The Los Angeles Dodgers are picking the right time to thrive on offense as they have been very productive at the plate against the Cincinnati Reds in the past two games. The Dodgers are looking to complete the three-game sweep after getting 12 runs in the past two games. This is a big improvement from the nine runs they totaled in eight games. Can they keep it up for Zack Greinke on the mound?
The Dodgers are hitting their stride as they dominate over the Reds. Meanwhile, Cincinnati has hit an unwanted slump losing their last 11 of 12 games while their pitching rotation has a 7.13 ERA since the departures of Mike Leake and Johnny Cueto at the trade deadline. In that stretch their starters have given up 18 home runs. Five of those home runs have come during the series against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles is looking to hold on to their National League West lead and putting Greinke on the mound will get the job done. The pitcher is 13-3 on the season with a 1.67 ERA. He is currently on a streak where he went 8-0 with a 1.16 ERA in 11 starts, but then gave up three runs and two home runs to the Houston Astros while getting almost no run support in the process. With offensive tear the Dodgers are on while playing the Reds, that could change for the better in this final game. The best chance Cincinnati has of getting hits off the pitcher might be Todd Frazier who is batting .387 in his last eight games or Joey Votto who is hitting .444 against the Dodgers pitcher.
The Reds will put Anthony DeSclafani on the mound who is 7-9 with a 3.97 ERA on the year. He struggled in his last outing against the Dodgers, giving up a home run to both Greinke and Joc Pederson. In his last start he gave up six runs over five innings in a loss to Arizona. The Dodgers lineup has plenty of success against the starting pitcher. Jimmy Rollins and Yasiel Puig have done well while Puig is hitting .324 in his last nine games.
