Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak selections — April 11
By Jason Reed
Coming off of a 4-0 win against the Oakland Athletics, our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series started on the right note.
I think that the Los Angeles Dodgers knew that we were starting a competition here at LA Sports Hub revolved around the Beat the Streak competition. In the first game that we started, which was yesterday, every player in the starting nine got a hit. Even Hyun-Jin Ryu.
It was also my first Dodger game of the year; it was a great one. The game started with back-to-back home runs from Chris Taylor and Corey Seager. And of course, the best moment, Matt Kemp slugging his first home run back in Dodger blue. Wonderful.
Yesterday’s picks:
Yesterday I picked Yasiel Puig while Sarah Maninger picked Cody Bellinger. Late in the game, Puig and Bellinger were two of the last three players without a hit in the contest.
It started with Yasiel Puig, who made his softest contact of the night on a chopper up the middle. Shortstop Marcus Semien was able to get to the ball but was unable to make the play. Puig, trying to make something happen, almost stole second on the tail end of the play as a result. Despite getting thrown out, the home field scorers gave Puig a hit.
Bellinger’s hit came later in the night. After Matt Kemp’s home run, Bellinger roped a ball into right field, beating the shift. His hit was a lot more orthodox than Puig’s.
Sarah’s pick: Chris Taylor
WHY:
More from LA Sports Hub
- Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
- LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
- LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
- Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
- LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month
My pick for tonight is Chris Taylor. Last night, he hit his first homer of the season and I think he’s in line to get another hit.
Chris Taylor is still the player that hit a homer off of Dallas Keuchel in the first at-bat of the World Series, and he’s still the trade that the Seattle Mariners regret. My favorite thing about Taylor is that he’s fast. He’s hit the Dodgers’ only triple this season and he stretches singles into doubles on a regular basis.
He, along with Austin Barnes and Cody Bellinger, are as reliable as they come when talking about beating out the throw. I predict that that is going to be one of Taylor’s greatest strengths in 2018, and could even play a role in tonight’s game against the A’s.
Current streak: One
Jason’s pick: Corey Seager
WHY:
Corey Seager started the game last night with a solo shot to follow up Chris Taylor’s. While Taylor’s was more of a high fly ball that happened to get out, Seager crushed his on a line 440 feet straight into the seats.
After that bat, though, Seager continued his struggles, going 1-4 total in the contest. Seager flew out and grounded out twice after the home run.
However, Seager is set to hit his groove and the chances that he will go six or seven straight at-bats without a hit is slim. With a favorable righty-lefty matchup against Daniel Mengden (6.55 ERA) Seager should be able to find a ball in the gap. I am expecting at least a searing double in the right-center gap.
Current streak: One
Next: Who is going to save the Dodgers?
Well, there you have it. Our picks are coincidentally the two guys that led off last night’s contest with a bang. Hopefully, they can repeat the feat. Be sure to join along in the fun by tweeting #DodgersBTS