Game: New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m.
Odds: Yankees +126, Dodgers -136
Total: 8.5
Cross-country rivals, who have played each other 11 times in the World Series throughout their illustrious histories, will reunite for a three-game series beginning on Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the New York Yankees. The two teams haven’t faced off for a championship since 1981, but this season they’re both playoff contenders, and they each get an early opportunity to test themselves.
The Dodgers are tied for the NL West lead with Arizona. Los Angeles just returned from a road trip where they went 4-6, but the Dodgers have won 13 of their last 15 games at home.
The Yankees, who are currently in third place in the American League East, are healing nicely. Right-hander Tommy Kahnle, third baseman Josh Donaldson, and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton are all anticipated to be activated ahead of the series. With a 15-11 record on the road, New York ranks third in the AL.
Pitching problems still exist for the Dodgers despite how well they have performed. Clayton Kershaw will start the first game of the series tonight, but due to injuries, rookies Michael Grove and Bobby Miller will have to start the second and third games of the series, respectively. Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard continued to struggle in Wednesday’s loss to the Nationals, and reliever Brusdar Graterol gave up a late lead.
Due to hamstring injuries, Stanton and Donaldson have only played together in 18 games for the Yankees this season. Kahnle, who spent last season with the Dodgers, hasn’t pitched at all due to a biceps injury.
Stanton was raised in the Los Angeles area and spent his formative years sitting in the stands at Dodger Stadium. After hitting a home run in a 3-2 victory over the American League last season, he was named the MVP of the All-Star Game at the stadium. Stanton hasn’t played since April 15. He participated in just one rehab game at Double-A Somerset.
The Yankees’ offense has been all over the place recently. In consecutive losses to the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles last week, New York scored just one run in each game. Then, this week against the Padres and Seattle Mariners, New York scored 10 runs in three straight games. The Yankees’ four-game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday when Seattle blanked them 1-0.
The Yankees will be the target of Kershaw’s (6-4, 3.32 ERA) fifth career start. Despite not having a victory over them, he does have a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings.
Right-hander Luis Severino (0-0, 1.59) will start for the Yankees. It will be his third start of the year since coming back from a rotator cuff injury. Severino has faced the Dodgers just once. That was in 2016 during a scoreless two-inning relief appearance.
The Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last five games and 6-1 SU in their last seven on the road. The Dodgers are 19-8 overall at home after winning 13 of their last 15 at Dodger Stadium.
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