The Los Angeles Dodgers (56-44) need no reminder about their precarious situation atop the National League West. With the San Francisco Giants closing in on them, the Dodgers are pressured to start winning again after suffering back-to-back losses to the Mets over the weekend. The Oakland Athletics (44-56), meanwhile, are merely looking to end their four-game skid when they send the always-effective Sonny Gray to the mound.
Read on for a detailed preview of this game. You can also click here for a preview of tonight’s matchup between the Angels and the Astros.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
When: Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 10:10 PMPMET
Line: Oakland Athletics (+114) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-124); total: 6.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Oakland Athletics
[sc:MLB240banner ]Sonny Gray is used to getting a generous amount of run support whenever he makes a start this season. But based on the A’s poor showing at the plate over their last few games, Gray (10-4, 2.30 ERA) may have to adjust when he gets the ball in the series opener against LA later tonight.
Oakland enters tonight’s matchup with the Dodgers riding a four-game losing streak, largely because of the Athletics’ paltry offense that averaged just 2.0 runs during that stretch. That’s not good news for Gray, who gets 5.60 RS/9 in 20 starts this season. In any case, Gray’s ability to pitch well on the road will be tested anew. Gray enters tonight’s ball game carrying a 7-1 record and a 1.84 ERA across 11 road starts this season. No wonder the A’s are 6-0 in Gray’s last six starts away from Oakland.
Hopefully for Gray, Ben Zobrist will still be an Athletic by the time he takes the mound at Chavez Ravine. Zobrist, whose name has often found its way into trade rumors, is 8-for-22 (.364) in his last six games. Furthermore, the versatile position player is 3-for-5 (.600) with two RBIs in his career opposite Dodgers starter, Brett Anderson.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have some bitter taste to remove from their mouths when they host Oakland for the start of a two-game set. After taking a 15-2 beat down at the hands of a surprisingly high-powered Mets on Saturday, the Dodgers received another black eye when they lost yet again to New York, 3-2, in the series finale Sunday night. The Dodgers now look to reverse their fortunes when they hand the ball to Brett Anderson (5-5, 3.33 ERA), who has just recovered from an Achilles injury.
In his most recent start, Anderson was obviously bugged by his hurting left Achilles as he yielded three earned runs in just 2.2 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Braves on July 21. But after days of rest and rehab, Anderson is well enough to take on Oakland at home. The lefty is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 10 starts at Dodger Stadium this year.
As for the team’s offense, the Dodgers are hoping Howie Kendrick and Yasiel Puig will begin to figure out their troubles starting tonight. Kendrick is batting an ugly .115 (3-for-26) over his last six games. Kendrick, however, likes his matchup with Gray, against whom he is 5-for-15 (.333) in his career. Puig, on the other hand, has just been plain rotten over his past seven games, as the Cuban has hit .095 (2-for-21).
LA is 7-3 in Anderson’s last 10 home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Oakland wins, 4-3.
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