The Los Angeles Dodgers are absolutely on fire, rolling into the final leg of their nine-game road trip after the All-Star Game with the best record in MLB at a stellar 65-38. They have already snagged both series wins on this trip, showing no signs of slowing down. This squad even swept the New York Mets way back in April at Dodger Stadium, when those Mets were really struggling. And guess what? New York is *still* struggling, stuck last in the NL East and a dismal 17 games below .500. But even the best team in baseball has its internal issues, and one of their starting pitchers is deep in it, and it’s not looking good.
Ace Firepower and a Mets’ Spark
Game one sees right-hander Roki Sasaki hitting the mound for the Dodgers. He came out absolutely dealing for the second half, throwing 5.2 scoreless innings without giving up an earned run in his last start. His velocity looked nasty, which is huge for the rest of his season. Wild, especially when you consider his season ERA of 4.98 over 86.2 innings, despite racking up 85 strikeouts. For the Mets, Sean Manaea is trying to shake off a rough one where he gave up four runs in 4.2 innings, carrying a 4.74 ERA on the year. Then for game two, Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the ball, fresh off an incredible complete game against the Yankees where he gave up just one run. Yamamoto’s season numbers are legit: a 2.78 ERA and 113 strikeouts across 119.2 innings. The Mets will counter with Nolan McLean, who has been a bright spot for them this year, boasting a 3.34 ERA and a whopping 135 strikeouts. Can he keep them in it?
The Dodgers’ Persistent Problem and a Rumored Exit
Here is where things get shaky, even for the best team in baseball. Emmet Sheehan is set to close out the series for the Dodgers, and man, he needs a serious pick-me-up. Sheehan’s struggles have been a constant problem all season long. He is walking into this start with a 5.13 ERA through 18 appearances. His last time out against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday was a brutal one, allowing six earned runs in 5.1 innings, and the Dodgers took the loss in that game. Talk about a tough stretch! On the Mets side, Freddy Peralta will be pitching, and his name is already popping up in the rumor mill, which isn’t shocking given how far the Mets sit in the standings.
The Dodgers have been dominant this trip and are gunning for another series win in Queens. Catch the first pitch this Friday at 4:10 p.m. PT. What are your predictions for this series? Do the Mets finally put up a decent fight, or does the best team in baseball just keep on rolling, even with some pitching woes?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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