Dodgers Preview: East Coast Road Trip Continues in Cincy for Three

CINCINNATI, OH—The Los Angeles Dodgers look to continue their nine-game East Coast road trip and head to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a three-game series against the Reds.

It was a disappointing final two games in Boston, as the Dodgers were unable to secure a series victory, primarily due to their offense going 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position and leaving twenty runners on base.

Over the Dodgers’ last thirty games, the team has a .500 record with fifteen wins and fifteen losses. In that time frame, they’ve seen their lead in the National League West dwindle from a season-high nine games to four games entering today.

The Dodgers’ main struggles this season have been on the road, where they are just two games over .500 (26-24) and facing teams with winning records, posting a 25-29 record in those games.

Now, the Dodgers will face a hot Reds team that, over its last thirty games, has won seventeen and sits just one game back of the final National League Wild Card spot.

The Reds have been led by their pitching this season, ranking 7th in the league in ERA at 3.85 and 4th in the league in pitching fWAR (11.8).

Offensively, it’s been a much different story for the Red, ranking below league average in production with a combined 96 wRC+ this season and a .247/.320/.393 slash line.

Pitching match-ups

Game One: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.55 ERA) vs Chase Burns (0-2, 6.65 ERA)

Game Two: Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 2.75 ERA) vs Nick Lodolo (LHP) (8-6, 3.08 ERA)

Game Three: Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs Nick Martinez (9-9, 4.69 ERA)

Game Times

Game One: 5:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio

Game Two: 5:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio

Game Three: 5:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

Who’s in & who’s out?

Over the weekend in Boston, the Dodgers welcomed back veteran right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen, who has missed the last several weeks with a right forearm strain.

The righty was able to avoid season-ending surgery and completed his minor league rehab assignment, posting a 1.29 ERA across seven appearances.

The return of Treinen will solidify the backend of the Dodgers’ bullpen, which has been compromised as of late due to the injury to Tanner Scott and the inconsistencies of Kirby Yates.

Another arm set to return later this week, on Friday, is lefty Blake Snell, who, like Treinen, completed his minor league rehab stint on Saturday. Snell is slated to face his old team, the Tampa Bay Rays.

While the Dodgers are away on their nine-game road trip, third baseman Max Muncy traveled to the Dodgers’ Arizona League complex to continue his rehab and take live at-bats. If all goes well, Muncy could begin a rehab assignment by the end of this week.

Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old rookie Japanese superstar, threw a thirty-nine pitch bullpen session, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on July 23rd. After throwing one more bullpen session, Sasaki is expected to go to the Dodgers complex in Arizona to begin facing hitters, and like Muncy, could begin a rehab assignment in August.

Right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin is at a standstill in his recovery from right elbow discomfort, with Roberts stating that time is running out for the righty and the team will have to make a decision on next steps sooner rather than later.

There have been no updates on lefty Tanner Scott since the Dodgers’ last homestand after the closer was removed in the 9th inning of his previous appearance due to a “sting” in his left elbow.

Scott was placed on the 15-day injured list and said his MRI did not show any tears in his UCL, just inflammation. He’ll take a break from throwing for a few days before planning his next steps.

10-day Injured List (2): Max Muncy, Kiké Hernández

15-day Injured List (1): Tanner Scott

60-day Injured List (10): Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, Michael Kopech, Blake Snell, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Evan Phillips

As the Reds hope to maintain their postseason push, they will do so without many key names in their pitching staff; however, none is bigger than the loss of Hunter Greene.

Greene, 25, was having a breakout season this year for the Red, posting an ERA below three, and was firmly in the National League Cy Young race to start the year.

However, the young righty has been sidelined since early June with a right groin strain. Greene pitched two hitless innings, striking out four and walking one in his first rehab game, and is eying an August return.

Another arm on the injured list is veteran lefty Wade Miley, who has been out since June 20th due to a left flexor strain.

The left-hander began a throwing program in July and has been stretched out to 120 feet. The next step will be a bullpen session, which is slated to take place on August 1st.

Lastly, right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut is set to also throw a bullpen session this week after missing July with a right shoulder impingement.

Day-to-day (00):

10-day Injured List (3): Hunter Greene, Wade Miley, Ian Gibaut

15-day Injured List (00):

60-day Injured List (5): Brandon Williamson, Julian Aguiar, Rhett Lowder, Tyler Callihan, Carson Spiers

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