This week, the Los Angeles Dodgers have two off days, Monday and Thursday. They will end their small five-game homestand with a two-game set against the San Francisco Giants and then hit the road for six games beginning with a series against the Chicago Cubs.
It is the first meeting of the year between the Giants and Dodgers and the first since Game 5 of the National League Division Series when the Dodgers edged the Giants three games to two.
Through the first month of the season, much of it appears like 2021. The Giants and Dodgers are separated by a half game in the standings. In 2021, the teams had the two best records in the league and were separated by one game in the standings, and eventually went to five games in the National League Division series. In 24 games played in 2021, each team won twelve times.
Currently, the Dodgers are tied for first place in the West with the Padres, while the Giants trail by only half a game. The Dodgers post a record of 14-7 while the Giants post a record of 14-8. The two teams also have the two highest run differentials in the National League, with the Dodgers at +47 while the Giants are at +34.
Two left handers will open the series tonight with Julio Urias going for the Dodgers, making his fifth start so far this season. Urias made his last start against Arizona going six innings only allowing one hit which was a homerun. On the season, Urias has posted a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings and a WHIP of 1.00.
Urias will have no easy task facing Giants left hander Carlos Rodon who has been lights out to begin the season. The Giants signed Rodon this offseason from the White Sox. The left hander has posted a 1.17 ERA so far this season, along with 38 strikeouts and has not allowed more than than one run or three hits in any of his four starts so far this season.
The Dodgers will face old friend Alex Wood in the second game of the series. Wood has posted a 4.19 ERA so far this year and in his last start gave up five runs in five innings while allowing eight hits.
The Dodgers have not announced a starter for Wednesday. Technically, it would be Tyler Anderson up next if he makes another start, however the Dodgers have not made anything official at the moment.
Last year, every time the two sides met there was a different storyline and it made for some great meetings between the two. It seems this season will not be any different. The two teams being here in the standings makes great for the rivalry which is the best in baseball.
Tuesday’s game will also be nationally broadcasted on TBS, so depending on your location, you may be blacked out.
First pitch for Tuesday is scheduled at 7:10 p.m. Pacific.
Should be an interesting series. Dodgers have not hit lefties well. Especially good ones with Betts and JT struggling plus Trea Turner not hitting as well as he can. Read that some of the pitchers in the minors are pitching well. Guys like Pepiot, Jackson and Beeter show promise and others also.
A bit off the subject (well, not entirely, it is related to the Dodgers), but I keep thinking about the fact that next year the shift will go away and I’m really keeping eyes on Jacob Amaya, who is a very good fielding shortstop. Infielders will need to cover more ground next year and I’d love to see us have gold glovers at both first and short.
As I’ve said before, I don’t expect Trea to be back. I think Andrew is going to avoid another $300MM contract for the time being. So, that would leave an opening for Amaya at short and Lux or Busch or Taylor at second. All three of those guys could also play left field as they are now giving Busch some reps in left.
So much for 2023. Let’s take care of this season first. Maybe we’ll be the first team to hit Rodon hard this year.
5 for 29, 2 for 9 WRISP. Not exactly ripping the cover off. A couple more warning track shots. Damm ball. Muncy at .130, Justin Turner at .179, Bellinger .203. Even Smith isn’t hitting. SF pitching is good though. So there’s that. Urias went 6, on only 65 pitches. Wonder why he came out.
I don’t see the Dodgers going with a rookie shortstop. Not after Seager and Turner. Amaya has been impressive, but it’s 60 at bats at AA. If he hits .300 at AAA then we have Lux as a comparison.
Dodgers 3 Giants 1. Kimbrel with his 5th save. One down, 18 to go.