After splitting a four-game series with the top-contending New York Mets at home, a road trip now awaits the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers begin a six-game road trip Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox. After finishing a three-game series in Chicago, the Dodgers will head to San Francisco for the first time this season.
Clayton Kershaw should be able to join the team for a start in San Francisco, while Andrew Heaney should follow suit soon after.
Tuesday night marks the first time the Dodgers and White Sox have played each other since 2017, as the National League West is slated to play the American League Central in interleague play this year.
The White Sox, who were considered one of the top contenders coming into this season, have struggled to turn their season around. They have a 25-27 record.
The Dodgers, despite not being at full strength, still have the second-best record in the National League at 35-19. They also hold a 2 ½ game lead over the Padres for first place in the division.
Pitching matchups for the three-game series are set. The Dodgers announced they still start right-handers Mitch White and Tony Gonsolin and conclude with left-hander Tyler Anderson. At the same time, the White Sox counter with right-handers Michael Kopech, Johnny Cueto, and Dylan Cease.
For White, it will be his fourth start of the season. He had been used both in the bullpen and as a starter, but injuries to the rotation allowed him to start games the past month. In 20 ⅔ innings, he’s posted a WHIP of 1.21 with a 4.79 ERA this season.
To conclude the series, the Dodgers are relying on their most consistent pitchers this year. Not sure what the odds were on Gonsolin and Anderson being the top Dodger pitchers this season, but you’d probably make a good amount of money on that wager. Gonsolin is 6-0 this year and has posted a 1.59 ERA, while Anderson is 7-0 and has a 2.59 ERA.
The White Sox, despite their record, still have lots of talent. Kopech, who will start the first game of the series, has a 2.20 ERA in 45 innings pitched along with 43 strikeouts. The Dodgers also will see old friend Johnny Cueto, who was just brought up by the White Sox recently.
However, the Dodgers should leave this road trip with a positive record. For a successful trip, they should be able to take two out of three games in each series.
Tuesday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. Pacific.
White, Anderson and Gonsolin are to date pleasant surprises. Can they keep it up? There’s no history to suggest they can or can’t. With Heaney and Kershaw coming off injury, maybe, for a while anyway, a 6 man rotation would help? Not sure Doc would be in on that.
Price sucked of course but he wasn’t the reason the team lost. You don’t score you don’t win if a perfect game is pitched. This offense can be slowed by good pitching. Maybe they won’t see much of going forward? Yeah, let’s count in that.
Speaking of not much good pitching, I read a rumor that Buehler ain’t spinning like he usta did because he’s lost his grip. No sticky no spinny. I don’t know if that’s true but it could be.
Scoop, that is a good point about Buehler and spin rate problem. I wonder if the current problem is related to the blister problem he had several seasons ago. Is he doing something because of blister or to prevent blisters that is affecting him?