Los Angeles Dodgers: Facing an electric young arm for the first time

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting the San Diego Padres in a quick two-game home series and face one of the game’s best arms on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a series split with the Washington Nationals after coming away with an impressive win in the fourth game of the series on Sunday afternoon.

Hyun-Jin Ryu once again took a no-hitter into the deep stages of the ball game, this time allowing a hit after seven and one-third no-hit innings. Corey Seager hit a grand slam in the bottom half of that frame and the Dodgers were able to blank the Nationals, 6-0.

While the team definitely wanted to take the series against Washington, splitting the series should be considered a win. The Dodgers had to face off against Patrick Corbin, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg and were able to take one of those three games.

Honestly, the team probably should have won on Saturday against Scherzer as well but a grand slam from Dodger killer Gerardo Parra ruined that. So while a 3-1 or 4-0 series would have been nice, splitting 2-2 isn’t so bad either.

After an off-day on Monday, the Dodgers will host the San Diego Padres for a quick two-game set at Dodger Stadium before having another off-day on Thursday to travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds.

The Boys in Blue happen to be facing one of the league’s best young arms on Tuesday as well in Chris Paddack. Paddack has been lights out for the San Diego Padres this year, tossing 40.2 innings with a 1.55 ERA.

Hopefully, the veteran bats of the Los Angeles Dodgers can bring Paddack back down to earth and the veteran Clayton Kershaw can outpitch the young arm. As part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series, here is who we think will deliver the thunder against Paddack.

Jason’s pick (Current streak: 4):Alex Verdugo

I am finally beginning to pick up steam and have correctly guessed a hitter in four straight games. On Tuesday, I am going with a guy that actually went hitless on Sunday in Alex Verdugo.

There obviously are no stats in the Verdugo-Paddack matchup and it might seem smarter to go with the veteran bat to hopefully expose the young pitcher.

However, Verdugo has been one of the best hitters on the Dodgers this year and consistently puts together good at-bats, even when he does not get a base hit.

Because of these good at-bats, it seems near impossible that Verdugo would go hitless in two consecutive games. After an off-day to recharge the batteries, Verdugo will get not one but two hits on Tuesday.