Los Angeles Dodgers: Continuing the momentum in Arizona

The Los Angeles Dodgers are creeping closer and closer to a sixth-straight NL West title and start a six-game road trip with a three-game set in Arizona.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ magic number is down to six games with six games remaining and seven games remaining for the second-place Colorado Rockies.

The Dodgers jumped out to a 2.5 game lead in the division after sweeping the Rockies at home last week. However, the Rockies followed suit with a sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks to move a game closer in the race.

Luckily, a 1.5 lead in this stage of the season is fairly large as both teams have just two series remaining. It is definitely obtainable for the Rockies to come back, however, if the Dodgers keep winning there is nothing the team can do.

All the Dodgers need to do is win four of the last six games and hope the Rockies lost just two of the team’s last seven and the NL West crown will go to LA for the sixth-straight year.

The Dodgers demolished the San Diego Padres, 14-0, in what was the team’s last home game of the year. Now, the Dodgers will head to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks, who quickly got eliminated from postseason contention.

Two weeks ago, this series looked like the most important of the season for both teams. Now, it is all about the Dodgers continuing the winning and the Diamondbacks trying to spoil the Dodgers’ fun. With Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler on the mound for games one and two, here is hoping the Dodgers can at least win two of three in Arizona.

Winning the first game of the series is huge and will go a long way in winning the rest of the series. Here are who we think will help the Los Angeles Dodgers come away with the win offensively.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 2: Justin Turner

Alright Dodger Fans, we’ve made it to the last week of the season, and probably the most stressful stretch of games we’ll deal with this season (until the postseason, that is.) The Diamondbacks have been good against the Dodgers, but have not been good lately, coming off a three-game sweep against the Rockies.

So, that said, my pick for tonight is Justin Turner. He’s been the strongest hitter in this team since mid-May and I expect tonight to be no different.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 2: Matt Kemp

I am picking the same player that Sarah picked yesterday, who had a big game on his birthday, in Matt Kemp. Typically, I do not like picking a player to have two big games in a row but the numbers are there for Kemp to thrive yet again.

Kemp has faced Diamondbacks’ pitcher Robbie Ray 16 times in his career and has picked up seven base hits, good enough for a .438 batting average against the southpaw. Among those seven hits are two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs.

Kemp obviously dominates Ray at the plate and statistically is bound to get at least one hit if he faces the southpaw three times. Hopefully, he only has to face him once or twice as the Dodgers get going offensively to give Clayton Kershaw the run support to cruise to a win.