Los Angeles Hosts New York in 1st Game of Great Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to beat the Yankees in the first and final game of their series in Los Angeles. It will be difficult as the Yakees have Max Fried as their starting pitcher. The Yankees are 10-1 in his starts. Los Angeles counters with Tony Gonsolin.
The Yankees have whatever momentum that exists in baseball, having won seven series in a row and coming off a sweep of the Angels. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is injured and struggling. This game is at 10:10 and on Apple TV. Do you have Apple TV?
Extreme Hatred Between Los Angeles vs. New York
Last October, the Yankees’ season ended terribly at the hands of the Dodgers. In the World Series, Los Angeles beat the former crosstown rivals four games to one, punctuated by a deflating and error-marred performance in the decisive Game Five. Yankees fans were shocked by that, as even Aaron Judge dropped a fly ball, and Gerrit Cole messed up the pitcher fielding drill that he practiced over and over again in spring training.
After the delayed game five, several players from the Los Angeles Dodgers added insult to injury. Miguel Rojas dismissed his opponents’ “lazy defense.” Joe Kelly called the series “a complete mismatch.” Most colorfully, Chris Taylor said the Yankees “crapped down their leg.” Of course, Taylor is now on the Los Angeles Angels, whom the Yabkees just swept.
Pitching Matchup Favors Yanks
Max Fried has been fantastic for the Yankees this year. He’s 7-0 with a 1.29 earned run average through eleven starts. The left-handed pitcher has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any start as a Yankee.
His last time out, despite contending with poor weather and being on the road in Coors Field. The nine-year veteran has a sub-3.00 earned run average for his career. He has a 3.18 earned run average in 10 starts against the Dodgers with 70 strikeouts in 56.2 innings.
Fried is scheduled to face Tony Gonsolin. After a promising start to his career, he struggled in 2023 before missing the end of that season and all of the next one as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
After starting this campaign on the shelf yet again, this time due to a back injury, Gonsolin has been shaky through his first five starts of the year. Control has been an issue for Gonsolin. He has walked almost a batter every other inning. His last two outings have been poor.
Probable Batting Order Favors Los Angeles
This matchup has significant star power in the batting order. The Yankees are led by Aaron Judge. He has help from Paul Goldschmidt and the Yankee supporting cast. In particular, Trent Grisholm and Ben Rice have performed better than expected.
Los Angeles, however, is stronger. They have Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and the 2024 World Series Most Valuable Player, Freddie Freeman. The supporting cast includes Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández, who both killed the Yankees last October.
Chavez Ravine is A House of Horrors for the Yankees
The Yankees lost the 2024 World Series in an error-marred game five in Chavez Ravine. That is also the stadium where Yankees Star Aaron Judge broke his toe crashing through the right field wall. Yankees fans are dreading this Yankees trip to Chavez Ravine.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, this game is on Apple TV, which few have. There is a free preview, but you have to remember to cancel it. If Yankees fans do not get the free preview, they will not get to see this game.
With an off-day yesterday, the Yankees’ bullpen is now well-rested. With all of the injuries the Dodgers have, the Yankees have an advantage there, too.
