Los Angeles Dodgers: Start of a long road trip against old friends

The Los Angeles Dodgers will start their long road trip against Yasiel Puig and the Cincinnati Reds after sweeping them at Dodger Stadium in mid-April.

The Los Angeles Dodgers went 7-2 in the team’s nine-game homestand at Dodger Stadium over the last week and a half and now embark on a road trip that is going to see the Boys in Blue away from Dodger Stadium for 11 days.

With three off-days stacked in that 11-day span, though, the Dodgers are just going to play eight games on the road before returning to Dodger Stadium for a seven-game homestand against the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Dodgers will start the road trip with a series against some old friends with the Cincinnati Reds, which does not include Matt Kemp anymore, before a two-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays and a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Rays are the only playoff team in that bunch so the Dodgers should be favored in six of those eight games, at least. A winning road trip would be huge as the Dodgers are 10-10 on the road this year.

If the Dodgers can go 6-2 on this road trip, which should be the ultimate goal, then it would not only bolster their road record but give the team a bunch of momentum to build on. After a strong homestand, a strong road trip would bleed over into the following homestand, which could lead to even better results.

It all starts on Friday against the Reds and a dominant offensive showing in a small ballpark is the perfect way to get the road trip started. As part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series, here is who we think will get at least one base hit on Friday night.

Jason’s pick (Current streak: 0): Justin Turner

We were finally building a lengthy streak for the first time since the start of the season and it came to an end on Wednesday. After going hitless on Tuesday, we went with Justin Turner, as he was bound to get a base hit, right?

Well, that was not the case. Although Turner reached base twice with a walk and hit by pitch, he did not record a base hit, going 0-2 on the night. As a result, the five-game streak was reset and I have to go back to the drawing board.

And I am turning it right back around by going with Turner for a second time. There is no way that Turner, as good of a hitter as he is, goes hitless in three consecutive games, especially after an off-day. There is just no way.

It helps that Turner hits .307 in his career in 21 games at Great American Ballpark. He is 4-16 in his career against opposing starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani with two RBIs and two strikeouts.