The Dodgers will prepare for their first matchup against the Texas Rangers Friday afternoon. The opening game is played on Jackie Robinson day, which will be celebrated throughout the league. Jackie Robinson Day falls after days of boycotting throughout professional sports leagues due to protests of unarmed Black people being shot by police, including the Dodgers who agreed with the Giants not to play Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s was made up Thursday in a seven-inning doubleheader, in which the Dodgers won both games and did not allow a run. Clayton Kershaw continued the resurgence he’s enjoyed this season, allowing no runs in six innings on just four hits. Kershaw was bailed out a few times by his defense, including spectacular catches in the outfield by Cody Bellinger and A.J. Pollock. With Kershaw earning the win, he became the winningest left-handed pitcher in team history.
The second game was started by Caleb Ferguson, which proceeded to be a bullpen game. Ferguson only pitched one inning, followed by game-winner Victor Gonzalez who pitched 2.1 innings. After that, a lot of relievers saw action including Brusdar Graterol, Jake McGee, Blake Treinen, Scott Alexander, and Kenley Jansen for the save.
The Dodgers now have a record of 24-9 and stand at 8-2 record in their last ten games. Los Angeles has the best record in baseball, but that might not mean postseason baseball at Dodger Stadium, as the league has talked about having the postseason in a bubble format like the NBA and MLS.
The Dodgers are five games ahead of the second-place Padres, and if the postseason began today the Dodgers would face the Philadelphia Phillies. That series would be a three-game series with the winner advancing to the National League Division Series. The Giants are only a half-game behind the Phillies. While the Giants stand under .500 they have seemed to be one of the teams that have given the Dodgers a tough game. A three-game Dodger-Giant postseason series would be quite interesting as the two teams have never met in the postseason, despite their historic rivalry.
With only days away from the August 31 trade deadline, it is starting to look more likely that President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman won’t make any moves. There have been several rumors of the Dodgers pursuing Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, or Lance Lynn. The Reds have been in the playoff running, so it is more than likely Bauer will stay put. The Indians with Clevinger want a high asking price and that might be too much in a shortened season. The Dodgers have done really well up to this point, but it would not hurt to get another starting pitcher amid the recent struggles of Julio Urias and Ross Stripling, especially in the postseason.
The road trip will continue with a three-game series in Texas against the Rangers. The Dodgers stand at 8-1 against American League teams this year, the only loss being against the Seattle Mariners in which they had the bases loaded with two outs.
The first game will be started by Dustin May, who’s enjoyed a nice season he’s posted a 2.79 ERA with a 1-1 record. The other two games will be started by Stripling and Tony Gonsolin.
Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts will also face Chris Woodward in a managing matchup. Woodward used to be the Dodgers third base coach under Roberts for a couple of seasons.
The probable pitching matchup Friday will pit May against Mike Minor, who’s struggled this season with a 0-5 record and a 6.75 ERA. The first pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. Pacific time.
I’ll be surprised if Andrew lets the deadline pass without doing anything at all. It may be a trade as exciting as when the Dodgers got Bear’s favorite player Tyler White last year, but I think he’ll do something.
Or, it might be something pretty big like trading some good prospects for Lance Lynn.
Either way, we’ll be here to pick it apart and tell him that we know better than he does. And then it will play out and we’ll see if we do or not.
ha ha very funny Jeff! That’s ok, I also think he will do something, hopefully like jettison Kike. Exe Dodger sighting during the Brewers-Reds games. Gyorko is a Brewer, and not doing much better than he did in LA. Hitting just above the Mendoza line, and old pal Kyle Farmer, who was playing SS no less and had a hit for the Reds driving in a run. He is doing pretty good hitting .293. Luis Avilan given the old Heave-Ho by the Yanks, who probably have the longest injured list in baseball. Judge went down again. I will be wearing my # 42 today along with the players.
Chadwick Boseman who played Jackie in 42, and was the Black Panther died today at 43 of colon cancer….RIP.
That was quite a shock, when I read that, bear. He was a pretty good actor, playing physical roles, I couldn’t believe it. He was way to young to be leaving this world.
You guys heard any good Dodger dead line rumors?