Ohtani vs Kurtz headlines Dodgers athletics opener in Sacramento
The Dodgers and Athletics opened a three-game series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Monday, June 29, with Shohei Ohtani and Nick Kurtz headlining a rare duel between premier left-handed sluggers while Eric Lauer faced Gage Jump on the mound. The Dodgers athletics matchup marks Los Angeles's first regular-season trip to Sacramento and puts two AL offensive leaders on the same national stage.
Key Takeaways
- Shohei Ohtani and Nick Kurtz bring elite left-handed power to the Dodgers athletics opener at Sutter Health Park.
- Kurtz leads the American League with 59 runs and 56 RBI; Ohtani carries a .826 OPS against left-handed pitching.
- Eric Lauer starts for Los Angeles; the Dodgers are undefeated in his five outings this season.
- Gage Jump counters for the Athletics after a strong first month in the rotation.
- The series runs June 29 through July 1 as the Dodgers close a nine-game road trip.
Why Does the Dodgers Athletics Opener in West Sacramento Matter?
According to True Blue LA, this is the Dodgers' first regular-season visit to West Sacramento while the Athletics play at Sutter Health Park. The spotlight falls on two left-handed stars whose numbers usually belong to MVP-caliber names.
Nick Kurtz has nearly single-handedly carried Oakland's offense into an AL West race where the division leader sits at a .500 record. With Brent Rooker on the injured list, Kurtz's production carries even more weight for a team that went 4-6 over its last 10 games against last-place clubs.
For more celebrity breaking news on star-driven sports moments, this series opener fits the bill: national attention, a temporary home ballpark, and two headline sluggers sharing one field.
How Do Shohei Ohtani and Nick Kurtz Stack Up?
True Blue LA frames the matchup with humor but backs it with numbers. Kurtz leads the American League in both runs scored (59) and runs batted in (56), territory typically reserved for Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
Kurtz is not intimidated by left-handed pitching. Six of his 19 home runs have come against southpaws, good for an .836 OPS. Ohtani posts a similar .826 OPS versus lefties and was set to face Jump on Monday night.
Yahoo Sports listed the contest as Game #85 for the Dodgers, with Ohtani in the designated hitter spot as Los Angeles brought a 54-30 record into Sacramento against an Athletics club at 40-44.
Who Is on the Mound for the Dodgers and Athletics?
Sports Illustrated confirmed Monday's left-on-left pitching matchup: Eric Lauer for the Dodgers and Gage Jump for the Athletics. Lauer was starting as a traditional starter after working behind an opener in his previous outing.
True Blue LA noted the Dodgers have won all five games Lauer has pitched in this season. Jump, meanwhile, has been strong since joining the Athletics rotation roughly a month ago.
The series continues Tuesday with Justin Wrobleski against Jeffrey Springs and concludes Wednesday when Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to start opposite J.T. Ginn. First pitch for the opener was 6:40 p.m. PT on SportsNet LA and the MLB app.
What Should Fans Watch for Beyond the Slugger Duel?
The Athletics entered the series needing to capitalize on a soft stretch of schedule and avoid another winless series. Los Angeles arrived after a 4-2 win over San Diego, closing a road swing that SI described as a nine-game trip ending in Sacramento.
Weather at Sutter Health Park was listed at 89 degrees and partly cloudy with a 13 mph southwest wind, per Yahoo Sports. With Teoscar Hernández back in the Dodgers lineup and Dalton Rushing behind the plate, the opener carried lineup intrigue beyond the Ohtani-Kurtz storyline.