. Matt Kemp has hit .308 in 227 career at-bats (.400 this season), Adrian Gonzalez has hit .288 in 240 at-bats (.346 this season), and Yasiel Puig has hit .286 in 49 at-bats (.333 this season). Juan Uribe, a former Giant, of course, is a career .282 hitter at AT&T Park, and has hit .348 there this season.
While the Dodgers and Giants will have one final three-game series at Dodger Stadium at the end of the season, the Dodgers, still up two games in the standings, could take advantage of this weekend’s showdown series to put a little more breathing room between themselves and the Giants. If they fail, and the Giants push even closer to first place, the Dodgers could find themselves right back where they were last week–in serious trouble.