Reds vs. Dodgers: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

Max Scherzer and Trea Turner are the newest stars in Hollywood.

There’s no such thing as a democracy when it comes to Major League Baseball. As a result, some teams operate and spend their resources at a different level than others. Nowhere will that be more evident than the two clubs playing at Great American Ball Park this weekend.

To enhance their roster for the playoff stretch, the Reds acquired Luis Cessa, Mychael Givens, and Justin Wilson to address their bullpen woes. Let’s just say the Dodgers were a bit more ambitious before the July 30th deadline.

Faced with the prospect of losing the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner for the season, the LA front office created a seismic move at the trade deadline. Even though the rotation already included Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, and Julio Urias, the Dodgers decided to trade for three-time Cy Young Award recipient Max Scherzer to “strengthen” the starting unit.

However, Scherzer is not the only former Washington National calling Tinseltown home now. Also making the trek out west is infielder Trea Turner, who leads the senior circuit with a .317 batting average. Additionally, the 28-year-old Turner ranks fifth in the NL among position players with a 5.3 bWAR.

If you’re looking for an area where Los Angeles may be vulnerable, let me provide some friendly advice. Don’t waste your time. The Dodgers lead the league drawing 461 free passes. In addition, they rank second in the NL with a .329 OBP and place third with 207 long balls.

Next, they are just as frightening on the pitching mound as they are at the plate. LA hurlers lead the senior circuit by a wide margin with an incredible 2.94 team ERA. The Dodgers also lead the league with a 1.09 WHIP and rank second in strikeouts. Mercy.