The Dodgers send one of the best daytime pitchers in baseball to the hill in facing off against the NL Central-leading Reds.
Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
Cincinnati had its season-high seven-game win streak snapped in Saturday’s 8-5 loss to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Reds lead is now 3 1/2 games in the NL Central race with the Cardinals grabbing a victory over the Giants. “You get spoiled winning,” Baker said. “When you’re winning a lot, you think you’re going to win every game even though you know you’re not.” The club is 4-4 on the West Coast this season, but is still a dismal 17-36 on the West Coast over the last five seasons, which included a 12-game losing streak at today’s venue. Cincinnati has compiled a 22-11 record since the All-Star break that gives them the second-best record in the majors over that span. The Reds have also produced a 14-2-1 mark in their last 17 series. It’s important to note the team is just 8-11 when playing winning opponents in the second half of the season (-330).
San Francisco moved into second place in the National League West with Monday’s 5-2 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they sit four games behind the division-leading Padres. The Giants are still just 2-5 against the Dodgers this season and the team is a dismal 10-20 against divisional opponents (-1,300). The numbers get even worse considering the team is 4-11 in road games against the West in 2010. The club has now won 10 of its last 12 contests and are the second-hottest team in the Majors since July 3rd, posting an 11-3 record. The pitching staff has led the charge out of the All-Star break, especially the starting rotation tossing five consecutive quality starts. It’s been an even venture when the team is a road underdog of +100 to +125, posting an 8-8 record this season (+60) and 27-27 mark over the last three years (+330).
