The Los Angeles Dodgers sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball with their blockbuster to acquire Max Scherzer and Trea Turner at the trade deadline, adding even more star power to a roster that already was considered to be one of the deepest in the sport.
Scherzer joined his new teammates in Arizona on Sunday and likely will make his Dodgers debut on Wednesday against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.
It adds further intrigue to a series that baseball fans have been looking forward to for quite some time. Houston’s visit to Dodger Stadium will be just their second since the organization’s cheating scandal was uncovered, and first with fans in attendance.
Well aware of the past, Scherzer expressed his excitement to pitch in front of what should be an electric crowd, via SportsNet LA:
“I mean, we all know the history. But for that to be my first experience here, that’s going to be nuts. I don’t even know what that atmosphere is going to be like. It’s going to be crazy. This whole experience is crazy, getting traded in the season. So enjoy it, keep a smile on your face, go out there and compete and try to win.”
Although Scherzer wasn’t part of the 2017 Dodgers team that lost to the Astros in the World Series, he’s well aware of the disdain the two clubs have for each other.
When Houston traveled to Dodger Stadium last season, a large group of Dodgers fans waited outside of the ballpark to jeer the Astros as their team buses arrived. No attendance was permitted, so this was the closest they could get to giving the players a piece of their mind.
Now with Dodger Stadium back to full capacity, the Astros are expected to get a much harsher reception this time around. Scherzer will get to experience that firsthand when he takes the mound in Wednesday’s series finale.
When will Turner be cleared to join Dodgers?
With Scherzer set to make his Dodgers debut later this week, the question remains as to when Turner will be penciled into the lineup. He is still in MLB protocol after testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) but could potentially return at the end of the week.
“I don’t know exactly,” answered manager Dave Roberts when asked when Turner would be able to join the Dodgers. “I think it’s fair to say there’s some hurdles he’s obviously got to get through.
“Talked to him, he’s excited to join his teammates and get to see the fans in Los Angeles; those are his words. I would say sometime end of the week, Friday or Saturday, something like that, he’ll be in Los Angeles. That’s my hope.”
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