Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 1:10 PM PDT, TV: FS-A, SPNLA
25-year-old RHP Luke “Dream” Weaver debuts for the D-Backs in this day game, while 24-year-old RHP Walker Buehler does so for the Dodgers. Weaver came up with the Cardinals in 2016 and has a record of 15-17 with a 4.79 ERA in 233 career innings since then, including a 7-11, 4.95 ERA record last season. He came to Arizona in the Paul Goldschmidt trade last winter. Buehler came up with the Dodgers in 2017 and has compiled a 9-5, 2.95 ERA in 146 career innings since then. Buehler had a somewhat abbreviated spring training while saying his arm didn’t “feel right,” so it’s unclear how fully ready he is.
Three Dodgers or former Dodgers are featured in these defensive highlights from yesterday:
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1948 At Ebbets Field No. 2, the Dodgers play their first exhibition game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, which will remain the team’s home for 61 years. Amidst much fanfare, including Governor Millard Caldwell throwing the ceremonial first pitch, Jackie Robinson homers in the first inning as Brooklyn beats its top farm club, the Montreal Royals, 5-4.
- 2018 Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who goes 3-for-4 in the team’s 3-2 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field, becomes the first American Leaguer to have multiple extra-base hits in the first three games of the season. In 2015, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also accomplished the feat, collecting at least two hits in each of LA’s first three contests when he compiled ten hits his first 14 at-bats of the season.
Lineup:
Today’s Dodger lineup vs. D-backs:
Pederson LF
Bellinger 1B
Pollock CF
Muncy 3B
Hernández 2B
Verdugo RF
Taylor SS
Martin C
Buehler P#Dodgers | @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/4cMJKQxsSk— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 31, 2019
NPUT
Had to bailout before all heck let loose with Walker and Petey. Nice comeback.
As of today, the Gnats are averaging 1.25 runs per game. Ideally, that number will decline over the next three days.
First win for Floro, first save for Kenley.
In case WBBsAs missed it, the Dodgers have signed Steiner to a contract extension but for a reduced schedule. I didn’t realize it, but he is my age. He wants less road time. They’ve hired a guy named Tim Neverett to fill in; he comes off three years with the BoSox and seven with the Pirates.
They should pay him to stay home, even when the Dodgers are in LA.
It was such a slow off season I recall one of the Dodger podcasts spending a good portion of a show talking about this. However, I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it now.
Michigan State leads Duke at the half. Does Duke have any more last-second failed shots by its opponent up its sleeve?
My very busted bracket depends on that happening.
Mine too.
Time for KZ to join in the fun again
Or not
The hits keep coming. Hopefully runs to follow!
Flash the bases loaded hit and run sign Doc.
Woo-HOO! Comeback win!
One minute left in Duke MSU and it is a one point game.
I like this years April Kenley, than last years.
A good come back win!
Waiting for it to be official.
Dodgers win.
Snakes gonna call for robot umps on that one.
They might want to invest their money in a bullpen instead.
Kenley got away with one.
Two infield singles and a squibbler just past first base ties it up and then a hard line drive out puts the Dodgers ahead. Who needs home runs? Did I just invent a word?
Squibbler? I would allow it in Scrabble.
Thanks. It was underlined but I went with it anyway. Don’t check the Urban Dictionary. Their definition isn’t a baseball term.
“Squibber” is the baseball term.
Woot! The well placed triple.
Or double + error.
Place-hitting in action!
Bellinger, obviously, is no Alex Cora.
Okay. Let’s do this. Turner on and Joc up.
Great job by Yimi to work out of it.
Yippee Garcia.
Better than “yips.”
Pollock’s a fine outfielder, but he butchered that one.
Arrgh! 3 runners left on! Shades of too many previous years!
We will get ‘em next inning.
Dodgers are behind but still have the deep bench of Seager/JT/Barnsey to provide some punch before it is done.
Prescient!
Alright alright alright. More hits and more runs please.
High and ultra tight on Joc. Ouch.
Orel says it was intentional.
Dumb.
Maybe a payback is due to one of their home run hitters, specifically Weaver.
At least it is drizzling here in NH so I haven’t wasted a nice day with this game.
I would not be the least bit surprised if Buehler goes on the IL as the Dodgers realize he is injured.
With all the giddiness we have enjoyed, we might wind up being 2 and 2.
Buehler with three good innings but the box score says 3 innings and 5 earned runs
Can we put Martin back in?
Can he do back to backs?
Ugggh. Baez is getting bombed by Weaver.
Baez is channeling his old self.
Doesn’t he know we like his new self better?
Ha!
Ok. Need some more runs Dodger. Apparently you have to score 6 or more to win.
Buehler still working out the kinks from a slowed down ST.
Petey warning up in the pen.
This started out well enough, but now Buehler’s looking a bit shaky.
Buehler in a spot of trouble off of broken bats and jammed hitters.
Bellimisio!
Bell dinging time
Majestic!
Martin must have used his pitcher’s bat
Molly Knight is now writing for The Athletic. Someone offered her a seat in the blue seats behind home plate for Opening Day.
She noticed a few things:
• Cody Bellinger now walks up to The Eagles’ “Hotel California” for some wild reason!
• I think A.J. Pollock walks up to “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, making him my favorite player of all time.
• My Diet Coke came with a paper straw, and it was the first paper straw I’ve ever used that did not disintegrate. So it turns out I am pro-environment now.
• The team’s blue high socks this year have three (3) white palm trees on them.
• Alex Verdugo is now wearing Matt Kemp’s old number 27.
• The organist, Dieter Ruehle, knows “Baby Shark,” so that’s a whole thing.
• Corey Seager appears to be down to zero percent body fat. His shoulder-to-waist ratio makes him look like a sinewy Olympic swimmer compared to the dad bod of the lineup mates who flank him.
That’s some hard hitting journalism.
Change of pace from her book.
Yeah, but if a buddy and I were sitting at the game together this is the kind of conversation we’d have.
Dugo! And Pollock is faster than I thought.
Dress Up Go Out
He does wear the big necklaces and bright red sliding gloves. Sometimes brightens up his shoes as well. Good name.
Nice! I hadn’t heard that one before.
Me either but it looked like something to Google
Verdugo trying to take Muncy’s spot in the lineup.
Not easy for a lefthanded thrower.
Huge Blue Machine revving up
Pederson with the patience and batting eye draws a lead off walk.
Didn’t take long to find Muncy at third. One up and one down.
Interesting game going on in Kansas City.
Interest just ended.
How long was it interesting?
Into the 7th.
Barnesy should frame this:
National League Leaders
NL BATTING AVERAGE AVG
1. Freddie Freeman, ATL .625
1. Austin Barnes, LAD .625
3. Kolten Wong, STL .600
4. Joc Pederson, LAD .583
5. Maikel Franco, PHI .500
Lineup permutations R Us.
I think this is Dave Roberts’ “Give Seager a day off every week until we know he’s fully recovered, and what the heck, JT is an old guy now so we’ll give him a day off too” approach to this team.
Hello to all of my friends out there. I hope your winters went well. This is a remarkable start at the plate for the Dodgers, reminiscent of (but better than) a couple of starts during the Garvey-Lopes-Cey-Russell-Baker-Monday-Smith-Yeager era. I journeyed to L.A. to attend the Dodger opener Thursday with two old friends. It is an annual tradition that goes back about 20 years. I have been at many games where Dodger fans were more ecstatic by a win, but I have never been at a Dodger game at which the fans were so giddy, as home run followed home run. Looking forward to hearing from all of you and to the Dodgers moving on to the post-season and a World Series win. Yes, I know, that I am getting far ahead of myself.
What fun for you and everyone Scoop! Glad to hear your optimism about this season.