Aug 04

Game 113, 2014

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

I hadn’t realized this, but the Angels have the second-best record in the major leagues. Unfortunately for them, the team with the best record is also in the AL West, so the Angels are in a dogfight.

The Halos send Garrett Richards out to face the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke. Richards is in his third full year as a big leaguer and it’s his best by far: he’s 11-4 with a 2.74 ERA. His last two starts were stumbles, however: he lost to Detroit and Baltimore and gave up eight runs in 13 innings in the process.

Greinke’s last two starts, on the other hand, were excellent. He pitched 15 innings, gave up one run, lowered his ERA to 2.65 and raised his record to 12-6.

Lineup when available.


Update: From Twitter:

The Dodgers placed RHP Chris Perez on 15-day DL (bone spurs, right ankle) and selected contract of RHP Carlos Frias from AAA Albuquerque. To create room on the 40-man roster for Carlos Frias, the Dodgers transferred LHP Paul Maholm (right ACL tear) to the 60-day disabled list.

Aug 03

Game 112, 2014

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Cubs at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Josh Beckett (6-5, 2.74 ERA) tries to recover his early-season form for the Dodgers. Ex-Dodger (and half-a-dozen other teams) Edwin Jackson has had a poor year so far (5-11, 5.79 ERA) and is hoping to press reset himself.

Lineup:

Aug 02

Game 111, 2014

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

It’s the Dodgers’ Korean import Hyun-Jin Ryu versus the Cubs’ Japanese import Tsuyoshi Wada this evening, an hour earlier than the usual start time. Ryu will be pitching on five days’ rest; when he does that he’s 11-2 with a 2.80 ERA. He’s 12-5 with a 3.44 ERA overall. Wada is a former Japan League MVP who spent two years in the Orioles’ farm system after nine years in the Japanese major leagues. This will be his third major league start; he got his first win against the Rockies on Monday, throwing seven innings of six-hit one-run ball while striking out six and walking only one.

In medical news, Paul Maholm tore the ACL in his right knee while covering first base last night; if he opts for surgery he’s probably out for the season. Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig are both day-to-day. Mattingly says Gonzalez will probably sit today’s game out and Puig will be available to pinch-hit.

Update: Paco Rodriguez has been called up to take Maholm’s spot on the roster.

Lineup:

Aug 01

Game 110, 2014

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

Dan Haren tries to right the ship and forget July, for good reason. Last month he posted a 9.47 ERA and a .329 batting average against and unsurprisingly lost all four starts he made. He’ll face Mission Viejo native Kyle Hendricks, who’s started three games for the Cubbies this season. He’s 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA over 19 1/3 innings, walking 6 while striking out 14.

Lineup:

Jul 31

Game 109, 2014

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

Mr. Kershaw brings his 12-2, 1.76 ERA record to the hill tonight to face right-hander Julio Teheran and his 10-6, 2.71 ERA record. He missed his spots the other night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, but I imagine he’ll do a little better tonight.

Here’s the lineup:

Jul 30

Game 108, 2014

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

Zack Greinke brings his sparkling home record of 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA to bear against the Braves. The last time he faced them he threw seven scoreless innings against them in June of 2013. He’ll be opposed by 23-year-old lefty Alex Wood, who’s 7-8 with a 3.44 ERA in his first full major league season.

The Dodgers optioned newly-acquired Darwin Barney to Albuquerque and sent Great Lakes pitcher Jonathan Martinez to the Cubs as the PTBNL.

Los Angeles is in uncharted territory. Tonight will be the first time it’s tried to extend a four-game winning streak to five all season.

Lineup when available.

Jul 28

Game 107, 2014

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

Josh Beckett goes back to the hill for the Dodgers, hoping his hip impingement has healed up and he can get back to the form which has him at 6-5 with a 2.52 ERA on the year. Getting back to the way he was the day he pitched his no-hitter is probably too much to ask for.

Beckett will face old friend Aaron Harang, who has been a savior for the Braves this season. He was signed only a week before the season started, and he’s got a 9-6 record with a 3.31 ERA, with 18 quality starts in 21 tries. In 16 of those starts he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer.

Lineup when available.

Jul 27

Game 106, 2014

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Dodgers at Giants, 5:00PM PT, TV: ESPN

Hyun-Jin Ryu will try to make it three straight strong performances by Dodgers’ starters, following Zack Greinke’s 7-inning 4-hit effort on Friday night and Kershaw’s complete game 2-hit shutout yesterday. Ryu is 11-5 with a 3.39 ERA overall this season and 7-2 on the road with a 2.73 ERA. Michael Lananna of MLB writes that Ryu has added Josh Beckett’s curveball and Kershaw’s slider into his arsenal.

The Padres send out Jake Peavy, who got to San Francisco in mid-game yesterday and was announced as today’s pitcher almost immediately. The fact that he’s 14-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 25 career starts against the Dodgers might have swayed Manager Bruce Bochy’s decision.

Lineup when available.