Dodgers: Previewing the Dodgers’ Opening Series of the 2019 Season

Game Four: Luke Weaver (7-11, 4.95 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (8-5, 2.62 ERA)

The Dodgers’ ace in the making Walker Buehler will start the fourth and final game of their opening series.  While many are quick to call Buehler the ace, he has yet to finish a full big league season which is what his goal is for the 2019 season.  Buehler flashed his electric stuff last season and made his first postseason start and World Series start.

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Last year the only thing that could stop Buehler’s rise was a rib injury that occurred when he was hit by a comebacker.  Walker will have no innings limit this season and look to make thirty starts.  The new look Dbacks have only 16 combined at-bats against Buehler and Ketel Marte has the best average in just four at-bats at .250.

The Dodgers will face off against one of the main pieces the Dbacks acquired for Paul Goldschmidt in Luke Weaver.   In 2017, Weaver had a solid season pitching to a 7-2 record and a 3.88 ERA but last season he took a step back posting a 4.95 ERA.  Luke had a solid spring this year pitching to a 1.04 ERA in four starts and will look to translate that to a successful first season in Arizona.

The newest Dodger AJ Pollock has seen the most at-bats against Luke Weaver hitting .333 in six plate appearances.  Cody Bellinger is the lone Dodger who has hit a home run off Weaver although the club has just twenty-two at-bats against him.  After starting slow the past few seasons, the Dodgers will look to start strong in 2019 and win at least three of four against their NL West rival.