The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to snap their 3 game road losing streak as they take on the Cincinnati Reds in the first of a three-game series on Tuesday night. The Dodgers have hit a few speed-bumps lately being just 5-5 in their last 10 overall. Handing the ball to Gonsolin has been a winning strategy for them so far going 8-0 in his 8 starts this season. But, can he make it 9? Here is my free prediction and breakdown.
Coming out of the Slump
The Dodgers played well over the past week winning three of their last five. They will look to continue on that momentum and snap their 3 game road losing streak as they head to Cincinnati to take on the Reds.
The Dodgers have had much of what we expected from them this season and that is everything. Their offence is one of the best in baseball posting an average of 5.02 runs per game tied 2nd in the Majors. They are also batting .247 (12th), with a .328 OBP (T 2nd) and slugging percentage of .419 (5th). With their big names you expect big numbers and they have delivered. Trea Turner leads the team with a .301 batting average and 49 RBI’s whilst Mookie Betts has already hit 17 home runs.
Their bullpen has also been terrific. The team is holding opponents’ batting average to just .213, and is posting a combined ERA of 2.91 good for 2nd in the league. I may value WHIP more than others, but 1.10 WHIP or lower I consider to be a huge detail when it comes to quality pitching. The Dodgers are posting a combined 1.08 WHIP. Pitching Checked!
Tony Gonsolin takes the mound for the Dodgers as he continues to have an amazing season. He comes into this one posting a 8-0 record over 63.1 innings, resulting in a 1.42 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. He has now gone all 8 games without giving up more than 2 runs, and only allowing 1 run or less in 6 of those 8 games. In his last start, Gonsolin gave up one hit and no runs in 6.1 innings against the Angels. It’s hard to fathom at this point Gonsolin will have a terrible game especially against a weaker Reds line-up.
Struggles Continue
The Reds aren’t playing well at the moment, in fact they haven’t really played well all season (posting a 23-43 record). They are currently in the midst of a 4 game losing streak and will look to snap out of it against the Dodgers.
Cincinnati’s struggles are on both sides of their ball. As a team they are scoring 4.3 runs per game (T 16th), batting .238 (T 17th) with an OBP of .309 (T 19th). The pitching staff is even more awful allowing a whopping 5.3 runs per game with a combined ERA of 5.22 (ranking 29th in the league) and 1.39 WHP (27th). Kyle Farmer leads the Reds with a .282 batting average and 38 RBI’s whilst Brandon Drury leads the team with 14 hom runs.
Right-hander Tyler Mahle gets the start for the Reds and is coming off his best game yet. He threw for 9 complete innings allowing just 3 hits and no runs, this was however against the Diamondbacks. He is playing a better stretch of the season posting 1 runs or less in 3 of his last 4 starts.
Gonsolin vs Mahle
The Reds have lost eight of their last 11 games and five straight at home. They have struggled offensively, scoring 10 runs in their last 3 games. Whilst I can see Mahle having a solid game, I can see Gonsolin doing even better. This one may be a low scoring close game at the start but as soon as Mahle begins to tire and the Reds have to turn to their bullpen, expect the Dodgers to blow this one wide open.
Take the Dodgers to win the game.
FREE PICK: Los Angeles Dodgers ML (1 Unit)