Los Angeles Dodgers: A win is needed against Zack Greinke

The Los Angeles Dodgers offense fell flat yet again on Thursday and looks to respond on Friday with Zack Greinke on the mound.

Rich Hill did everything he could, the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen did everything they could; heck, Manny Machado did everything he possibly could. At the end of the day, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense fell flat once again and fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1.

Arizona’s three runs came on one swing of the bat on a David Peralta three-run home run. That was Rich Hill’s only blunder and the bullpen did not allow a run.

Manny Machado drove in the only Dodger run on a solo home run and followed that up with a huge double in the bottom of the eighth inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Matt Kemp grounded into a double play. Of course, neither of Kemp’s two hits could come at that time.

Now the Los Angeles Dodgers are two games out of the NL West, which is definitely ground that could be made up with three games left in the series and three more games to play against Arizona.

However, the Dodgers are never going to make up these games if the offense continues to have huge struggles against fellow playoff competition. I get that it is better competition but the Dodgers have been one of the worst teams in baseball in hitting in big spots.

On Friday, the Dodgers will face a familiar face in Zack Greinke, who the team will need to jump on early. If the offense is patient and allows Greinke to get in his groove the game might be over before it even begins.

The Dodgers need to explode and score something in the first frame to set the tone for the rest of the series. With Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler taking the mound in the final two games, and Hyun-Jin Ryu set to start on Friday, these are three games that cannot escape the team.

Here is who we think will get a hit against Greinke and hopefully lead the Dodgers to a victory.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 1: Justin Turner

My pick for today is Justin Turner. With the Dodgers facing the DBacks, they need a massive victory and a massive offensive outburst.

Turner recently had a big hitting streak and is capable of being the strongest hitter in that lineup. If this team is to beat Arizona, they need to be running on all cylinders.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 0: Joc Pederson

With Matt Kemp’s huge double play in the eighth inning and Chris Taylor striking out four times, the Dodgers are going to field a different outfield on Friday. With a right-handed pitcher on the mound, this likely means Max Muncy at first base, Cody Bellinger in center field and Joc Pederson in left field.

I am going with the left fielder, Joc Pederson. If Pederson does get the call, he will likely be atop the order and will be one of the first hitters to face Greinke.

Again, the Dodgers need to attack early and Pederson is the perfect bat to put early in the order to attack the ace.

Pederson is going to get a low fastball in the bottom of the first inning that he is going to pull into the visitors’ bullpen and give the team a much-needed jolt of energy after a disappointing loss in the first game of the series.