Dodgers at Pirates, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ESPN
It’s a battle of aces as the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (9-6, 2.37 ERA, 37-inning scoreless streak) goes against the Pirates’ Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.29 ERA, averaging 106 pitches in each of his last eight starts). Kershaw is 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA lifetime against the Bucs, while Cole is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA against the Dodgers.
Lineup when available.
Tonight's #Dodgers lineup:
Rollins SS
Kendrick 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ethier LF
Grandal C
Puig RF
Callaspo 3B
Pederson CF
Kershaw P #whiff
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 7, 2015
NPUT
Better wake the boss up, it’s a day game today.
Rollins, SS
Kendrick, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Van Slyke, LF
Puig, RF
Hernandez, CF
Ellis, C
Guerrero, 3B
Latos, PPIT
(Yawn) Huh? Wha?
Rollins in the Bigs has outhit Seager in AAA in July and August (OPS .778 and .875 versus .693 and .820).
That is crazy.
Neither ad e looked very ace-y tonight.
At least SF lost as well.
But how sweet would it have been to be four up?
Chocolatey sweetness.
Batters 3-6 were 0-20 (3 BB).
I would complain about how many runners the Dodgers left on base (7), but the Pirates left even more (12).
Wish it had reached 15.
I am not comforted by them having more LOB than we had. The percentage range for scoring base runners across the NL is rather narrow (13-16%). The 0-20 by the 3-6 hitters meant less base runners. The more the merrier.
I don’t want to imagine how much of a blow this game would have been if it had been a playoff game. Yikes, that would be so rough!
Boy even if we had scored 2 in the top of the 10th, the Pirates still might have won.
Mr. Johnson is not impressing me so far. This mess and at least two if not three HRs allowed in relief.
He’s not very good. One inning shoulda been enough.
I really want to like him, but he is making it difficult.
No way outta that jam.
Ah shoot…
What were those awful stats about inherited runners scoring that our bullpen has again?
30% – versus 27% NL average. (but these are not inherited runners).
Howell inherited three, right?
My bad.
Yes. Not on him.
Huge lack of communication.
Between whom? (I’m on Gameday.)
Johnson and Caillaspo. Neither guy fielded the bunt. They both just stared at it.
Need another goal line stand!
Can we re-do the bottom of the 8th right here?
Johnson saw how Avilan got out of it and wants to see if he can.
That was inexcusable.
Not good, fellas.
First two guys on base in the bottom of the 10th. Great.
But 4 was a strike.
4 straight balls to start the inning, Johnson? Really?
Oaky. I,2, 3 inning and then we score 2 and win. Why not aim high?
Rats.
Well put.
Yeah – that could totally come back and burn us.
C’mon, SVS!
Soon to be come on Grandal…
That’s fine by me.
Moi aussi.
Ich auch.
Zut alors!
Hey RBI – perhaps you should wish for another run or two for the Dodgers. You seem to be on a roll right now.
Thanks!
DP DP DP. PLEASE.
Would anyone go to KJ here?
Think Donnie burned him out in last series.
Nice defensive goal line stand. Steel Curtain!
Chomp chomp chomp
Mit mustard?
One chomp for each out?
My goodness. They David Blaine’d it.
How much does the game hinge on this next batter?
100 percent?
If not more.
If we get out of this, I shall eat my grumpy words.
How can we have two absolutely terrible bullpens on a row, with so much turnover? Can’t anybody throw strikes anymore?
I know it is all small sample size this, and circumstances that, but I haven’t been impressed with the new bullpen help. Or the old bullpen for that matter.
Not good lately, but better than last year’s.
Need some good pitching and defence to get out of this mess.
You misspelled “defense” again.
Really WBB – I don’t see what differense it makes.
Imperial nostalgia.
C’mon, Mr. Puig. Well, pfft.
This would be another good team win against a quality opponent if the Dodgers can find a way to win this one.
Jimmie!
Catcher’s interference! Where’s Bob?
I remember he loved tracking them!
Couple of special performers at Fenway last night.
Review.
Can’t stand James Taylor, but Bonnie Raitt has her moments.
To each his dagnab own.
97P total, 64 strikes, 33 balls. I think he’s done. If it’s as humid in Pittsburgh as it is here, he oughtta head for a pool.
Don’t let guys get on base ahead of McCutchen, Clayton, particularly not via HBP.
So I missed all this while going to the gas station and store. $2.98 for a gallon of premium. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen it below $3 in a couple of years.
Clayton taking his lumps tonight.
Literally.
Punch, counter punch out there tonight.
So close to getting out of that mess completely unscathed. Fortunately, they were only a little scathed.
What’s his pitch count?
It’s up there. 37 pitches that inning alone. Less command on his pitches tonight.
92 after Walker got that hit.
Yasiel played that single very well.
Oops. Now we need a triple play.
Need another DP here…
Nice hustle and steal by Jimmy.
Small ball plays. Dodgers for once ran themselves into runs rather than out of them.
Yes! Got two!
Let’s go Howie!
Gnats lose.
Should be a good one tonight. I’m guessing lower scoring than yesterday’s game!
Not if that pace keeps up. 😉
Ugh.
Cubs now up 6-1 🙂