Two teams from opposite coasts meet again at the same point to revive a rivalry that, among other things, counts with 11 dramatic World Series matchups.
As of tonight and until next Sunday, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers They will star in one more chapter of the civil war.
These organizations have not clashed over a title of Big leagues since 1981, but they’re playoff contenders again this year, and each gets an early chance to prove himself against a superior team.
A little more than a quarter of the season has been consumed and the Dodgers maintain first place in the West of the National League, although his present includes a 4-6 record in his last 10 games. At Dodger Stadium they have won 13 of their last 15 games.
The Yankees sit third in the AL East, but on their trip to the West they have already brought back outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and third baseman Josh Donaldson to add more power to their offensive lineup. Pitcher Tommy Kahnle will also be activated for the series in Los Angeles. The Bronx Bombers have the third-best road record in the American League at 15-11.
For tonight at Chavez Ravine, the Yankees will send Luis Severino to the mound while the Dodgers will send their star lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw (6-4, 3.32 ERA) will make his fifth career start against the Yankees. He doesn’t have a victory against them, but he has a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings. The lefty allowed four earned runs in five innings pitched Saturday against the Rays.
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The Yankees will counter with right-hander Luis Severino (0-0, 1.59), who is making his third start of the season following a sideline injury. Severino faced the Dodgers just once in a two-inning scoreless relief outing in 2016.. The right-hander’s last appearance was Saturday, when he pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowed one earned run and allowed one hit against the San Diego Padres.
THE FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH DURING THE WEEKEND
Aaron Judge/Outfielder NY Yankees
After he was on the verge of playing permanently on the West Coast when the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants tried to sign him in free agency offering contracts of up to 400 million dollars, Aaron Judge moves his talents to Dodger Stadium but still with the striped flannel. The reigning American League MVP is in one of his hottest spots of the season.
in the last 15 games he has a .377 batting percentage with 10 home runs and 18 RBIs. Since returning from his back injury, Judge has been a true captain for the Yankees. Judge has reached on a hit 31 times this season in 47 games played (66.0 percent).
He has scored in 30 of 47 games this year, including multiple runs scored in nine of them.
Mookie Betts/ Outfielder LA Dodgers
If there is a man who represents the style of play that Chavez Ravine likes, it is Mookie Betts. Performing well with both the bat and the glove, Betts has become one of the player’s favorites since he arrived from the Boston Red Sox. Playing at home he is hitting .323 with 16 RBIs and seven home runs.
Has touched home plate at least once in 34 times in the campaign.
Betts has driven in at least one run in the 38.9 percent of their games this season (21 of 54), including more than one touchdown in seven of those games.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa/ Utility NY Yankees
Although he had multiple problems for much of last season, Kiner-Falefa has changed his face this year, becoming a versatile player who doesn’t make so many mistakes.
Going into the last of the series against the Mariners, Kiner-Falefa was hitting .382 with a 1.181 OPS, six extra-base hits and 12 RBIs in 11 games since May 16.
Max Muncy/ LA Dodgers 3B
The Los Angeles Dodgers infielder has come as a pleasant surprise, hitting 17 home runs so far, the second-most in the National League. Although in the last seven games he has trailed off with just two home runs and six RBIs, Muncy is a great show every time he gets up to swing his bat.
Giancarlo Stanton/ DH NY Yankees
Stanton is a native of the Los Angeles area who grew up watching games from the stands at Dodger Stadium. He won the All-Star Game MVP at the stadium last season after hitting a home run in a 3-2 AL win. Although he has missed much of the season with a hamstring injury, Stanton has three doubles, four home runs and two walks while hitting .269. Stanton has had a hit in 11 of 13 games this season, with multiple hits three times.