Game Preview: Dodgers Take to the Bay Area to Face the Athletics

Los Angeles Dodgers at Oakland Athletics

Time: 7:05 PM PT

Venue: Oakland Coliseum

Oakland  Record: 67-46

Los Angeles Record: 62-51

How are the Dodgers Doing?

At last, the Dodgers finally had a day off on Monday. They played 17 consecutive days to open the second half of the season, going 9-8 during that stretch. Los Angeles lost their last set to the Astros, but won the series finale on Sunday, 3-2.

The injury bug is back to haunt the Dodgers. Matt Kemp is dealing with an ankle contusion, while Yasiel Puig is limited with oblique soreness. The team placed Alex Wood on the disabled list with left adductor tendonitis.  

Why is this Game Important?

The Dodgers are 7-6 in interleague matchups this year but have been outscored by 10 runs in these games. The Athletics have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball. PECOTA projected them to win 76 games before the start of the season and they are nine wins away from that total with two months left in the season.

The Diamondbacks defeated Phillies on Monday, giving them 0.5 game lead over the Dodgers heading into Tuesday.

Pitching Matchup

Rich Hill (4-4, 3.63 ERA) vs Sean Manaea (10-7, 3.38 ERA)

Rich Hill pitched for Oakland for the first half of 2016, going 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA. This is Hill’s first time returning to the Oakland Coliseum since the Athletics traded him, along with Josh Reddick to Los Angeles. He earned a no-decision in his last start after allowing one earned run in six innings against the Brewers.

Sean Manaea lost to the Dodgers back in April, allowing two home runs in five innings. Two starts later though, he pitched the game of his life, tossing a no-hitter against the Red Sox. He is averaging only 3.29 strikeouts per game over his last seven starts but has an ERA of just 3.32 during that span.

Matchup of the Day

Manny Machado vs Sean Manaea

Manny Machado comes to Oakland, fresh off a three-hit performance against Houston. He is batting .309 with three home runs in 24 games at the Oakland Coliseum in his career. He only faced Manaea once, hitting a double against the Athletics’ pitcher.

Vegas Odds

Odds Sharks

Los Angeles: -117

Oakland: +107

FiveThirtyEight

Los Angeles: 48% chance of winning

Oakland: 52% chance of winning

Fun Fact

Dodgers Bench Coach Bob Geren managed the Athletics from 2007-11.