Pair Of Division Leaders Battle As New York Visits Los Angeles

New York and Los Angeles have something in common.

These two teams are both leading their divisions as New York is leading the American League East by eight games over Tampa Bay while the Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the National League West by 20.5 games over Arizona. “according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

On Friday night they will open a three game series where New York who comes into the opening game with a record of 83-46 while Los Angeles comes into the opening game with a record of 85-44. “according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

James Paxton will start the opening game for New York. The left-hander who’s nickname is the Big Maple comes into the game with a record of 9-6 with a 4.53 earn run average. Paxton, who is 4-0 in four starts this month, has recorded a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his six Major League seasons, though he has reached double figures in victories just twice. He will oppose Los Angeles left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu who comes into the opening game with a record of 12-3 with a 1.64 earn run average. Ryu’s Cy Young campaign gets an Interleague test against the Yankees, who beat him in their only meeting six years ago. He allowed back-to-back sixth-inning homers in Atlanta last weekend, his third multi-homer game of the year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game, they were swept by Oakland in a three game series.

Unfortunately for the Bronx Bombers, this event did not occur until manager Aaron Boone’s media briefing following the Yankees’ 5-3 loss Thursday to the A’s, who completed a three-game series sweep. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Summarizing the state of his club, which begins a three-game series Friday against the MLB-best Dodgers, Boone employed imagery that was as vivid as it was accurate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

“Over the course of a long season, you’re going to take one in the mouth,” Boone said, “and we just got punched in the mouth right here in Oakland. But we move on and enjoy the challenge of going and facing a great National League club.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Regaining their season-long efficiency also will challenge the Yankees, whose four-game losing streak matches a season high. During that stretch, they haven’t executed any aspect of baseball particularly well. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Their starting pitchers have compiled a 9.32 ERA. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

The offense is hitting a creditable .273 but has scored just 14 runs, due largely to a .214 batting average (6-for-28) with runners in scoring position. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Thursday, the Yankees delivered their offense in one-run bursts, as Gleyber Torres homered twice to push his team-best total to 31. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oaklandhttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Torres initially felt uncomfortable with the hitters’ background at the Coliseum. “according to

“The first couple of days, I didn’t feel really comfortable at home plate [with] the view,” Torres said. “Everything’s different. But today I felt very good. I just tried to stay focused and forget about it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

However, Torres also made a high relay to second base on a potential double-play grounder, helping Oakland score a fifth run off starter Masahiro Tanaka (9-7). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

“I think I got a little lazy and I didn’t prepare myself very well in that situation,” Torres said. “I didn’t feel good about that. But baseball always gives you another opportunity.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Tanaka, who surrendered all of Oakland’s runs while lasting six innings, shouldered blame for the immediate deficit. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

“It’s more on me,” said the right-hander, who owns a 6.58 ERA in 12 road starts and a 5.82 ERA in three outings at the Coliseum. “I just wasn’t able to control the ball well enough. You never want to give up two base hits starting off a game. Obviously that hurt, but the two walks after that, you never can do that. I feel I wasn’t able to control the ball, and it’s on me.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-yankees-struggle-in-oakland

Unlike New York who was swept by Oakland their last game Los Angeles meanwhile did some sweeping of their own.

- Over and over again it ends with a walk-off win and Gatorade shower. On Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, it was Enrique Hernández turn, on his bobblehead night, no less, and he gave the simple explanation.

“We like to walk off,” Hernandez said after he followed Corey Seager’s game-tying two-run double with one out in the bottom of the ninth, with an RBI single that gave the Dodgers a 3-2 win over Toronto, a sweep of their Interleague series, their 12th walk-off win of the year and the second in as many nights.”according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

Manager Dave Roberts said what everybody is thinking. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“Twelve times and you expect it, you don’t know who it’s going to be, but I think even after that walk [Max Muncy, leading off the inning], they felt it,” said Roberts. “You start having that and it manifests itself.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

But Roberts also provided a more thorough explanation of this ultra-clutch phenomenon that has contributed to a 51-16 home record, the best in baseball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

Roberts tied it up neatly, linking the Dodgers’ talent, depth, focus and relentlessness at the plate. He thinks the Dodgers are just built to wear down any opponent. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“I think there’s something to that, I do,” he said. “On the larger sense of a season, when you can go 35 [players] deep and keep guys fresh and get guys out of games and give guys a day off, and energized and fresh, and also hungry for more at-bats, that’s a luxury we do have with the depth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“As far as the game itself, our guys do a great job focusing for 3 1/2 hours. It’s no longer 2 1/2 hours, it’s like 3 1/2 hours. When you’re talking about 300 pitches and plays on the bases … that’s how we play the game. We almost beat teams and we just outlast them.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

Per STATS, the Dodgers have had 23 home games this year where they were trailing in the ninth inning or later and have won seven (30.4 percent). No MLB team in the live-ball era (since 1920) has won at least 30 percent of their home games in which they trailed in the ninth or later. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

The magic number to clinch a seventh consecutive National League West title is 14. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

And for the first eight innings of this game, the only Dodgers hit was a third-inning single by starting pitcher Kenta Maeda. Toronto starting pitcher Jacob Waguespack had them bewildered for seven scoreless innings, retiring the last 14 batters he faced. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

Roberts pointed out that a two-out walk by pinch-hitter Matt Beaty in the bottom of the eighth inning, while it didn’t lead directly to a run, contributed to the winning rally. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“It brings Cody [Bellinger] back in play in the ninth,” Roberts said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

After Muncy’s leadoff walk in the ninth and Justin Turner’s lineout to right field, Bellinger doubled into the right-field corner off a 1-0 changeup from Derek Law, who was pitching because closer Ken Giles had just been placed on paternity leave. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“We’ve been doing it all year,” said Bellinger. “It’s rare. We’re enjoying every moment of it. We’ve been doing a great job of not giving up.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

With the tying runs on second and third, Seager laced a first-pitch fastball for a tying double. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“Just looking to pass the baton, kind of thing,” said Seager. “We don’t give up.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

Hernandez swung through a 1-0 slider, then shortened his swing and lofted a low slider off the end of the bat, just beyond the reach of second baseman Cavan Biggio, and Seager scored. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

“That situation, the pressure’s on [Law], he just gave up a two-run lead and the winning run’s on second base,” said Hernandez after his first career walk-off. “He still has to get two outs. Gave me a pretty good pitch to hit. I was able to stay through it and it got over the infield’s head.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/enrique-hernandez-singles-for-dodgers-12th-walk-off-win

First pitch is set for 10:10pm from Dodger Stadium. The game will be televised on YES, SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish, FB-WATCH (out-of-market only)