How is it that the Dodgers are in 3rd in the NL West? They seem to have everything (pitching, bullpen, hitting) but still their whole team seems to have fallen asleep at the same time. Friday they take on the Marlins who will send out RHP Sandy Alcantara (1-2) to face former Cy Young winner LHP Clayton Kershaw (5-3). No matter what kind of slump the Dodgers might have been in, I’m taking the Dodgers at home with Kershaw on the hill.
When does a “funk” become a slump. For the Dodgers this question has become relevant in the course of the past three weeks. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has continually called what his team has been in (losing 15 of 22 games) a “little lull” or a “funk.” Now, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, says his club is in an “offensive slump.” The good news for Friedman, Roberts and the Dodgers is that they won their last 2, as of Thursday, and they have the most important thing on their side, time. And with plenty of baseball yet to be played. Friday Roberts sends his great lefty Clayton Kershaw to the mound against visiting Miami. Kershaw is 5-3 on the season in 8 games and has pitched just 44 ⅔ innings this season. Legal sports betting sites fans will want to know the former Cy Young winner has a 2.62 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP on the season and at home he is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA. If Roberts’ trend of pulling Clayton early in games continues, he will go to his bullpen somewhere about the 5th inning. The Dodgers bullpen has been pedestrian so far and has a 3.97 ERA with a 1.97 WHIP. Five different Dodgers pitchers have saves this season but the most likely closer for Roberts is Kenley Jansen who has 6 saves with a 1.76 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 4 saves in Dodger Stadium this season with a 1.69 ERA at home. The Dodgers lead MLB in on base % at .346 and have scored the 3rd most runs with 187. Third Baseman Justin Turner leads L.A. with 7 Home runs, a .307 average, 23 RBI and 39 hits. The Miami Marlins come into Los Angeles at 16-20 on the season and in 4th in the NL East. RHP Sandy Alcantara is having a good season statistically but he is 1-2 on the year, and will need some run support to have a chance Friday in Dodger Stadium. Alcantara comes in with a 2.72 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP but is 1-1 on the road with a 3.44 ERA. Offensively, the Marlins resemble their place in the standings, not great. The Marlins are in the bottom ⅓ of most important offensive categories. If you are betting with online sports betting sites in NJ one notable Marlin is First baseman Jesus Aguliar who has 9 HR and 31 RBI on the season. How will the game play out? I see the Dodgers’ bats getting a few runs against Alcantara, who is not so great on the road, and the great Clayton Kershaw getting another win at home. Take the Dodgers to win.
