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“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
Dorthy clenches her fist while she shuts her eyes. Her heels click as her ruby shoes shine. While gnashing her teeth against each other she slowly chants those important words. There is nothing better than a trip home. For Dorthy and the Dodgers coming home is where they are at peace and everything is right in the world. It’s also a place the Dodger have been playing their best Baseball.
This season the Dodgers have the second best home record in the National League. They have won 44 games and lost only 27. That’s an astounding .620 winning percentage. Furthermore, they are batting an unbelievable .298 with a slugging percentage of .464 and OPS of .840. The Dodgers offense is potent in the friendly confines of Chavez Ravine.
The home team advantage the Dodgers have is an exciting backdrop for this last homestand. With 16 games left in the season and a tightening race developing in both the divisional and wild card races it is imperative that the Dodgers have a good showing this weekend.
Over the past couple of weeks they had been very disappointing. This past road trip saw them lose seven games out of thirteen. Five of those losses where against sub-.500 teams, including the worst team in the National League- the Chicago Cubs. They are lucky to still be in first place.
This evening, they start a four game series against their division rivals, the San Diego Padres. Right now, the Dodgers are barely clinging onto a half-game lead over the Padres and the San Francisco Giants are only three games behind.
Tonight is a classic veteran match-up between Greg Maddux and David Wells. Both of these professionals have won a World Series ring, and both pitchers where acquired mid-way through the season in playoff-push type of trades.
Saturday pits rookie phenom Chad Billingsley against Woody Williams. On Sunday the Dodgers will have Derek Lowe face young pitcher Chris Young. Monday is the last game of the series. Brad Penny will pitch against Padres ace Jake Peavy.
