The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to get back on the winning track against the Chicago Cubs after blowing a 4-0 lead on Friday night.
Dodger Stadium was rocking on Friday, especially with a red-hot Cubs team coming into town that had won nine straight games.
The Dodgers were embarking on a big test against the Cubs, and unfortunately, the first game was a crushing one: the team got off to a great start, led throughout, and got a quality outing from Emmet Sheehan.
However, the bullpen collapsed, with multiple arms that had been performing well suddenly faltering, and the offense stalled after a run of success.
The Dodgers get the chance to shake off the disappointment and still win the series.
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH2. Freddie Freeman, 1B3. Max Muncy, 3B4. Kyle Tucker, RF5. Teoscar Hernandez, LF6. Dalton Rushing, C7. Andy Pages, CF8. Hyeseong Kim, SS9. Alex Freeland, 2BP. Roki Sasaki, RHP
Roki Sasaki is taking the mound, and there is no guarantee that he will perform like the rest of the rotation has.
The righty has been inconsistent throughout his outings, eventually hitting a period when he really struggles and gives up a handful of runs after a promising run.
With the bullpen not inspiring much confidence either, Sasaki will need to deliver for the Dodgers and really compete during his start.
In terms of the lineup, Shohei Ohtani remains ice cold at the plate, while the bat of Andy Pages has noticeably cooled off. Luckily, Max Muncy has really stepped up, and Hyeseong Kim is delivering good contact.
Dalton Rushing gets the start against Colin Rea, a righty, as the Dodgers deploy a lefty-dominant lineup to give the offense a jolt.
Kyle Tucker is the name to watch, especially since he is going against his former team and has been dropped in the order. He has the matchup and motivation to have a good game, and the offense could really use it.
While the outcome of the game remains to be seen, one thing is clear — Pete Crow Armstrong will be getting a heavy dose of boo birds.
