Sep 8, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) is greeted within the dugout after hitting a house run in the course of the fifth inning in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Pictures The Chicago Cubs would be the subsequent staff to get an up-close take a look at Shohei Ohtani after they open a three-game highway sequence in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
Ohtani hit his forty sixth dwelling run of the season Sunday in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians. He additionally has 46 stolen bases as he closes in on the primary 50-50 season in MLB historical past with 19 regular-season video games remaining.
Ohtani tied Alfonso Soriano (2006) for essentially the most dwelling runs throughout a 40-40 season.
“Man, you simply do not see guys hitting the ball that far, as onerous as he hits it,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “He is simply locked in and 50-50, the chase is on, and I simply actually hope he does it at dwelling.”
Because the historic milestone approaches, Ohtani continues to say it’s all in regards to the staff, though a 50-50 accomplishment might earn him his third MVP award and the primary by a participant who was primarily a delegated hitter.
“It is one thing I’ll look again on on the finish of the season,” Ohtani stated by an interpreter. “What’s extra necessary is to win the sport and the sequence and thankfully we have been in a position to do each (Sunday).”
The Dodgers gained for the eighth time of their previous 11 video games and so they have both gained or tied a sequence of their previous 9 tries. The Dodgers (86-57) moved six video games up on the second-place San Diego Padres within the Nationwide League West.
Los Angeles will ship right-hander Walker Buehler (1-4, 5.67 ERA) to the mound Monday. Buehler has made 12 begins since coming back from a two-year absence after his second Tommy John surgical procedure and has given up simply two earned runs in every of his previous two outings.
In six profession appearances (5 begins) in opposition to the Cubs, Buehler is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA.
The Cubs (73-70) will counter with right-hander Kyle Hendricks (3-11, 6.60), who hasn’t pitched at Dodger Stadium since 2019.
Hendricks is coming off a robust outing in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday when he gave up two runs in 5 innings however ended up with the loss.
In seven profession begins in opposition to the Dodgers, Hendricks is 3-3 with a 5.68 ERA, giving up 9 dwelling runs in 38 innings. In his three begins at Los Angeles, he’s 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA and has allowed 4 dwelling runs in 14 innings.
After going 8-1 to complete August and buoy their playoff hopes, the Cubs have misplaced 4 of their previous six video games. They dropped two of three at dwelling in opposition to the New York Yankees after they scored two runs your complete sequence.
Monday begins a six-game highway journey for the Cubs, who’ve simply 9 highway video games remaining this season. The Cubs have averaged 4.0 runs in 71 dwelling video games and 5.0 runs in 72 highway video games.
“A few of that’s most likely randomness, and a few of that’s most likely the truth that the wind is blowing in (at dwelling) just about each day this yr,” Chicago president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer stated. “… I do not assume you may actually take all these issues under consideration till the season’s over and we will actually make these (roster) changes.”
–Discipline Stage Media