Los Angeles Dodgers: Looking for Freeway Series revenge

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost both games at Angel Stadium in June and now look to return the favor at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels have already squared off in one two-game series in 2019. In that early June series, the Los Angeles Angels swept the Dodgers at Angel Stadium with two 5-3 victories.

Both were frustrating losses for the Dodgers and both were games that the team easily could have won. At the end of the day, though, an L is an L, no matter how you put it.

However, now the Dodgers have a chance to seek vengeance on their Southern California rivals. While the rivalry might be more prominent in the fan bases, this is a matchup that both sides get up for.

The Angels got a bit of fortune and were able to dodge all of the Dodgers’ top three arms. Instead of seeing Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw or Walker Buehler, the team will see Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling.

Maeda and Stripling would both probably be the ace on the Angels, but that is beside the point. The Angels still like their chances more against those two than against the three all-stars.

If the Dodgers are going to right the wrongs from the first series then the offense is going to have to be much better at capitalizing on situations. And with Jamie Barria on the mound on Tuesday, as part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series, this is who we think can get at least one base hit.

Jason’s pick (Current streak: 4): Cody Bellinger

I went with Cody Bellinger on Sunday to get a base hit but it was a scheduled off-day for the MVP candidate so instead of switching it up, I am just going to run it back with Bellinger on Tuesday.

Bellinger has never faced Jamie Barria in his career and in fact, Russell Martin is the only one that has faced the right-hander and has two walks in two plate appearances.

After a somewhat sluggish series against the Miami Marlins, as least as far as base hits are concerned, Bellinger is due for home noise at home. There is no better team to do it against than the Angels as well, as the team’s starting rotation has the sixth-highest ERA (5.34) and the fourth-most home runs allowed to left-handed hitters.

Bellinger feels due for a home run and the Angels’ track record suggests that he will get at least one in this series. Hopefully, it comes on Tuesday to extend my streak to five.