Game 153, 2014

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Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Greinke, save us!

Okay, that’s a little heavy on the hyperbole. Nonetheless, the Dodgers’ pitching needs to improve over its results in the last two games, and the only one who can do it better than Zack is Clayton Kershaw, who pitches tomorrow. Greinke is 15-8 with a 2.64 ERA on the season, 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA in six career starts against the Cubbies.

The Cubs send Tsuyoshi Wada to the mound. Wada was 4-3 with a 3.34 ERA in his first 11 Major League starts but has struggled in his last two, going 3 1/3 and 4 1/3 innings. Those two outings ballooned his ERA; it had been 2.79 before the Pirates whacked him around twice. He pitched against the Dodgers back on August 2, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and two runs and striking out six in a game the Dodgers won on a Hanley Ramirez walk-off HR in the twelfth inning.

Speaking of Ramirez, the Dodgers “hope” to have him back for this series.

The Giants are off today. With a win the Dodgers would be up 2 1/2 games in the NL West.

Lineup when available.

94 thoughts on “Game 153, 2014”

  2. To get to and win a WS, the offense has to come thru like last night. But you also have to have performance out of the bullpen, and the Dodgers got that last night.

    Their line: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 runs, 1 BB, 6 Ks. Three of the 4 relievers didn’t allow a hit.

  9. I can tell it’s September . . . I thought for sure I’d watch a movie tonight, figuring the game would end about 8.

    It didn’t and I’m not.

  13. Could THIS be the sign of good things to come — getting a run with the bases loaded? (Yes, it’s a walk, but baby steps!)

  15. I’m hearing a lot of balls “under the glove of Gonzalez,” plus the actual errors he’s received — is he not as sharp as before?

  22. Steinered by Mo . . . ‘You can forget that . . but the wind . . . ”

    Bottom Line: more spinning wheels

  24. I believe registration for postseason tickets has closed, but if you did register, tomorrow is the public sale.

    “Tickets for potential Wild Card, National League Division Series and
    National League Championship series games to be held at Dodger Stadium
    will be available to the public on Friday, September 19 at 10:00am PT. You can also follow @Dodgers on Twitter for access to a special presale that begins at 9:45am on Friday.”

  25. remarkably we are only 3 behind and we all know (or are hoping) that we pull out the big scoring inning again

    • They don’t have a strong enough record of coming back, especially in the late innings — I believe all their recent big innings have been with them tied, leading, or barely trailing. (I don’t have enough energy to look it up! — they’re draining my mojo!)

    • And the Brewers and Pirates — SF has the momentum, even if LA has the lead.

      With the Dodgers able to count on only Zack and Kersh for the good games (and, as we see, there’s no guarantee they’ll give it) — but can’t even score to support them — this could be disastrous.

      • Nonsense. The Gnats have been extraordinarily healthy, while the Dodgers have suffered serious injuries. But the Gnats aren’t very good.

          • I’ve heard several times tonight on the radio that since LA was 5 1/2 GA, the Dodgers are only 3 games above .500 while SF has gone 10 games above.

            That’s the momentum I’m talking about, plus the stat I believe Bob H. cited before that they have nearly a dozen more comeback wins than LA . . . let’s hope the Dodgers close that gap and close out a win tonight!

    • were — 2 more runs for this offense just to tie may be too many

      plus Zack’s pitch count is too high, which means the bullpen is coming

  33. We could be the As: “The A’s, on the other hand, have been a disaster, going 15-22 since deadline day, including losing nine of their last 12 games.” That was written on September 10.

  35. Big wheels keep on spinning . . . 3 hits, no runs . . . 0/2 (both Ks) with runner at 3rd.

    Blue bats make Wada seem like the competition to Kersh for CYA.

      • He is on fire — at the plate and in the field . . . guess it all turned around when he went to RF.

        Are you in ChiTown now?

          • Safe travels and hope you’re happy with tomorrow’s results (this whole weekend, for that matter!).

            (I realize when I’m using public transit for an away game that I’m essentially hoping everyone there goes home unhappy.)

  43. Zack’s first error in 130 starts . . . “it happens,” or pressing?
    This stretch vs. “losing” teams is not as as easy/fruitful as we would have hoped.
    Then there’s the matter of the “Who Will Show Up Today?” offense, necessitating perfect pitching. (So far, the answer to the question on the offense is “no one.” I hope the first go-round is getting them ready to explode –soon.)

    • As far as I’m concerned, they’ve been playing that most of the year . . . I guess because of their potential.

  49. 10 games left . . . Dodgers and Giants both control their own destiny at this point.

    “You couldn’t ask for anything better” is what outsiders might say . . . . Actually, I’d ask to be in the situation of the Angels, O’s, or Nats, 🙂 (But then, I like my plane trips — and road trips, especially in SoCal — to be uneventful, bordering on boring . . . I’ll find ways to amuse myself, I don’t need it from turbulence or near-misses, or erratic bullpen or MIA offense, thank you very much.)