Series Preview: The Dodgers Visit Puig and the Reds
The Dodgers are coming off of an excellent homestand in which they won 7 out of 9 games facing off against the Braves, Nationals, and Padres. The team scored a collective 44 runs and their starting pitchers were phenomenal, boosting the team to 4.5 games up over the Diamondbacks in the west.
The Dodgers will head to Cincinnati for the weekend to take on Yasiel Puig and the Reds for three games. The Reds are coming off of back-to-back wins over the streaking Cubs on Wednesday and Thursday, so they are riding a bit of a hot streak.
Let’s take a look at how the pitching match-ups break down.
Pitching Matchups
Friday– Rich Hill vs. Anthony DeSclafani
Saturday– Walker Buehler vs. Tyler Mahle
Sunday- Hyun-jin Ryu vs. Tanner Roark
Rich Hill will get things started for Los Angels on Friday evening, looking to bounce back from three very mediocre starts. The 14-year veteran last pitched against the Nationals on Thursday of last week, and it did not go well. Hill allowed a three-run shot to former Dodger Howie Kendrick in the first inning, and the Nationals never looked back. The good news is that he went on to pitch 4 scoreless innings after that, so there is still hope. He faces off against Anthony DeSclafani, who just gave up 4 runs in 4 innings against the Giants last Saturday.
Walker Buehler gets the start on Saturday, looking to continue off of his best outing of the season from last Saturday. Buehler tossed 7 shutout innings against the Nationals in that game, striking out 7 and allowing just 4 hits. He will go up against Tyler Mahle who also just allowed 4 runs against the Giants last week.
Hyun-jin Ryu, the Dodgers best pitched in the month of May, will get the call again Sunday. Ryu is currently riding a scoreless innings streak of 24 innings. Ryu most recently blanked the Nationals over 8 innings and allowed just 1 hit on Sunday.
Working on notes for Ryu's start on Sunday…he's been ridiculous of late (24 consecutive scoreless), but what's crazy is he isn't even halfway to what Orel did in 1988. What a run that was. We may never see anything like it again
— Rick Krajewski (@Rick_K21) May 17, 2019
Matchups to Watch
Joey Votto vs. Hyun-jin Ryu
This one should be interesting to watch on Sunday. Votto is a notoriously good hitter, and he has demonstrated that against Ryu in the past. The first baseman out of Canada has done very well against Ryu, going 4-11(.364) and taking him deep once. It will be interesting to see which streak prevails, given that Votto is hitting just 164 in the month of May.
Corey Seager vs. The Reds
Seager has been a phenomenal hitter when facing off against the Reds in his career. Over 66 plate appearances, he is slashing 365/500/577 with 2 home runs and 12 runs driven in. Seager has also started to get hot over the last couple of games as well, going 5-11 over the last 3 games. This weekend will be a great opportunity for Seager to bust out of his season funk.
Final Word
The Dodgers took all three games from the Reds in early April, and that was against much tougher pitching. The Reds are also the 5th worst team in the National League in run production and 2nd worst in team batting average so they may be in some trouble. The Dodgers will have to get to their starting itching early though, as Cincinnati’s bullpen is ranked as the best in the National League in team ERA.
We are playing in the Red’s very HR friendly park and that does concern me, especially with Hill. and of course one should know why. He must do what he can to not put Dodgers in a hole in the 1st inning by serving one up, especially with men on base.
Hi Paul! Hope you are doing well!……….C’mon now……..you had to be impressed with Hill last nite right?
Pot and kettle black……….these Reds announcers……..brutal………last night as they were getting pounded by the Dodgers, Marty Brennaman was bagging on the Dodgers yet again………basically pulling out that old put down all people who hate the Dodgers dominance use…….the Dodgers “have not a world series since 1988” ……….he harped on it three times………..he even listed ALL the expansion teams that have been to the world series since the Dodgers actually won one, as if that supported his verbal put down of our team………got me to thinking………….the Reds have not won a series since 1990………….the Reds have only been to the playoffs four times in that span……….Dodgers have been to the playoffs twelve times in that span………but he wasn’t gonna mention that as he brainwashed his viewers on how bad the Dodgers are yet again.
I remember two seasons ago, back in 2017, as the Dodgers were in Cincy sweeping the Reds, Brennaman and Jeff Brantley called the Dodger team makeup a joke……..he said the Dodgers were nothing but a collection of “uitlity” players. Those “utility” players have now been to the world series two years in a row……….
When they announced the lineups last night I thought, “We should have Verdugo protecting Bellinger not Seager”………immediately Seager goes yard…….I had to laugh at my armchair opine, Dave got me! But in fairness to me, my excuse is Corey has not been Corey this season………if he ever heats up like he used to, look out NL West.
Last night the Dodgers moved into second place in run differential, now trailing only the Astros who are +89…….and the Astros are En Fuego, everything is working for them right now, they already have an 8.5 game lead!!!!!!!!!
The way the Dodgers were squaring up on pitches last night, actually felt sorry for DeSclafani. Justin Turner almost tore the guys head off.
HI Paul…………tried to reply to your post this morning but the reply link does not work………your comment about Hill in the first inning is exactly right……….but it could be worse……….he could be Samardzija! (12.38 ERA in the opening frame and allowed a majors-most six first-inning homers.)