Los Angeles Dodgers look for a better outing from Tony Gonsolin

The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the first of four games in Arizona on Thursday after another rough outing from Hyun-Jin Ryu.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in Arizona for the last time during the 2019 season as the Diamondbacks host them in a four-game series. Thus far, the Diamondbacks are up one game to zero after defeating the Boys in Blue 11-5 on Thursday.

The positives are that the offense was not too shabby as five runs is a comfortable number to score. The bad part is that Hyun-Jin Ryu had his third consecutive bad outing after posting historic numbers prior.

Ryu’s ERA has gone from historic to respectable as he has allowed 18 runs in 14 and two-thirds innings his last three starts. That is good enough for an 11.05 ERA in that span.

Ryu is likely fatigued as this is his most innings pitched since his rookie season in 2013. He may need to skip a start or two, which is something the Dodgers can definitely afford to do with both Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May with the big-league club.

Speaking of Gonsolin, he gets the start on Friday and has been pretty great thus far in his MLB career, although May gets more of the buzz. Gonsolin has a 2.74 ERA and has a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings in his last three starts.

He likely won’t go very deep in the game, at least based on his past efforts, but he should put the team in a position to win.

As part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series, here is who we think can get at least one base hit and supply the offense for Gonsolin to get behind.

Jason’s pick (Current streak: 5): Corey Seager

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming up against Zac Gallen on Friday, who has great numbers against the team in limited appearances. In 19 total at-bats against Gallen, Dodger hitters have just three hits without a single RBI.

That may be a sign of bad things to come but the Dodgers can definitely still break out and have a different showing against the young right-hander. With his handiness in mind, it is likely best to select a left-handed hitting batter.

Thus, I am going to go with someone that I have not selected in quite some time: Corey Seager. Seager still is not completely back to himself but he has shown flashes of the old Corey Seager we know and love.

After going hitless in last night’s outing, Seager could be due for a big game on Friday. The Silver Slugging, one MVP candidate shortstop has only hit 12 home runs this season and Friday seems like a perfect time to make it unlucky number 13.

Seager is going to send a ball in the seats in his first at-bat not only to give Gonsolin some support but extend my streak as well. And if he doesn’t, well, all we need is a base hit.