Jun 26

Game 75, 2015

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

Lefty Brett Anderson (3-4, 3.29) goes for the Dodgers and lefty Justin Nicolino (1-0, 0.00) goes for the Fish. This will be Nicolino’s second big league start. In his first one he went seven innings, gave up only four hits and no runs while striking out two, and got the win against the Reds. Anderson’s last outing was a good one against the Giants: he gave up only one run in six innings and got ten runs of support.

Other news: The Dodgers have reinstated Pedro Baez from the 15-day DL and optioned Ian Thomas to Oklahoma City.

Lineup:

Jun 25

Game 74, 2015

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Dodgers at Cubs, 11:20AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Every Red Sox and Cubs fan knows who Jon Lester is, while only Dodgers fans know who Carlos Frias is. Yet they have identical 4-5 W-L records this season. Lester’s not had a win in his last six starts, although he’s pitched well. Frias has lost three of his last four starts.

Expect changes to the Dodgers lineup, since it’s a day game and a travel day and Lester’s a lefty. Puig has an open callus on his left hand and is day-to-day.

Lineup:

Today’s #Dodgers lineup vs. Cubs:
Hernandez CF
Rollins SS
Turner 1B
Van Slyke RF
Kendrick 2B
Guerrero LF
Callaspo 3B
Ellis C
Frias P

Jun 24

Game 73, 2015

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Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ESPN2

Another battle of righthanders today, as Chicago native Mike Bolsinger goes for the Dodgers while Kyle Hendricks goes for the Cubs. Bolsinger is 4-2 with a 2.87 ERA; Hendricks is 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA. Hendricks has made six starts at Wrigley and remains winless, while Bolsinger is winless on the road and 1-2 in his last five starts.

Lineup:

Kendrick gets a night off before a getaway day game.

Jun 23

Game 72, 2015

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Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Two righthanders battle one another this evening. Zack Greinke hasn’t gotten a win since May 5; he’s pitched well enough to win in most outings since, but his team’s lack of offense has let him down. He’s still 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA. He’ll face Jason Hammel, who’s also 5-2 and has a 2.89 ERA.

Lineup when available.

Turner gets a day off.

Jun 22

Game 71, 2015

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Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05PM PT, TV: WGN, SPNLA

This the first time the Cubs and Dodgers have played each other this season. The Dodgers send lefty Clayton Kershaw out to face the Cubbies’ lefty Tsuyoshi Wada. Kershaw is 5-4 with a 3.29 ERA. He’s given up as many home runs this year as he did all of last year, which hasn’t helped. On the other hand, his last five appearances have been quality starts. He’s struck out double-digit batters in his last three starts and five of his last seven. Wada is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in six starts. He played nine years in Japan before signing with the Orioles in 2011, but he’s had injury troubles including Tommy John surgery, which has made for a slow start to his American MLB career. He’s 34 years old.

Lineup when available.

The only notable thing about this lineup that I see is that it’s Turner’s fourth consecutive start, something Mattingly has said he’d prefer not to do. Ethier’s undoubtedly out of the lineup because the Cubs’ starter is a lefty. Rollins’ absence may be just a needed day off.

Jun 21

Game 70, 2015

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

Here we go again. The Giants have already swept two series from the Dodgers this season and they have a chance to do it again today in front of a national audience on ESPN. If they do, they’ll take over first place in the NL West by a half-game.

This is the only Sunday Night Baseball appearance the Dodgers make this year. They have a Wednesday game this week and a Friday game July 3. That’s it on “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.” For a team which was regarded as a lock to win its division and make it to the playoffs that seems a little short-sighted to me.

The Giants will send Tim Lincecum to the mound this afternoon. He’s 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA and is having a nice comeback so far from what have been several poor years following his Cy Young winning seasons of 2008-2009. The Dodgers can take some hope in the fact that Lincecum hasn’t had a quality start in his last five and he’s given up six home runs in those appearances.

The Dodgers counter with Brett Anderson, who’s gotten virtually zip in run support and has a 2-4 record and a 3.43 ERA to show for it. The Dodgers have scored two or fewer runs in 7 of his 13 starts this season. He and Greinke should file a class-action lawsuit against the team’s offense.

Yasiel Puig has owned Lincecum since he came into the league. He’s 10-17 against him with four extra-base hits.

Lineup when available.

Guerrero takes Ethier’s place in left field. Since Lincecum’s right-handed, I guess Mattingly just thinks Ethier needs a day off.

Jun 20

Game 69, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 4:15PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

The Giants have won 8 of the 10 games between the two teams so far this season. They’ll ask Tim Hudson, 4-6 with a 4.65 ERA, to keep the mastery going. The Dodgers are hoping their bats will come alive and they’re hoping that Carlos Frias, 4-4 with a 4.14 ERA, can stop the Giants.

Lineup when available.

Jun 19

Game 68, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The Giants send out Chris Heston, one start removed from a no-hitter on July 9 against the Mets. He’s 6-5 with a 3.76 ERA on the season. He’ll face Mike Bolsinger of the Dodgers, who’s 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA (4-0, 1.01 ERA at home).

Lineup when available.

Joc and Yasiel flipped. Here’s why.

Jun 18

Game 67, 2015

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Rangers at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSW

Zack Greinke (5-2, 1.95 ERA) is asked once again to stop a Dodgers’ losing streak, this time a three-game one to the Texas Rangers. The Rangers will send out Anthony Ranaudo, who’s only made one (unsuccessful) MLB start this season back in April. He’s been down at AAA Round Rock of the PCL, where he’s compiled a 7-1 record and a 2.45 ERA in eleven starts in 2015.

Lineup when available.

Jun 17

Game 66, 2015

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Rangers at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN, FSSW

It’s a battle of lefties. Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.21 ERA) starts against the Rangers, the team he grew up following. The team from Texas counters with Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.03 ERA). This will be Kershaw’s first time pitching against the Rangers, while Rodriguez has a 5-5 record with a 2.64 ERA in 12 career starts against the Dodgers as an Astro and a Pirate.

The Dodgers activated Scott Van Slyke from the DL and placed Chris Hatcher on it with a shoulder strain.

Lineup:

Joc Pederson gets a rest, as does André Ethier.