The Los Angeles Dodgers are firing on all cylinders and just completed a four-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants for the first time since 1995, and now turn their attention to the Washington Nationals and superstar outfielder Juan Soto.
The 23-year-old returns to Dodger Stadium one week after winning the Home Run Derby and appearing in the All-Star Game as trade rumors continue to swirl about where he may end up. The Nationals reportedly put Soto on the trade block after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension, and many teams will surely be involved in the talks to acquire his services.
During the All-Star Game, Dodgers fans in the outfield pavilions chanted “Future Dodger” toward Soto, who turned to smile at the fans before running back to the dugout. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said “It was hard to miss” those chants and joked he won’t be joining in with the chants if they start again.
“I will not be,” Roberts said. “I’ll be in the home dugout planning on trying to get him out.”
The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 2, and the cost to acquire Soto will likely be the largest return for a player in baseball history, but the Dodgers are among the teams with reported interest and general manager Brandon Gomes said the team will be opportunistic in the negotiations for Soto.
But while negotiations continue, the two clubs still have three games to play, and that will start when the Dodgers send Tony Gonsolin to the mound in his first appearance since the All-Star Game.
Gonsolin didn’t have the most memorable Midsummer Classic debut as he took the loss after allowing three runs. That followed his worst outing of the regular season where he gave up five runs in five innings, but he has still been one of the top pitchers in baseball throughout the season.
In 93.2 innings, the right-hander has posted a 2.02 ERA with 86 strikeouts and a 0.84 WHIP across 17 starts.
The Nationals counter with Paolo Espino, a veteran right-hander who has primarily been used as a reliever this season. In 58 innings, Espino has pitched to a 3.57 ERA across 58 innings, but he has only struck out 46 hitters and he’s posted a 1.22 WHIP.
The 35-year-old has thrown 197.2 innings in his career with a 4.28 ERA.
Justin Turner is improving but he remains out of the Dodgers lineup for a fourth consecutive game.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Jake Lamb
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Trayce Thompson
Nationals lineup
CF: Victor Robles
2B: César Hernández
RF: Juan Soto
1B: Josh Bell
DH: Nelson Cruz
LF: Yaidel Hernandez
SS: Luis García
C: Keibert Ruiz
3B: Ehire Adrianza
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