Dodgers Beat the Streak: Rubber match at Wrigley Field
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to win yet another series this afternoon after splitting Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs split a doubleheader on Tuesday that showcased how evenly matched both teams are. Both games were tightly contested and just one run separated both teams in their respective victories.
In game one, it was Kyle Farmer who came up big. Farmer delivered a two-out, two-strike RBI double that put the Dodgers from down one to up 4-3. Kenley Jansen then shut the door.
Game two was not as giving. Returning starting pitcher, Rich Hill, threw six solid innings, allowing just three hits, two walks and no runs with six strikeouts. However, the Dodgers’ bullpen let in two runs and the offense could not hit with runners on base and the team lost 2-1.
Both teams enter game three with something to prove. For the Dodgers, the team needs to prove they can hit with runners on base.
The cold bats stopped my streak, as I went with Matt Kemp. Kemp, who is starting to cool off, went 0-4 in the contest despite hitting the ball fairly hard. Sarah’s pick, Austin Barnes, delivered the team’s only run of the game on his lone single of the game.
Sarah’s pick — Current streak 1: Max Muncy
My pick for today’s finale against Chicago is Max Muncy. Muncy didn’t play the best baseball in yesterday’s doubleheader but has still been solid regardless. I mean, this is a player most of us didn’t even know about until he reached the majors.
Max Muncy, if I may go so far, is the Dodgers’ secret weapon; one of them, at least. I don’t think he’s slumping, but rather still adjusting to his meteoric rise to being one of the best hitters in the National League this season.
Picking Muncy for today may be a risky pick, as he is one of only two current Dodgers who hasn’t faced tomorrows starter for the Cubbies, Jon Lester (the other player is Kyle Farmer), but I have faith in Muncy, and I think that all of Dodger Nation does, too. On the flip side is the Dodgers’ starter for tomorrow, Ross Stripling aka this year’s iteration of 2017 Alex Wood.
Ross Stripling represents just another reason that the Dodgers are incapable of not surprising us. No Cubs hitter has faced Stripling more than 3 times, but of all the hitters that have taken a swing or two against the Dodgers’ righty, none of them have gotten a hit.
Ross Stripling, Max Muncy, and Matt Kemp are definitely the biggest surprises of this season, and so I’m going with Muncy because tomorrow, as the Dodgers try and win this series, he may just surprise us again.
Jason’s pick — Current streak 0: Enrique Hernandez
Everyone knows how Enrique Hernandez historically dominants Madison Bumgarner whenever he faces him. It was Hernandez, after all, that gave the Dodgers the win on Saturday by launching a two-run home run into the seats off Bumgarner.
What is lesser known is that Hernandez also has success off Cubs’ southpaw Jon Lester. It may not be the elite numbers he puts up against Bumgarner, but he has shown proficiency in hitting Chicago’s ace. He may not be the best hitter on the team, but he hits elite pitchers fairly well.
Hernandez is 4-14 in his life against Lester with a triple, two home runs and six RBIs. Of players with at least 14 at-bats against Lester, Hernandez has the seventh-best OPS (1.160). Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Jedd Gyorko and Nelson Cruz are the only active players with a better OPS.
Next: The hypocrisy of suspending Kemp
Hernandez is in the same two-spot in the line up that he was when he faced Bumgarner. Much like he did on Saturday, Hernandez is going to come up with a big extra-base hit in today’s contest.