Los Angeles Dodgers: Breaking a losing streak to the Reds

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 0-5 against the Cincinnati Reds this season, who happen to be the third-worst team in the entire National League.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of a huge October race for NL West supremacy and are dropping games that the team should win.

Despite winning the last two series against the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks the last two weekends, the Dodgers have been unable to capitalize on the seemingly easy in between games.

Last week, the Dodgers sandwiched a series with the New York Mets between the two big weekend series. Los Angeles dropped that series two games to one.

This week, the Dodgers have a three-game set with the Reds before heading to St. Louis for a four-game series with the Cardinals. These are both big series, especially as the Dodgers are set to host the Colorado Rockies next Monday through Wednesday.

These are games the Dodgers have to capitalize on but have not thus far. Granted, the team can still win the last two games of the series to win two games to one but LA also is 0-5 against the Reds this season. Potentially losing a series against a bottom-tier NL team while the Rockies and Diamondbacks play each other is a huge missed opportunity.

What made matters worse is that is what the pitching that led to a loss on Monday. Starter Alex Wood and the bullpen allowed the Reds to score 10 runs, making the Dodgers’ six runs obsolete.

At the very least, at least the offense showed some good signs that will help with our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak selections today. Still, every game at this point in the season has become must-win.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 1: Justin Turner

My pick for today is Justin Turner. All season long he has been so good for the Dodgers and after last night, they need a win against the Reds.

Tonight they face Luis Castillo, who has had a decent season for the Reds, but still walks into this evenings game with an ERA over 4.50. I have a good feeling that Turner could help lead the Dodgers to a win over Cincinnati tonight.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 2: Cody Bellinger

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming up against a right-handed pitcher in Luis Castillo so the left-handed hitters should get plenty of action, especially after the Dodgers have faced three straight southpaws.

With that in mind, I have to go one of the most powerful left-handed hitting bats in the lineup, Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger still has not been like the rookie Bellinger that Dodger fans fell in love with last season but he has been much better since the All-Star Break. Bellinger was hitting .245 at the break and has hit .297 since and his second half on-base percentage is 51 points higher.

Bellinger’s second-half slugging percentage has fallen slightly but he is getting on more frequently and is still driving in runs; he has 21 RBIs in 48 games in the second half (35 starts).

Great American Ball Park is known for being hitter-friendly, especially for left-handed hitters and Bellinger will capitalize and send a ball into the seats.

*Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.