Dodgers better make sure Trevor Bauer gets shot vs Astros

As it stands, Wednesday’s Dodgers–Astros game will be appointment viewing for numerous reasons.

Until that day comes, all fans should root against rotation adjustments and weather delays.

Because, after nearly two full years away from getting the chance to scream full-throated at the cheating ‘Stros, Dodgers fans deserve the hurricane that appears to be coming to Minute Maid Park this week.

If you haven’t already scavenged your tickets from StubHub and cashed in your points on a flight to (shudders) Houston, GET ON IT.

Everything’s lining up for Houston in this two-game set. They’re specifically increasing their stadium capacity to let more cheating defenders into the building, ready to boo the Dodgers as if they did it. The offense is getting in gear. The team is gelling.

And who better to put out that fire than Trevor Bauer, the MLB player who most vociferously came out against the Astros long before Rob Manfred decided to (kind of) act? Bauer’s starting on Wednesday, as long as everything continues as it’s currently set.

Dave Roberts … do NOT deprive us of this.

Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer will likely face the Astros in Houston next week.

Now, was this matchup a bit more exciting when it promised the renewal of the Bauer-Gerrit Cole collegiate rivalry? Sure. That was ideal.

There’s a lot on the line here, though. Bauer’s Reds, of course, never faced the 2020 “outed” Astros during his Cy Young campaign. Baseball minimized travel last year, removing most inter-league battles from the 60-game season, and neither team advanced to the World Series.

That means, of course, that Bauer has only faced Houston as a bunch of suspected cheaters, but never as the genuine, confirmed artifact.

For years, the righty has been outspoken about the many advantages he believes Houston had as their team became a dynasty, from sign-stealing to innovating the use of pitching mud and goop, which many players since (like, it would seem, Bauer) have used once they realized MLB didn’t care to legislate it out of the game. So far, so good when he’s gotten a crack at Houston, too; in nine starts across many years with Cleveland, Bauer’s a perfect 8-0 with a 2.90 ERA and 71 Ks in 59 innings.

Maybe he out-screamed the trash cans during those starts?

Houston’s faced the Yankees on the road already this year, so they’ve been somewhat battle-tested. They’ve yet to lock horns with Alex Cora and the Red Sox, but that’s coming, too.

The Dodgers have by far the most unfinished business with this decrepit roster, though, and there’s no better man than Bauer to lead the charge into Texas.

Please, please, please let us have this one. Imagine Bauer’s version of the Joe Kelly Face?

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