After comfortably defeating the Oakland Athletics by a score of 10-3 Monday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers have now won four straight since losing on Opening Day.
For much of the offseason, fans heard about how much depth the Dodgers had and Monday was a prime example. No. 5 starter Dustin May, who can arguably be at least a No. 2 on any other team, mowed down Oakland through a career-high six innings.
May struck out eight batters, allowing two hits and two walks. Corey Seager, who was picked by many to finish as the National League MVP, continued his rapid start in his very first at-bat knocking in a bases-clearing, three-run double that gave the Dodgers a lead. From there on the Dodgers would not look back
Zach McKinstry also made his presence felt, going 3-for-4 with four RBI. The Dodgers did have Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor exit the game early due to injury.
Taylor left with an elbow contusion and is day to day after receiving negative X-rays, while Bellinger, who collided with Oakland reliever Reymin Guduan on his way to first base, is day to day as well.
The Dodgers will now look to win five straight and give Oakland their sixth consecutive loss to start the season.
Getting the ball today for his second start of the year will be Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw struggled in his Opening Day start against Colorado, but that can just be a product of the hitter park-friendly Coors Field. His final line on Opening Day was 5 ⅔ innings, 10 hits allowed, five earned runs, and two strikeouts.
It will be likely the Dodgers will be without Bellinger and Taylor, unless one of the two occupies the designated hitter spot.
Facing Kershaw will be Oakland right-hander Chris Bassitt, who also pitched on Opening Day for the Athletics. Bassitt went 5 ⅓ innings, allowing three runs while striking out two against the Astros.
Tuesday’s contest is scheduled for a 6:40 p.m Pacific first pitch. The series will conclude with a day game on Wednesday with Trevor Bauer starting for the Dodgers and lefty Jesus Luzardo for the Athletics.
With the Dodgers home opener set for Friday and fans returning, there is a possibility that we can see a full capacity stadium by June 15th, as announced California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Don’t know jose. Hard to blame that outing on coors field. He just got battered aaround in fact it was a better outing than his last 2 spring training games against minor leaguers. One more like that and I’m getting worried.
CK , even though hr has a winning record of 11-6 at Coors, has never pitched well there. All you need to know is that his slider did not have the same bite it had tonight when he pitched there on Thursday. Trust me, it is easy to blame it on the altitude in Denver. And it wasn’t like he was giving up rockets. A lot of those hits were barely out of the infield.
Mookie starting in center tonight with Pollock in left. Not sure why they’ve decided they don’t trust AJ in center field any more. He played mostly center when he was with Arizona and Mookie played mostly right in Boston, but it seems like the Dodger brain trust has decided they’d rather play Belli, then CT and now even Mookie in center before letting AJ play out there. No big deal, although I’m guessing Mookie would rather play right.
Mookie would play the infield if they asked. And he had played some CF in Boston before Bradley got there. In that outfield, as big as it is I am guessing they wanted someone really fast out there.
Remember when Jansen had an unhittable cutter? (I miss those days) Kershaw’s slider was like that last night. I hope he can keep throwing it.
Mookie is one of those athletes that can play anywhere.
I think Lux is going to be a terrific player. He’s confident and capable in the field and once he becomes more selective at the plate, and I believe he will, he will be another .850 OPS hitter. He could be our shortstop if Seager chooses NY.
I hope Bellinger can still connect for 35 home runs. If he doesn’t stop chasing he won’t reach his career .909 OPS average. Too many holes in his swing to chase outside the zone and reach that number.
I wonder what’s wrong with Oakland. 0-6? They have to better than that.