Winners of 10 of their last 12, Los Angeles welcomes a slumping Nationals squad desperate to stop the skid, but slowing down Ohtani and company won’t be easy.
Washington is coming off their worst stretch of the season, ending an eleven-game losing streak. Young phenom James Wood walked off the Rockies in Thursday’s matchup, but that doesn’t change how fans have become worried about the current state of the organization. Things aren’t going to get easier for Washington as they head to the West Coast to take on arguably the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Heading into this series, Los Angeles has won three consecutive series against NL West rivals, the Padres and the Giants. At 46-30, Los Angeles is playing up to expectations; however, injuries have put their dominance to the test. Most of their starting rotation is injured, and their lineup is in and out on the IL. This team finds ways to win, and with superstars littered throughout their lineup, they might be one of the toughest teams to beat in all of baseball.
Earlier this season, Washington took two-of-three in a close, gritty series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Washington fans are hoping for a mid-season turnaround, and Los Angeles fans are hoping to keep the wheels turning, beating down on worse teams.
TEAM STATS
OFFENSE
Los Angeles’ lineup is one of the best in baseball. This team ranks first in almost every offensive category and has been the driving force for this team due to the rotation injuries. Established superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Will Smith carry most of the load. At the same time, guys like Andy Pages, Teoscar Hernadez, and Tommy Edman have done a great job filling out the rest of the lineup. As a team, Los Angeles is batting .264 (1st), hit 116 home runs (1st), .340 on-base percentage (1st), and slugging .457 (1st).
PITCHING
In the past two seasons, Los Angeles has tried their best and created a rotation that would be considered the best in baseball if injuries did not exist. Signing Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki looked like this team would go back-to-back. However, injuries have riddled the Dodgers all season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is experiencing a breakout season and is making a case for the NL Cy Young. As a team this season, Los Angeles has a 4.18 ERA (21st), allowed 94 home runs (23rd), 1.31 WHIP (20th), and teams are batting .242 against them (16th).
GAME ONE – Friday, 10:10 EDT
WAS: MacKenzie Gore (3-6) – 15 G, 2.89 ERA, 119 SO, 1.15 WHIP, 137 ERA+
LAD: Clayton Kershaw (2-0) – 6 G, 3.25 ERA, 20 SO, 1.30 WHIP, 122 ERA+
MacKenzie Gore has turned into one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball. Experiencing a breakout season, Gore has shown his ace potential and has been a staple point for the Washington Nationals this season. In his last start, Gore threw six innings and allowed eight runs and two earned runs, while Washington suffered the loss.
Kershaw is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and will forever be remembered throughout all of baseball. Even at age 37, he is putting up a solid season, posting a 3.25 ERA through six starts. In his last start, Kershaw threw a gem against their division rival, the San Francisco Giants, throwing seven innings and allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out five batters.
GAME TWO – Saturday, 10:10 EDT
WAS: Jake Irvin (5-3) – 15 G, 4.23 ERA, 59 SO, 1.23 WHIP, 94 ERA+
LAD: Dustin May (4-4) – 13 G, 4.46 ERA, 67 SO, 1.34 WHIP, 88 ERA+
Irvin has been a rollercoaster this season. Throughout the season, Irvin has shown flashes of becoming a long-term option in Washington’s rotation and other times has looked pitiful. In his last start, Irvin threw a quality start, throwing six innings and allowing five hits and three runs as Washington suffered the loss.
Dustin May’s career has been riddled with injuries and unfortunate circumstances. Early in his career, May showed flashes of becoming a long-term ace and is now struggling since the injuries. In his last start, May threw a quality start, throwing six innings and allowing six hits and three runs while also walking four batters.
GAME THREE – Sunday, 4:10 EDT
WAS: Michael Soroka (3-5) – 9 G, 5.06 ERA, 49 SO, 1.13 WHIP, 79 ERA+
LAD: Shohei Ohtani (0-0) – 1 G, 9.00 ERA, 0 SO, 2.00 WHIP, 60 ERA+
Michael Soroka is another pitcher whose career has been dictated by injuries. After a strong start to his career, Soroka looks like a shell of his former self, displaying his potential every so often. His first year in Washington has been disappointing. In his last start, he threw six innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs in a loss for Washington.
Ohtani has dominated baseball as a designated hitter, but the main reason for his popularity is his dominant pitching, along with his hitting. He threw in his first game this season, pitching as an opener, and this was the first time on the mound in almost two years. Ohtani saw lots of success with the Los Angeles Angels and we should see something similar with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Washington couldn’t have asked for a worse matchup after fighting off an eleven-game losing streak. While hoping the worst is behind them, Washington could see some sparks from a young, determined lineup. Development from House and Lile, and continuing the growth of James Wood and CJ Abrams, should be the main objectives for Washington. Big changes could be on the horizon with another embarrassing series.