Los Angeles Dodgers: Entering the biggest series of the year

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to host the Colorado Rockies in the teams’ last matchup of the regular season. Colorado enters the series with a half-game lead.

The Los Angeles Dodgers recovered nicely from two straight losses to the Cincinnati Reds by winning four games in a row — three of which were against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Although the Dodgers were blanked on Sunday and were unable to complete the four-game sweep, the team still moved into a tie for the second NL Wild Card spot with St. Louis as well as a half game back of the Rockies in the NL West.

That is not too shabby for a 10-game road trip, especially considering the Rockies had a nine-game prior to heading to San Francisco.

Three games in Los Angeles and then three games in Arizona will conclude the Rockies road trip. Colorado is then tasked with the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. Neither are playoff teams but are tough competition, especially if the Rockies catch either team at the right time in the starting rotation.

As for the Dodgers, LA gets a six-game homestand against the Rockies and San Diego Padres before finishing the season on the road against the Diamondbacks and then Giants.

As for the Wild Card situation, the Cardinals have the toughest outlook against the Atlanta Braves, Giants, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs.

Things are going to get wild.

For right now, though, this series in Dodger Stadium is crucial and the Dodgers cannot afford to lose the first game and fall 1.5 games back. Playing with your backs against the wall is tough and the Dodgers need to come out of the gates strong on Monday.

Here is who we hope will guide the Los Angeles Dodgers offensively as part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series.

Sarah’s pick —Current streak 0: Chris Taylor

My pick for today is Chris Taylor. CT3 hasn’t been at his absolute best lately, but the Dodgers need some major offense going into this series against Colorado, and I think Taylor can help provide it.

Speaking of this series, it’s probably the most important series of the season. I know it sounds like we say that every series, but with the division race as close as it is, the Dodgers need every bit of offense they can get.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 5: Cody Bellinger

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming up against a familiar arm in Jon Gray and there is one bat that stands out above the rest in terms of owning Gray in their matchups.

That bat is Cody Bellinger and he will extend my streak with only his third home run at Dodger Stadium since the All-Star Break.

Bellinger has faced Gray eight times in his career and has six hits, two doubles and two RBIs. Although he has not hit a home run off Gray, he has a lifetime 1.750 OPS when Gray is on the mound.

Hyun-Jin Ryu has been good this season and excels when the pressure is taken off. Thus, the Dodgers should be out firing early to get the crowd involved. Cody Bellinger will be part of that early surge.