Game 64, 2019

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Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 PM PDT, TV: NBC Bay Area, SPNLA

LHP Clayton Kershaw (5-0, 3.20 ERA) goes to the mound for the Dodgers against the Giants’ LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 8.08 ERA). Kershaw has gone at least six innings in each of his nine starts this season and the Dodgers have won all nine. He’s 22-10 in his career against the Giants with a 1.70 ERA. Pomeranz is having the worst season of his nine-year career; he’s given up 35 earned runs in 39 innings. He faced the Dodgers twice in April and got a no-decision and a loss.

MLB’s Richard Justice has a column titled “7 trades that make perfect sense,” and one of them is:

6. Brad Hand to the Dodgers

You’re probably looking at the Dodgers and thinking, “Do they really need anything?” Sure, they do. Every team needs something, and around the Trade Deadline, an impact acquisition can energize the clubhouse. Hand is about as close to unhittable as any reliever in the game (1.05 ERA), and would combine with Kenley Jansen to make the Dodgers’ bullpen the NL’s best. Along with Bauer, a shrewd Hand trade can really help the Indians rebuild their system.

Potential trade pieces: This one won’t be simple. Yes, the Dodgers have a deep system. Yes, Hand potentially is signed through 2021 at a reasonable rate. But Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is extremely protective of his best young prospects. Outfielders DJ Peters (L.A.’s No. 10 prospect) and Jeren Kendall (No. 15) would make some sense. So would any of three Dodgers catching prospects, possibly Diego Cartaya (No. 9).

I gotta say, I like anything that shores up the bullpen, which currently has a 4.63 ERA, 11th in the National League. Their strikeout rate ranks 14th.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1954 Dodger catcher Roy Campanella steals home in the top of the 12th inning in a 7-5 victory over St. Louis at Sportsman’s Park. Campy had added an insurance run with an eighth inning round-tripper, but the Redbirds scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score.
  • 1957 Howard University awards honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recently retired Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson. In the coming years, the former baseball great and the Baptist minister will often appear together at Civil Rights rallies, fundraising events, and demonstrations.

    Jackie Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • 1982 Joining Lou Gehrig, Everett Scott, Billy Williams, and Joe Sewell, Dodger infielder Steve Garvey becomes only the fifth player in major league history to play in 1,000 consecutive games. The first baseman, establishing a National League record, will appear in 1207 consecutive games, before the streak ends next season when he breaks his thumb in a collision at home plate, playing for the Padres.

Lineup when available.


58 thoughts on “Game 64, 2019”

  6. My greatest fear is that, with no MLBTV tonight, I will get Steinered. At least there’s Jaime Jarrín, I guess.

  8. Observation: Taylor is not a leadoff hitter. He strikes out way too much to be one.

      • I agree. And he doesn’t get on base enough even when he doesn’t fan.

        • Right, his OBP is only .294. Even against lefties it’s only .317. Neither of those is good. It’s a problem. Kike, at least, has better splits against lefties. I’d rather have Verdugo playing instead of Taylor at this point.

          • Verdugo is nursing a sore back but his stats are better against lefties than righties when he does play. He is slumping though.

          • Verdugo’s had some back issues, and has been slumping. That’s why he sat last night.

            After a slow start, CT3’s been much better, and he has a good track record.

          • His last good game was the first Mets game (3/5 with a HR). In the 10 games since (32 PA) he’s hitting .172/.250/.413. He had nice little runs the first week of May and in Pittsburgh and that first Mets game, but he’s been in a slump since.

  12. This game is crazy-making. We are getting beaten by the worst Gnats team maybe ever.

  14. 2 runs. This must be one of Kershaw’s worst starts in San Fran. Which is a crazy thing to say.

  16. Poor Kersh. He must be losing his mind right now. I hope this wakes our offense up. We owe him.

  17. The Gnats truly loathe us. I’ll bet this is the loudest they’ve been all year.

  23. I’m with you. We need relief help. Make it so.

    I worry about Pomerantz. Yes, he stinks, but he is a lefty starter, and that often means trouble, with a capital T that rhymes with P and that stands for Pomerantz. Plus, he only lasted 1.1 IP last time out, so he should be well-rested.

  27. Nice at bat by Kershaw. Didn’t strike out, and got Pomeranz to 51 pitches in two innings.

  35. Old friend Travis d’Arnaud had a two homer games for the Rays yesterday. We hardly knew ye.

  36. I am facing blackout weekend, as Gnatgames are not available on MLBTV here. Tomorrow’s game is on broadcast TV, though, so it’s not a total washout.