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Will Smith, Dodgers Seek Sweep of Brewers in Clash of Division Leaders
Will Smith is on a hot streak, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are eyeing a series sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers in a battle of division leaders. With Smith aiming for his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance, the Dodgers hope to keep their winning momentum going.
Will Smith’s Impact
Recent Performance: Will Smith, a top candidate for the National League All-Star reserve catcher, has been on fire. After hitting three home runs on Friday, Smith continued his power surge with a first-inning homer on Saturday, helping the Dodgers secure a 5-3 victory over the Brewers.
Season Context: Smith was struggling with a 2-for-34 slump before making minor adjustments to his swing last weekend. Since then, he has hit four home runs in two games, showcasing a return to form after hitting only two homers in the previous 23 games.
Manager’s Praise: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has always believed in Smith’s abilities, saying, “He’s just so consistent and he just doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves as one of the top two catchers in the game.”
Dodgers’ Series Performance
Series Context: The Dodgers are looking for their first series sweep since late June against the Chicago White Sox. They’ve already secured six sweeps of at least three games this season.
Recent Games: The Dodgers won Saturday’s game 5-3 with key home runs from Miguel Vargas and Shohei Ohtani, pulling away after Christian Yelich tied the game for the Brewers in the eighth inning.
Brewers’ Challenge
William Contreras: The Brewers’ top catcher, William Contreras, already an All-Star Game starter, has been crucial for Milwaukee. Despite going hitless in the series opener, he managed a hit and two walks on Saturday.
Christian Yelich: Yelich, also an All-Star starter, hit a game-tying home run on Saturday but couldn’t help secure the win for the Brewers.
Pitching Matchup
Justin Wrobleski for the Dodgers: The Dodgers will start left-hander Justin Wrobleski in his major league debut. Wrobleski has been impressive in the minors with a 3.23 ERA across Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dallas Keuchel for the Brewers: The Brewers will counter with left-hander Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 6.75 ERA). Acquired from the Seattle Mariners, Keuchel has struggled, allowing seven runs on 12 hits in two starts for Milwaukee. However, he showed resilience in his last start, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings against Colorado.
Keuchel’s History: Surprisingly, despite his long career, Keuchel has faced the Brewers six times, losing five, but he has never pitched against the Dodgers in his 13-year career.
Conclusion
Sunday’s game is crucial for both teams. The Dodgers, driven by Will Smith’s recent power surge, aim to complete a sweep and maintain their division lead. Meanwhile, the Brewers look to bounce back and avoid a sweep, relying on Dallas Keuchel to stabilize their pitching. This matchup promises to be a competitive showdown between two top teams.
