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Dodgers Beat the Streak: LA Goes for the Sweep Against Texas

By Sarah Maninger

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 26: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 26: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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After a game in which the Dodgers tagged Bartolo Colon with 8 earned runs, they face Cole Hamels in the series finale against the Texas Rangers.

Dodger Nation, he’s back. No, not him, but another strong starter. Tonight the Dodgers finally begin to get reinforcements from their major league rotation known as the 10-day DL. Kenta Maeda, who has been on the DL since May 30th, returns to face Cole Hamels and the Rangers in a game that hopes to be exactly like Tuesday night.

Tuesday night, in all its glory, is the exact kind of baseball the Dodgers are capable of playing.

As Jason wrote yesterday, everybody loves Bartolo Colon, but that didn’t keep the Dodgers from handing him one of his toughest losses of the season and giving bullpen arm Edward Paredes the win.

Jason picked Puig last night, who hit an absolute rocket and went 2-4, while I picked Matt Kemp, who went 0-3 with a walk.

Tonight, the Dodgers look to continue their success at Chavez Ravine as they face the Rangers’ ace. Here’s how Jason and I think it’ll pan out for the boys in blue.

Jason’s pick-Current Streak 3: Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp was the only starting position player to not get a base hit in the 12-5 win over the Rangers and you best believe that he is going to come out tonight looking to redeem himself.

Although Kemp did not find the basepaths via a hit, he was still working good at-bats as well as hitting the ball hard; he simply could not catch a break.

Against a southpaw in Cole Hamels, Kemp has a great chance to redeem himself in the three-hole. Kemp has a lot of history with Hamels and is a career 8-23 against the southpaw.

I successfully predicted Puig’s moon shot into the left-field pavilion (go back and look, I called the home run to a tee). Tonight, I am predicting that Kemp will connect on a change-up that will lead to a very high home run that will just narrowly escape the yard.

Sarah’s Pick- Current Streak 0: Justin Turner

Full disclosure, I have no statistical evidence for picking Turner tonight. My streak is at 0, and I am simply hoping for the best. Turner, however, is a great player to put your faith in. He’s been consistent ever since returning from the DL; which, let’s be honest, completely kickstarted this team. He hasn’t been hitting the long ball too much but has been hitting for extra bases.

Turner is long overdue for a home run, and I have a feeling he’ll get one tonight.

I mean, the way the Dodgers have been hitting homers, I wouldn’t be surprised if Maeda hit a grand slam.

Justin Turner may not look like the player he was last season, but in his defense, his season got started off on a sour note. It’s hard to bounce back from something like that.

But if any player can return from injury and go out and dominate, it’s JT. I think that maybe, just maybe, we’re about to see that dominance come to life.

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