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Los Angeles Dodgers: Looking for fireworks on Fernandomania day

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela walks onto the field prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before game two of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela walks onto the field prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before game two of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are honoring pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela on Saturday night as the 2019 team looks to provide fireworks for the fans.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are inducting all-time legend Fernando Valenzuela into the Legends of Dodger Baseball on Saturday night with a pre-game ceremony and a must-have bobblehead for all of the fans in attendance.

Fernandomania is one of the most beloved Dodgers of all-time and might even go down as the most popular. What he meant for the Dodgers was more than just his elite performance on the mound but he had cultural impacts that extend far past the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It is fitting that the 1981 Rookie of the Year and Cy Young winner is the last inductee of the first class of the Legends of Dodger Baseball for his 11-year contribution to the franchise.

The 2019 Dodgers are going to look to follow the pre-game festivities with some fireworks on the field. The team returned home to Dodger Stadium on Friday with a 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins.

Although it was a winning effort, it was not the prettiest of games as the Dodgers’ two runs came on a fielder’s choice that was nearly a double play and an error by second baseman Starlin Castro. It is safe to say the offense was not at its best, but it was okay, as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Kenley Jansen did great.

The Dodgers were so successful offensively on the first road trip of the second half and almost seem guaranteed to have at least one huge game against the NL-worst Marlins.

As part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series, here is who we think can get at least one base hit on Saturday.

Jason’s pick (Current streak: 3): Corey Seager

Only one player on the Los Angeles Dodgers has faced Sandy Alcantara in his career and it is David Freese, who is hitless in one at-bat against the young right-hander.

Thus, I cannot go off of the historical matchup numbers against Alcantara and instead have to go based on recent trends to make my selection. When doing that, Corey Seager becomes the best candidate.

It might not seem wise as Seager has not been great since coming off the IL as he gets back into the groove of things. However, that is exactly why I am picking Seager against a young right-handed pitcher.

When he is healthy and at full swing, Seager is arguably the best natural hitter on the Los Angeles Dodgers (although Cody Bellinger might take the cake now). Seager’s smooth swing and gap-to-gap power make him a base hit machine and someone that is very hard to get out.

We saw that out of him before he got hurt again in early June and have not yet seen that out of him. It is bound to start sometime and there is no better start than against a young right-hander at your home ballpark.

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Plus, Seager went hitless in Friday night’s game and he is such a talented hitter that he won’t go hitless in consecutive home games against a last-place team.

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