Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

Sep 03

Game 133, 2015

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Dodgers at Padres, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

The Dodgers send out Mat Latos, who’s 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA overall and 0-2 with a 6.05 ERA since coming over to the Dodgers. Worse, he hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in any of his last three starts. I think it’s fair to say he has not performed to their expectations. He’ll be opposed by Colin Rea of the Padres, who’s 2-2 with a 5.95 ERA in his rookie season.

The Dodgers have an 8-4 lead in the season series and the Padres lost three players to injury during Tuesday’s game: starting first baseman Yonder Alonso (back tightness), catcher Derek Norris (hyperextension of left shoulder and elbow) and reliever Shawn Kelley (right forearm tightness).

Lineup when available.

Check out the Dodgers’ repostings of tweets sent out by Brandon McCarthy, Kiké Hernandez and Brett Anderson, all reflecting on Kershaw’s performance last night.

Sep 02

Game 132, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

Can the Dodgers sweep? You gotta like their chances with Clayton Kershaw (11-6, 2.24 ERA, and did you know he’s just gone two straight months with a sub-2.00 ERA?) going against mid-season acquisition Mike Leake (9-6, 3.53 ERA). Leake’s been no slouch since coming over from the Reds, giving up seven runs in 18 2/3 innings with the Giants. He’s got no wins to show for it, though.

This will be the last series between the two teams until a four-game set to end the season starting September 28.

Lineup:

Sep 01

Game 131, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

Bumgarner versus Greinke. If this were the opener of a playoff series the hype would hit Warp Six. Last year’s World Series MVP will pitch for the Giants against their ancestral enemy the Dodgers, who counter with this year’s leading Cy Young contender. Bumgarner won all five of his August starts with an ERA of 1.43; Greinke is 8-1 in his last ten starts and has the best ERA in MLB at 1.61.

Each manager is hoping his pitcher can go deep into the game, because bullpens on both sides were depleted in last night’s 14-inning affair. The Giants used eight pitchers in relief; the Dodgers used six. Here’s a shout-out to the Dodgers’ frequently-maligned Jim Johnson and Chris Hatcher, who combined for five spotless innings in the extra frames.

Lineup when available.

Look! Mattingly thinks he’s Tony LaRussa! Put the pitcher in the 8-hole, why not? I’m still wondering about the discussion in the dugout last night about pinch-hitting Kershaw or Greinke in the 11th inning; how hard did each of them lobby?

Aug 31

Game 130, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN, CSN-BA

Dodger killer Jake Peavy goes for the Giants. He’s 14-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 27 career starts against the LA team. He began the 2015 season on the DL, however, and didn’t make his first start until July 3. Since then he’s 4-6 with a 4.21 ERA. He’ll be opposed by Brett Anderson, whose every next start is somewhat of a surprise, since he’s not had a full healthy season since 2010. In fact, his 147 1/3 innings is the most he’s pitched since his rookie year with Oakland in 2009, when he threw 175 1/3. He’s 8-8 with a 3.36 ERA. Against the Giants this season he’s 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA and hasn’t gotten past the fifth inning in two of his four starts against them.

Lineup when available.

Aug 30

Game 129, 2015

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Cubs at Dodgers, 5:08PM PT, TV: ESPN

The Cubs send Jake Arrieta to the mound to try to salvage one game of the series. He seems to be the guy to do it, since he’s 16-6 with a 2.22 ERA on the season and an even better 5-0 with a 0.54 ERA for August. Facing him will be the Dodgers’ Alex Wood, who’s 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA for the Dodgers and 9-8 with a 3.70 ERA for his overall 2015. MLB has determined that

Alex Wood will be making his sixth start since joining the Dodgers and he’s looking to last longer in games. He’s exited four straight starts without throwing more than 91 pitches or lasting longer than 6 1/3 innings. He’s had just one quality start in five outings with Los Angeles.

Carl Crawford has done pretty well against Arrieta, but he’s one of only two Dodger regulars who have had more than ten at-bats against him. None of the Cubs have had more than five at-bats against Wood.

Lineup when available.

Here’s some “Awwww” for a Sunday: The Greensboro Grasshoppers held a retirement ceremony for their balldog.

Here’s Miss Babe Ruth at work:
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Aug 29

Game 128, 2015

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Cubs at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

The Dodgers’ Mat Latos has a career 7-3 record against the Cubbies with a 2.76 ERA. He might want to face them all the time, as his record this season is not so shiny: 4-9 with a 4.81 ERA. He’ll face Jon Lester, who’s not having his greatest season either: 8-9, 3.44 ERA. Latos hasn’t pitched since August 13 due to off-days, so he’s had lots of rest. Lester nearly got a shutout in his last outing; he went 8 1/3 innings, then gave up a run and came out. This is his first road start since July 18.

Lineup when available.

Scoreboard watchers: Cardinals at Giants

Aug 28

Game 127, 2015

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Cubs at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.29 ERA) looks to get a win after two straight starts in which the bullpen blew leads he’d handed to it. The Cubbies send Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.35 ERA) out to do battle with him.

Kershaw lost his only previous start against the Cubs this season on June 22, 4-2. He gave up two home runs and the Dodgers, who also had two dingers, couldn’t get to the Cubs’ bullpen, which came in early and gave up only one run in seven innings.

Lineup when available.

Puig to the DL with right hamstring strain.

For scoreboard watchers: Cardinals at Giants, 7:15PM PT

Aug 27

Game 126, 2015

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Dodgers at Reds, 9:35AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Zack Greinke (13-3, 1.37 ERA) looks for win number fourteen in a rematch of the August 16 game he started against Reds’ right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (7-9, 3.97 ERA). The Dodgers won that one 2-1 thanks in part to a Greinke home run. DeSclafani did himself proud, though, going six innings, walking two and striking out six. If Greinke goes six innings or more in today’s game he’ll keep a streak alive: he’s gone at least that distance in all 25 starts he’s made this year.

Lineup when available.

Aug 26

Game 125, 2015

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Dodgers at Reds, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Two more lefties go against one another: Brett Anderson (7-8, 3.52 ERA) versus David Holmberg (1-3, 6.57 ERA). If this matchup looks familiar, there’s a reason: they faced one another back on August 15. The Dodgers came out ahead in that game 8-3, getting five hits and seven runs off Holmberg and driving him out of the game in just two innings. Puig, Hernandez and Turner all hit homers off him, and Gonzalez hit one off his successor. Anderson went six innings and gave up three earned runs to get the win.

Lineup when available.

Aug 25

Game 124, 2015

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Dodgers at Reds, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

It’s a battle of lefties as the Dodgers’ Alex Wood (8-8, 3.79 ERA) goes against the Reds’ rookie John Lamb (0-1, 6.35 ERA). This will be Lamb’s third big league start and second against the Dodgers. On August 14 he went 6 innings against them, giving up eight hits and five runs, four of them in the fifth inning including a three-run homer to Adrian Gonzalez. Wood started that game for the Dodgers and went 6 1/3 innings as the Dodgers won 5-3.

Lineup when available.