Monthly Archives: July 2014

Jul 21

Game 101, 2014

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Dodgers at Pirates, 4:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Hyun-Jin Ryu brings his 10-5, 3.44 ERA record to bear against the Buccos and Edinson Volquez, who threw a complete game his last start and is 8-6 with a 3.65 ERA on the year.

Ryu had better hope the Dodgers’ offense comes to life. They’ve scored 16 runs in their last eight games; it’s asking too much of the pitchers to hold the opposition to only one run. They may have to do without Yasiel Puig in the lineup and without Hanley Ramirez as well. Puig’s hand will be x-rayed today in Pittsburgh to see whether the original x-ray in St. Louis Saturday night correctly showed no structural damage. Ramirez was hit twice in yesterday’s game, but it’s the second one that’s worrisome: that got him on the hand.

Lineup when available.

Ayup. No Ramirez, no Puig. Thank you, St. Louis pitchers!

Jul 20

Game 100, 2014

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Dodgers at Cardinals, 5:00PM PT, TV: ESPN

The Dodgers hope Kershaw (11-2, 1.78 ERA) can stop the bleeding while they get some runs from their anemic offense. The team has scored 11 runs in its last seven games, contributing mightily to a 3-4 record over that stretch. The Cardinals pitch Carlos Martinez, who is making his seventh start of the season after moving from an eighth-inning setup role. He’s 2-4 on the year with a 4.43 ERA in 63 innings.

Hmm. Kemp has been flailing badly at the plate. Putting him in the cleanup spot is an interesting move.

The Marlins beat the Giants earlier today, so the Dodgers can move back into a tie for first place with a win this evening.

Jul 19

Game 99, 2014

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Dodgers at Cardinals, 1:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS1

Zack Greinke (11-5, 2.73 ERA) versus Joe Kelly (1-1, 3.44 ERA). Kelly missed most of the first half of the season with a strained hamstring; his last start on July 11 was his first since April, and it didn’t go well: he gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks in three innings.

Jul 18

Game 98, 2014

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Dodgers at Cardinals, 5:15PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

Dan Haren (8-6, 4.23 ERA) starts for the Dodgers. He undoubtedly hopes to stop giving up home runs in great numbers (17 in his last 12 starts!) for the remainder of the season. Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.14 ERA) will pitch for the Redbirds.

Despite Yasiel Puig’s 3 Ks in the All Star Game and his goose egg in the HR Derby, he had a good first half:

The 23-year-old, second-year pro became one of six players in Dodgers history to record 100-plus hits, 40-plus extra-base hits and 50-plus RBIs before the All-Star break with 106 hits, 44 extra-base hits and 52 RBIs.

Other players in Dodgers history to accomplish the feat include Duke Snider (1954), Willie Davis (1973), Steve Garvey (1977), Gary Sheffield (2000) and Matt Kemp (2011).

That’s some pretty good company right there.

Lineup when available.

Also from Twitter: The #Dodgers today recalled Paco Rodriguez from @AbqTopes. They had roster space because they optioned Pedro Baez back to the Isotopes on July 13.

Jul 13

Puig!

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Heh. Youth will be served.

Addendum (from SI.com)

If anyone wants to discuss the Home Run Derby, Chris Berman’s volubility or Minneapolis’s weather, this seems like a good spot. The Derby has a new format this year, so study up.

Jul 13

Game 97, 2014

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Padres at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Hyun-Jin Ryu had a horrid start his last time out. Staked to a five-run lead against Justin Verlander and the Tigers, he promptly gave up that lead and two more runs besides in 2 1/3 innings. That performance was a shock, because he’s been so good this season. He’s lasted at least six innings in 13 of his 17 starts this year, going 9-5 with a 3.65 ERA.

He’ll face Tyson Ross, who’s 7-9 with a 2.93 ERA on the season. He’s gotten no help from his teammates — in four of his five June starts, Ross received just one run of support while he was on the mound and he took the loss in each. Ross is San Diego’s only All-Star Game representative, by the way.

Carl Crawford has been working out in center field, while Justin Turner starts a rehab assignment at Rancho Cucamonga today.

Jul 12

Game 96, 2014

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I made a mistake the day before yesterday: Clint Robinson has been designated for assignment, not sent to Albuquerque.

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN, FSSD

Paul Maholm will pitch for the Dodgers, taking Josh Beckett’s place while he’s on the DL. Maholm has made seven starts this season, going 1-4 with a 5.50 ERA. Overall he’s 1-4 with a 5.18 ERA. He’ll face Ian Kennedy, who’s 7-9 with a 3.71 ERA. He’s gone 4-4 with a 3.49 ERA in nine starts on the road as he’ll be tonight.

Lineup when available.

Jul 11

Game 95, 2014

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Padres at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Poor Dan Haren (8-5, 4.06 ERA). He has to follow Kershaw in the rotation, and he invariably suffers by comparison. He’s kept the Dodgers in most of the games he’s started, though, and for a fifth starter that’s all that one can reasonably ask. The Padres send out rookie right-hander Jesse Hahn, who is 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA in six starts this season.

Jul 10

Game 94, 2014

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Padres at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Clayton Kershaw brings his 36-scoreless-inning streak to the game against rookie Odrisamer Despaigne, who’s 2-0 with an impressive 0.92 ERA and this feat: he’s the first pitcher in club history to throw at least six innings and allow no more than one run in each of his first three career starts.

Carl Crawford has been activated from the DL and Clint Robinson has been sent to Albuquerque to make room for him.

Jul 08

Game 93, 2014

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Dodgers at Tigers, 10:08AM PT, TV: SPNLA

It’ll be former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke, 11-4 with a 2.66 ERA, against former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, 10-3 with a 3.47 ERA. Scherzer faced the Dodgers on April 8, giving up two runs in seven innings in a game the Dodgers won in the 10th on a Carl Crawford double. Greinke didn’t pitch in that earlier two-game series against Detroit.

Lineup when available.