The Boston Red Sox will travel to Los Angeles on Friday to begin a marquee weekend matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, following a road series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
Boston enters the matchup after a strong 24-5 stretch that featured four-game sweeps over the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, alongside a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox.
>>> 49ers Re-Sign Deebo Samuel as Injuries Hit Receiving Corps
Players and Coaches Weigh In
Pitcher Patrick Sandoval highlighted the contrast between the temporary Minor League home of the Athletics and the iconic Los Angeles venue, noting the significant shift in environment for the upcoming games.
"There’s probably four stadiums that are top tier in the big leagues, and LA is for sure one of them," said Sandoval, who described Dodger Stadium as "the biggest of the big leagues."
He paused, "And [Sutter Health Park] is . .
. an OK minor league stadium.
I mean it's a huge jump [between parks] for sure."
Sandoval also dismissed the idea that a single regular-season series serves as a true benchmark for team evaluation.
"The measuring stick," said Sandoval, "would be October baseball."
Boston interim manager Chad Tracy reflected on his personal connection to Dodger Stadium while emphasizing the historical significance and physical scale of the venue.
"[Dodger Stadium] is really, really special," said Tracy, who frequently attended games there as a teenager, when his father Jim managed the Dodgers.
