The Los Angeles Dodgers kick off the second half of the season with a blockbuster matchup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
LA is riding a three-game losing streak at the hands of their divisional foe, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees are trending up after a rough patch, but they will be without Aaron Judge.
Luckily, the Dodgers still pack plenty of star power, especially with Shohei Ohtani bringing his sweet swing to the Big Apple.
The Yankees will have former Dodgers prospect and MVP Cody Bellinger, along with one of the best hitters in Ben Rice.
Dodgers’ Lineup vs. Yankees
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Andy Pages, CF
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Mookie Betts, SS
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Kyle Tucker, RF
7. Teoscar Hernandez, LF
8. Dalton Rushing, C
9. Tommy Edman, 2B
The Dodgers are facing a right-hander in Gerrit Cole, meaning they can deploy their strongest lineup.
Ohtani is the player to watch on offense. He is hitting the ball well and has been producing a handful of leadoff home runs recently.
Additionally, it will be key to see how Betts and Tucker come out of the break, given they were starting to figure things out at the plate.
Finally, Freddie Freeman returns to Yankee Stadium, the ballpark where he cemented himself as a Dodgers legend, and he will look to add some more hitting moments.
Who is pitching for the Dodgers?
Roki Sasaki is taking the mound for the Dodgers after a solid start against Arizona.
Things look good for Sasaki, who is facing a Yankees squad that is not hitting the ball at their usual level, and he gets the chance for a mental reset.
At this point, Sasaki is only pitching at a replacement level, with a 0.1 fWAR. The second half of the year will be a barometer to see where he fits into the postseason picture and how he projects as a starter long-term.
