The Los Angeles Dodgers are good. And with that success, their fans are eating good, too.
Currently boasting the best record in baseball, the Dodgers are in the middle of a two-week road trip, having just completed a series against the Atlanta Braves before starting another series with the Miami Marlins Monday.
The last time the Dodgers were home in L.A., the team cruised to a 5-1 record in a 6-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the aforementioned Marlins.
During those recent home wins, fans who are hungry for a World Series repeat have also been feasting on a bevy of food promotions that, in normal circumstances on less prolific teams, might be considered unlikely to hit: special, deeply discounted deals when specific criteria are met.
If you’re unfamiliar, the Dodgers, arguably the most star-studded and high-powered offense in Major League Baseball, offer a sort of game-within-the-game for fans of the team.
If the team scores more than six runs during a home game, fans can get a free six-piece McNugget deal from McDonald’s with any $2 purchase.
If a Dodger steals a base during a home game, that’s a free hotdog and a slim can of Coca-Cola from ampm convenience stores.
If Dodgers pitchers strike out more than seven batters, fans can get a free Jumbo Jack from Jack in the Box with the purchase of a large soda – that deal applies to all games this season, not just home games.
And, arguably the most beloved fast food promotion, after every single Dodgers home win, fans can head to Panda Express for $6 plates with two sides and two entrees by using the promo DODGERSWIN during mobile checkout.
During games, fans, as well as opportunistic Angelenos who are simply in it for the deals, are also rooting for a fast food parlay to hit during the action.
Fifteen times have the Dodgers won at home to start their season, meaning fans have had 15 opportunities to redeem the popular Panda Express deal. Six runs have been scored at home on 11 occasions, and a stolen base has occurred in 10 games.
Dodgers pitchers have notched a combined seven strikeouts in 31 of the team’s 35 total games played, meaning that deal is reached almost nightly.
But every once in a while, when the stars align, the team hits every single one of those in-game promotions.
According to Statmuse, and some painstaking finger counting, the Dodgers have won at home while recording more than six runs scored, more than 7 batters struck out, and at least one stolen base four times this season.
It happened back to back in the Dodgers’ most recent home games against the Marlins.
That means, after those home games, you could get an entire day’s worth of meals, somewhere in the ballpark of 1,500 to 4,000 calories, all while spending approximately $11, thanks to the Dodgers.
It’s probably not wise to do it all at once, but this isn’t medical advice.
The promotions are limited to people within the Southern California area, and most of the deals require the use of each location’s mobile app.
As the the team is firing on all cylinders, the next opportunity for a Dodgers fast-food parlay will be May 13, when the team welcomes the Athletics.