Giants @ Dodgers Sept. 8, 2019: Please don’t get swept

I had the Game Thread a week ago. The Dodgers were staring a 4-game sweep at the hands of a division rival in the eyes. Fast forward a week and they’re looking at a 3-game sweep against another division rival.

	Giants			Dodgers
	1:10 p.m.			Los Angeles
2B	Solano		RF	Pederson
C	Posey		SS	Seager
1B	Slater		LF	Pollock
3B	Longoria		1B	Bellinger
CF	Pillar		3B	Beaty
LF	Yastrzemski		CF	Taylor
RF	Davis		2B	Lux
SS	Dubon		C	Martin
P	Rodriguez (R)		P	Urias (L)

I said “Don’t Get Swept” in the headline. It took extra innings, but they didn’t. Maybe it’ll work again because they’re clearly in a bit of a funk of late. 

Since sweeping Toronto in LA Aug. 20-22, they’re 7-8 and have seen their division lead dwindle from 21 games to 16. I kid, but the biggest development has been the fact that the Braves may never lose again. They’ve closed to within 2 1/2 games of the best record in the National League. Now, home field advantage in baseball isn’t usually that big a deal, but it sure would be nice to have any potential series-deciding game at Dodger Stadium.

Will Smith is getting a day off. He’s been fighting it of late. Gavin Lux, after a strong first game, is 1-for-15 in his last three games. Matt Beaty is also getting his second career start at third base. He’s played mostly left field and first base in the majors so far.

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Justin Turner has been dealing with a sore ankle. Is available off the bench today and expected to start on Tuesday.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 8, 2019

If you’re wondering why Justin Turner isn’t in the lineup today, well, this is it. The main goal for him this month (and for any Dodger, really) is to be healthy on Oct. 3 — the first day of the National League Division Series.

And about that 1-game suspension.

Justin Turner won appeal and won’t serve a one-game suspension for bumping an umpire. Still gets an undisclosed fine.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 8, 2019

Good for him.

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Cody Bellinger has hit 25 home runs at Dodger Stadium this season, which is tied for the most at home in #Dodgers franchise history.

2019: Cody Bellinger
1954: Gil Hodges
1956: Duke Snider
2019: Joc Pederson (24)

— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) September 8, 2019

Cody Bellinger has a chance to jump ahead of a Hall of Famer (Duke Snider) and a should-be Hall of Famer (Gil Hodges). The crazy part might be the fact Joc Pederson is just one home run behind that trio.