Game 84, 2017

Dodgers at Padres, 1:40 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

The Dodgers ask RHP Kenta Maeda (6-3, 4.15 ERA) to pitch them to a sweep of the Padres, who’ll counter with RHP Jhoulys Chacin (6-7, 4.76 ERA).

Maeda had an excellent start his last time out, pitching seven shutout innings against the Angels last Wednesday. He faced the Padres and Chacin in San Diego in May, going five innings, allowing only one run and striking out eight in a no-decision. Chacin has been exceptional at home this season, putting up a 1.83 ERA at Petco Park. He had five consecutive quality starts in June. Against the Dodgers his results have been mixed: on Opening Day in LA they got nine runs off him in 3 1/3 innings, but in the May game against Maeda he held them to one run in 5 1/3 innings. He too got no decision.

This date in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1962 Johnny Podres ties a major league mark record, striking out eight consecutive batters in LA’s 5-1 victory over Philadelphia. The 29 year-old southpaw’s streak begins with the third out in the top fourth frame and ends after the first out in the seventh inning of the Dodger Stadium contest.
  • 1995 Dodger right hander Hideo Nomo, who is leading the National League in strikeouts, becomes the first player from Japan to be selected for the major league All-Star game.

Today is also the anniversary of the 1963 16-inning marathon in which 42-year-old Warren Spahn and 25-year-old Juan Marichal pitched 15 scoreless innings against one another before Willie Mays homered in the 16th off Spahn.

Lineup when available.

101 thoughts on “Game 84, 2017

  1. I can’t seem to get worked up about the ASG this year. I really don’t care one way or the other. I’d rather our guys get the rest.

  2. Turner is in the “final player vote” contest. Wood’s 9-0, sub 2.00 ERA is apparently not good enough to make him an All Star.

  3. Neither Wood nor Turner have been picked to go to the ASG yet. Kershaw, Jansen, Bellinger & Seager have.

    Best record in the NL but only four players are All-Stars? How does that work?

  4. These “famine” games are bound to happen — but they’re easier to take when they’re against the ace of a winning team . . . and when they’re not happening in such close proximity.

      • Being shut out when I wrote it, with lack of clutch hits, similar to the games vs. LAA.

        • Recalling that poor hitting stretch we had May 31 – June 7, when we scored 18 runs over 8 games, with 10 in one of them. Pitching saved us from complete disaster and we managed 3-5 record.

  5. At the beginning of the year a four run deficit was troublesome, but possibly our offense will find a way through Chacin eventually.

  6. Apparently the Cubs had this problem last year — stretches where it was feast or famine (including the playoffs).
    Let’s hope the Dodger year mirrors last year’s Cubs completely!

  7. Well, I’m going to have to hope the Dodgers find a way to score some runs. My family is out to have dinner with my parents.

  8. Maeda not pitching as well as Chacin so far. His fast balls are proving to be very hittable.

  9. Watching Chacin is like watching an old warrior. Gotta tip the hat at his strike three slider to Taylor.

      • I hope what happened to Joc post-HR Derby doesn’t happen to Cody. If I remember right, Joc’s overall output really declined after that.

          • Yes. But the narrative that the ASG game started or caused it has become gospel for a lot of fans. Fans of other teams also tend to blame the ASG game or HR derby if their all-star guys have second-half struggles. Easy answer, which is like lots of easy answers….not necessarily right or complete.

  10. Liking what Hill has shown lately a lot. He credited the team with showing him how much better he does pitching from the stretch. He also added a cutter. You all with eyes or at least Gameday, how often is he using the cutter, or at least how much his last couple times out?

      • Thx. Wasn’t sure if it was all that effective or maybe just a show-me pitch. Great if he can depend on it.

          • Think he only sits around 90 or so with that, but his several kinds of curves and now the cutter make it play up faster when he goes to it. Looks like he might be getting back to the pitcher the Dodgers thought they were locking up for 3 years. Let’s hope.

  11. Might actually catch a snippet of today’s game. 11:40 pm start for me.

    • The record of those three pitchers in the 2015 playoffs was 3-4 and only Hamels had an ERA of under 4. Not the sure thing he seems to think.

          • Kazmir issues supposedly are hip, delivery problems caused by trying to adjust for the hip, and velocity topping out about 85–which ain’t a gonna get it, whatever the reason/s. Doc said not long ago he was back to low 90s, which might. But he’s started at least once in the low minors and didn’t have much zip.

            IMO best outcome for him is to show enough to become trade bait. He wasn’t all that last year, either. If he can’t recover to form of 2 years ago, he won’t add anything to the rotation except more congestion.

    • Yep. We are different than the US and other countries. There is a collective awareness that should help move our nation towards more reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We are less verbal, more cautious, and less driven in general than other countries. C’est moi.