Sep 05

Game 135, 2015

Posted on by

Dodgers at Padres, 5:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD, MLBN Free Game

The Dodgers send Alex Wood (9-9, 3.67 ERA) to the mound to make his seventh start for them since coming over from Atlanta at the trade deadline. He lost his last game to the Cubs, but since Jake Arrieta threw a no-hitter against his team that’s not exactly a surprise. His opponent will be Tyler Ross (10-9, 3.27 ERA). He won his last outing, giving up three hits and no runs in seven innings.

The lineup is a little more familiar today:

Giants at Rockies, 5:10PM PT. Peavy v. Bettis. The Giants have lost seven straight and are 8 games in back of the Cubs for the second wild-card spot.

Sep 04

Game 134, 2015

Posted on by

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

The Dodgers start Mike Bolsinger (5-3, 2.38 ERA), back up from OKC. According to Mattingly he will remain in the rotation “beyond Friday.” His opponent will be James Shields (10-6, 3.78 ERA), who’s looking for his third win in his last four starts.

Justin Turner gets the day off at third base, and young Mr. Seager will replace him there. Jimmy Rollins is expected to play shortstop.

Lineup when available.

For scoreboard watchers: Giants at Rockies

Sep 03

Game 133, 2015

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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:
babe2_16ni52pa

Aug 29

Game 128, 2015

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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