Dodgers Beat the Streak: Back in Chicago for the first time since the NLCS
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Chicago Cubs for the first time since defeating them to advance to the 2017 World Series eight months ago.
Although the 2017 postseason ultimately brings up bad feelings about how the Los Angeles Dodgers came up just short in the World Series, a return trip to Chicago helps bring back the good memories.
The Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Chicago Cubs in five games in last year’s NLCS to head into the World Series looking unstoppable. A struggling team still took the Houston Astros to seven games but ultimately fell short.
However, the 2017 NLCS had two moments that will forever go down in Dodger history. First was Justin Turner‘s walk-off home run on the 29th anniversary of Kirk Gibson‘s home run. The other was Enrique Hernandez‘ three home run game that clinched the World Series birth for the Dodgers.
Eight months later the Dodgers are heading to Chicago on a hot streak, looking to extend the heat that the team has picked up.
Having a great offensive showing, especially after scoring just one run on Sunday, it imperative. Not only is it imperative to the Dodgers’ success, but to our Beat the Streak hitting streaks as well.
Luckily, Yasmani Grandal collected one of four hits for the Dodgers to advance my hitting streak. Sarah, on the other hand, was not as lucky. Joc Pederson went 0-3 in the contest.
Sarah’s pick — Current streak 0: Enrique Hernandez
Alrighty here’s my pick; My pick for today is based more on nostalgia than anything else; Kiké Hernandez. Hernandez is known around Chicago as the guy who hit 3 home runs, including a grand slam, ending their season in Game 5 of the 2017 NLCS.
In the end, the Dodgers would’ve won the game with any 2 of Hernandez’s historic homers, as Clayton Kershaw would pitch a gem and would only give up a single run. I think that Hernandez will pick up right where he left off in the Windy City. Hernandez is getting hot at just the right time for the Dodgers and could be the reason they win in Chicago (again.)
One of the most interesting things about this series, however, isn’t the hitting, but the pitching. Over the course of this series, there is a very good chance that Dodgers will see former LA reliever, Brandon Morrow. I don’t know about you, but he is the one that got away.
Granted, when it comes to free agency, players sign with different teams for a variety of reasons. With Morrow, however, he left LA because the Cubs offered a contract that the Dodgers wouldn’t match, as reported by True Blue LA. The Dodgers, in all likelihood, will face Morrow this week, and who knows how the reunion will turn out.
Still, I think that Hernandez will be the bigger story, and add on to the history he has already made in Chicago.
Jason’s pick — Current streak 1: Justin Turner
If Sarah is going to get all nostalgic about the 2017 NLCS then I definitely have to go the same route. Thus, I am going with the man who won the Dodgers game two himself, Justin Turner.
Turner was the co-MVP of the 2017 NLCS alongside Chris Taylor and was the key bat for the then red-hot Dodgers in the postseason. When his bat cooled down in the World Series, so did the rest of the offense.
Having Turner back in the lineup this year has obviously provided a spark that has led to this hot streak. While Turner may not producing at a high level himself, the confidence that springs from just having him in the lineup is a huge positive for the Dodgers.
Next: How the Dodgers can win the West
Perhaps a playoff-type matchup against the Chicago Cubs will spark Turner to get red-hot once more. If so, it will all start on Monday.