In the wake of completing a three-game sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers now head to Angel Stadium of Anaheim for a three-game weekend Interleague series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Kenta Maeda is expected to take the mound for the Dodgers in the opener on Friday, where he looks to build off a solid performance against the Colorado Rockies in his most recent start.
Maeda allowed only two runs in seven innings pitched against a tough Rockies offense and hopes for similar results against another difficult lineup that features the likes of Albert Pujols, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
Ahead of his outing, Maeda explained that he is looking forward to facing Ohtani for the first time in the regular season, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“The Japanese media obviously has been creating hype,” Maeda said through his interpreter. “But I am looking forward to facing another Japanese player.”
Ohtani added an interesting wrinkle to the free agency period last winter when he announced his attention to sign with a Major League team. After meeting with a handful of suitors, the 24-year-old opted to join the Angels in the American League, where more hitting opportunities would arise as a result of the designated hitter being utilized.
Thus far, Ohtani has proven his value as a hitter and enters play with a superb .890 on-base plus slugging in 138 plate appearances. Maeda revealed that he will alter his approach against Ohtani, given his unfamiliarity in facing him since coming over to the United States:
“The image I had about him as a hitter has changed, so my approach to the way I pitch to him will change,” Maeda said. “I’m just going to approach it as if I’m facing a new hitter.”
Ohtani only recently returned to action after missing nearly a month with a UCL strain, but his projected matchup against Maeda on Friday will nevertheless generate excitement in both Southern California and Japan.
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