Dodgers Weekend Preview: Diamondbacks Come To Dodger Stadium
There’s nothing like weekend baseball at Dodger Stadium. After nearly a three week wait, the Dodgers are finally home to the splendid lady they call their home park. This is a big series – as big as a series gets in April. The Arizona Diamondbacks roll into town in first place in the division, sporting a 9-3 record. This is a series the Dodgers want to at least take two of three. We’re here to give you a primer for what should be an excellent weekend series with a division rival.
As for game times, the Dodgers will do the classic 7:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 1:00 PM start times in the three game slate.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: Zach Greinke vs. Kenta Maeda
Saturday: Taijuan Walker vs. Rich Hill
Sunday: Zack Godley vs. Clayton Kershaw
On paper, the Dodgers should feel confident about the trio they’re running out to the mound this weekend. While Greinke and Godley are no easy task, the edge in starting pitching this weekend should swing the pendulum towards Los Angeles if these guys are their normal selves. Hill and Maeda are both 1-0 on they year, while Kershaw is still looking for his first victory.
Looking For Revenge
The Dodgers were swept by Arizona in their second series of the regular season, April 2nd through April 4th. What sticks in the mind of most is probably the toughest regular season loss in a few years which was the opener of that series. The Dodgers lost 8-7 in 15 innings after Kenley Jansen blew a save in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. That game set the tone for the rest of the series, and the Dodgers dropped the next two games in hapless fashion to go to 2-5 on the year. The Dodgers are in fourth place in the National league West, 4.5 games back of Arizona. Again, it’s early. But if there’s a series this month you would like to see the Dodgers take or sweep, it’s this one. Just playing better fundamentally would breed some confidence.
Final Thoughts
It’s great to have the Dodgers home early in the season. The weather in Los Angeles has been perfect for baseball, and the team should feel comfortable after spending a few nights in their own beds. Wise men have said that there are no ‘must-win’ games in April in the game of baseball. That’s one school of thought. Perhaps the Dodgers’ should be measured not by whether or not they win this series but by how well they look in at-bats, and on the mound. I will be watching closely to see if the offensive approach is sound throughout the lineup as a whole and to see if the starting pitchers can transition the game fluidly to a set-up man or Jansen. I believe those two things are the biggest keys to the Dodgers’ making this a winning weekend at home.
Are The Dodgers In On Manny Machado
When the name Bonds comes around in baseball circles most people remember him in AT&T Park but not in Three Rivers Stadium. The same idea could happen here. Harper comes to LA has an incredible career and teams up to be a powerful combination with Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers havent had that kind of perrenial potential potent power performance since the team was in New York with Snider and Campanella.
As mentioned before its upsurd that the Dodgers couldnt also make Kershaw a member for life.
Money is not the issue– not with a team like the Dodgers and not with being pushed by the ownership in Anheim.
Bryce could be your RF, Machado your SS ( not likely), Seager at the keystone corner. Would Dodger fans forget about Cey, Russell, Lopes, and Garvey?