Winners of four of six games on their recent homestand, the Pirates start what is perhaps the key road trip of their entire season tonight on the West Coast, and against the talent-laden two-time defending World Series champions.
Joe Block previews the series opener against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are loaded up on the mound for the series. Tomorrow they will throw two-time Cy Young Award winning left-hander Tarik Skubal against the Pirates, and on Sunday, it will be another two-time Cy Young winner, Blake Snell.
The Pirates designated Jhonathan Rodriguez for assignment this week when they activated Oneil Cruz. Yesterday the Athletics claimed the outfielder, who the Pirates had acquired from Baltimore for cash on July 27th. In fifteen games with Indianapolis, Rodriguez hit .351 with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
