Cody Snavely
As the Dodgers start a six-game road trip, they will visit a couple of former Dodgers along the way. This season has already seen the Dodgers play against former Dodgers such as Cody Bellinger (Cubs), Trea Turner (Phillies), and even Joe Kelly when he was on the White Sox at the time. However, this week the reunion party gets kicked up a notch as the Dodgers will face a few familiar faces.
LA takes a trip to the Rock City.
Kicking off the festivities will be Noah Syndergaard and the Cleveland Guardians hosting the Dodgers in the first game of a three-game series. Syndergaard did not have the best Dodgers tenure for the first half of the season, going 1-4 with a 7.16 ERA. After being put in the IL after another horrible start against the Reds, most fans knew Syndergaard likely threw his final pitch in Dodgers blue. However, making his trip back to Cleveland is former shortstop Amed Rosario, who has been a solid pickup for LA hitting three home runs and twelve RBI since the trade.
Reunion party in Boston
However, the big party is happening in Boston this weekend as the Dodgers make their first trip to Fenway Park since the 2019 season. The Dodgers and Red Sox have numerous players meeting their old teams for the first time. Regarding Red Sox players returning to Fenway, the most prominent names are J. D. Martinez and Mookie Betts, who will be playing in front of Boston fans since the 2019 and 2022 seasons. Betts was a fan favorite and superstar in Boston and a considerable part of their success from 2014-2019, which saw him win an MVP and bring home a World Series championship in 2018. Martinez, who the Red Sox decided to move on from after an injury-plagued season in 2022, returns in a similar condition as he has been dealing with a similar injury the past month that has kept him out of the lineup for much of August. However, we must not forget that Enrique Hernandez will also be returning to Boston after a horrifically bad year which led to him getting traded back to LA. Another Red Sox returning to Fenway that will go under the radar is Ryan Brasier, who LA picked up and turned into a dependable arm in their bullpen. Brasier, who had an ERA north of seven on the Red Sox, has dropped to a 1.11 ERA since joining the Dodgers.
Regarding former Dodgers on the Red Sox, fan favorites Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen will host the Dodgers as they come to Boston. Turner, who was a vital part of the Dodger’s success and a large part of their team culture and identity and involved in the city of LA more than anyone, has had an excellent first year with Boston playing numerous positions such as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Jansen is 4th in the AL with 29 saves and is the current all-time save leader for LA with 350. With both players, their time with LA just ran out as the Dodgers did not seem interested in retaining either player once they hit free agency; however, finally facing their former team together may bring closure to their Dodgers careers.
I always find these reunion games exciting as you often see the away team cheering for an opposing player. I remember specifically when Chase Utley returned to Philly in 2016 and hit two home runs; he got a standing ovation from the Philly faithful. Do I expect that from Boston in terms of Mookie Betts? We will find out soon enough.
