During Saturday’s Zoom media conference, Dodgers left-handed pitcher Alex Wood was asked if it was weird facing his own teammates?

“Our lineup is going to be trouble for a lot of people,” he answered without hesitation. “There is no give one through nine now, and it is scary to think that we are going to be able to add another hitter with the DH and all the offense we have. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch.”

Now that the Dodgers are playing intrasquad games, Wood is getting to experience the Dodgers’ heavy-hitter (and hitter-heavy) lineup firsthand.

Wood told reporters that when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Major League Baseball to shut down the 2020 season, he remained in Arizona until the beginning of May. He then returned to LA, where he kept his strength and conditioning training in focus, giving full credit to the Dodgers training staff.

“It was definitely a blessing being here and having these guys,” the 29-year-old Charlotte, NC native said. “Our training staff’s on top of everything.”

The wait is getting shorter and shorter to Opening Day 2020. During that time, Wood will most likely face other teams’ line-ups during several scheduled exhibition games – not just to build up his pitch count, but to hopefully secure a spot in the Dodgers Opening Day starting rotation.

“It’s always another level when you’re facing another team and not your own guys, there’s no doubt about that,” Wood explained. “I will say that with the quality of our lineup and the quality of the players that we have, we’re having fun, we’re building up, everybody’s staying healthy — but there is a little bit extra in here. You know that you have to throw well, or these guys will make you look silly. I don’t think it’ll be a huge deal. If anything, it will be a benefit facing other teams.”

The Dodgers are scheduled to open the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season on July 23rd at Dodger Stadium. It will be a great game to witness their heavy-hitter (and hitter-heavy) line-up cause “trouble for a lot of people” – when it really counts.

Let’s Play Ball!

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