Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman Feels Bats Destined to Turn it Around vs Lefty Pitchers
What we saw from the Dodgers over the final two games of their series win over the Brewers may not be a miracle, but it was pretty close to it.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Dodgers’ lineup had a daunting task ahead of them — facing a left-handed starting pitcher.
Leading up to the series against the Brewers, the Dodgers were dead last in the MLB against left-handed pitching. Now, as they enter their second series of the season against the San Diego Padres, they’re hitting a slightly more respectable .201 against lefties, which ranks second-to-dead-last in the MLB. Their .710 OPS against lefties ranks a not-too-shabby 23rd in the MLB — that’s what we call progress.
Obviously, the numbers are far from great. But on Tuesday and Wednesday, against left-handers Eric Lauer and Wade Miley, the Dodgers proved to themselves that they could, in fact, hit lefties.
Freddie Freeman didn’t seem too worried about the Dodgers’ struggles against left-handed pitching when he spoke with Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Moreover, he says they’re going to take the confidence from the Brewers series into the next game against the Padres, where left-handed Blake Snell is taking the mound in the opener on Friday night.
“I think you can pick any stats you want in the first month of the season, but over the course of 162, things are going to work themselves out – especially with a talented group like we have in this clubhouse,” Freeman said. “So hopefully that’s a step in the right direction. We’ve got another one on Friday right with (Padres left-hander Blake) Snell. So hopefully that trend continues on Friday.”
Snell pitched very well against the Dodgers in his first start of the year against them last weekend.
He went six innings, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out six. The problem for him was that one hit was a two-run home run by Chris Taylor, which ultimately ended up being the difference in the game.
This time around, the Dodgers would love to muster more than just one hit off Snell. The lefty has always pitched well against LA, sporting a 2.56 ERA in 10 career appearances against them.
If the Dodgers lineup can play like they did on Tuesday and Wednesday against Milwaukee, though, Snell could be in for a long night.
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