Dodgers Beat the Streak: Going for the series win in Anaheim
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels will square off in the rubber match of the first freeway series set on Sunday Night Baseball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels enter the final game of the series in Anaheim both looking to secure a series win. Then, following a week away, both teams will rekindle in Los Angeles next weekend for another three-game set before the All-Star Break.
And while the series may be tied at one game apiece, the Dodgers easily should have been winners of both games. The pitching staff has been absolutely incredible and with Kenley Jansen on the bump and a one-run lead, the Dodgers looked prime for a win on Friday.
That was not the case as Jansen walked Shohei Ohtani despite being up 0-2 on the Japanese phenom and a series of bad throws and near outs for base hits and the Dodgers lost.
Last night, the Dodgers avenged themselves with a 3-1 win, however, the bats still were not all that impressive. The Dodgers could only muster four hits, but hey, a win is a win.
The biggest hit of the night was Justin Turner‘s two-RBI single to right field that put the Dodgers up 2-0 in the fifth. Not only did Turner give the team the cushion to win, he also extended my streak back to one game.
Sarah, who is now contributing at out FanSided sister site, Call to the Pen (Congrats!!!), was not as fortunate. Her selection, Max Muncy, went 0-3 with a walk and ended her streak at a modest five games.
Sarah’s pick — Current streak 0: Cody Bellinger
My pick for today is Cody Bellinger. As the Dodgers try and win the series against the Halos, I have a feeling that it’ll be Bellinger leading the charge.
Bellinger hasn’t gotten super hot this season, but he has been consistent. A lot of guys on the Dodgers this season have been like that, consistent without being streaky, making it so the Dodgers always have a strong lineup from their leadoff hitter to whoever is hitting 8th.
The offense has been so consistent that even the pitchers are getting hits (I’m looking at you, Alex Wood.) Alex Wood is also the one who will be starting this game off for the Dodgers today against Angels southpaw Andrew Heaney.
Wood has been better lately, and with his potential dominance today, combined with the power of this offense, the Dodgers are looking sharp heading into tonight’s Sunday Night Baseball matchup on ESPN.
Jason’s pick — Current streak 1: Enrique Hernandez
Whenever there is a southpaw on the mound against the Dodgers the first name that comes to my head is Enrique Hernandez. Sometimes it is a great matchup and I go with my gut. This is one of those times.
Enrique Hernandez is significantly better against southpaws not only this season but his entire career. This season has been a slight step down in production as Hernandez is hitting just .242 against southpaws. In his career, though, Hernandez is a .264 against left-handed pitching.
The fall in numbers is likely due to Hernandez’ increased workload with Corey Seager out for the season. Typically, these matchups would be hand-picked, which would result in better numbers. This year, that is not the case.
However, this would have been a matchup that manager Dave Roberts would have hand-picked because Heaney throws right into Hernandez’ strengths.
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Heaney is going to deliver a curve that gets in over the plate to Hernandez that he is going to blast over the bullpen into left-field. Not only is he going to hit a home run, he is going to hit one of his most impressive home runs of the season.