The Chicago Cubs would be the subsequent workforce to get an up-close have a look at Shohei Ohtani after they open a three-game highway sequence towards the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
Ohtani hit his forty sixth house run of the season Sunday towards the Cleveland Guardians. He additionally has 46 stolen bases as he closes in at the first 50-50 season in MLB historical past with 19 regular-season video games last.
Ohtani tied Alfonso Soriano (2006) for essentially the most house runs all the way through a 40-40 season.
“Guy, you simply do not see guys hitting the ball that some distance, as exhausting as he hits it,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “He is simply locked in and 50-50, the chase is on, and I simply actually hope he does it at house.”
Because the historical milestone approaches, Ohtani continues to mention it’s all in regards to the workforce, even if a 50-50 accomplishment may just earn him his 3rd MVP award and the primary by way of a participant who used to be basically a delegated hitter.
“It is one thing I can glance again on on the finish of the season,” Ohtani mentioned thru an interpreter. “What’s extra vital is to win the sport and the sequence and fortuitously we had been ready to do each (Sunday).”
The Dodgers received for the 8th time of their previous 11 video games and they have got both received or tied a chain of their previous 9 tries. The Dodgers (86-57) moved six video games up at 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 getting back from a two-year absence after his moment Tommy John surgical operation and has given up simply two earned runs in every of his previous two outings.
In six occupation appearances (5 begins) towards the Cubs, Buehler is 1-2 with a three.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 powerful time out towards the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday when he gave up two runs in 5 innings however ended up with the loss.
In seven occupation begins towards the Dodgers, Hendricks is 3-3 with a 5.68 ERA, giving up 9 house runs in 38 innings. In his 3 begins at Los Angeles, he’s 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA and has allowed 4 house runs in 14 innings.
After going 8-1 to complete August and buoy their playoff hopes, the Cubs have misplaced 4 in their previous six video games. They dropped two of 3 at house towards the New York Yankees after they scored two runs all of the sequence.
Monday starts a six-game highway travel for the Cubs, who’ve simply 9 highway video games last this season. The Cubs have averaged 4.0 runs in 71 house video games and 5.0 runs in 72 highway video games.
“A few of this is most definitely randomness, and a few of this is most definitely the truth that the wind is blowing in (at house) nearly on a daily basis this yr,” Chicago president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned. “… I don’t believe you’ll be able to actually take all the ones issues into consideration till the season’s over and we will actually make the ones (roster) changes.”
–Box Degree Media