Aug 19

Game 121, 2016

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

Bud Norris (6-9, 4.26 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and rookie Tim Adleman (1-1, 3.72 ERA) pitches for the Reds.

MLB.com is not responsive, so I’m a little short on further details about this matchup. Sorry.

Norris is 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA since coming to the Dodgers from the Braves at the trade deadline. He hasn’t pitched since he was pulled from the July 31 game with a mid-back strain after only 13 pitches. That led to a stint on the 15-day DL. Adleman’s big league record was compiled in May before he suffered an oblique strain and went on the DL himself. He’s made two starts at AAA Louisville since his recovery.

Pederson’s newfound success is profiled at ESPN.

Today, the #Dodgers reinstated Adam Liberatore & Bud Norris from the 15-day DL and optioned Casey Fien & Ross Stripling to Triple-A OKC.

Lineup:

Aug 18

Game 120, 2016

Dodgers at Phillies, 4:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-P

The Dodgers go for a series sweep with rookie RHP Ross Stripling (3-4, 4.07 ERA). He’ll face RHP Jerad Eickhoff (8-12, 3.82 ERA), who’s like Dodgers’ pitchers in that he gets in trouble in the sixth inning when the opposing batters get their third look at him. His ERA for that inning this year is 12.71. Stripling has, this season, shown himself to be better in a long relief role; he’s made three long-relief appearances in July, posting a 1.54 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Over his 10 starts this season, Stripling has a 4.61 ERA.

A.J. Ellis writes a column for ESPN about Vin Scully.

Pitching notes from Jon Weisman. Highlights/lowlights: Kershaw may throw a bullpen session on Saturday, and Ryu is not expected to pitch again this season.

Lineup when available.

Aug 12

Game 115, 2016

Pirates at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOTPIT

I’m beginning to think that Rich Hill is a phantom. His blisters preclude him from starting again today, so the Dodgers ask rookie RHP Ross Stripling (3-3, 3.79 ERA) to step in. He’ll face the Pirates’ Ivan Nova (8-6, 4.83 ERA), who will be making his second start for them after coming over from the Yankees at the trade deadline. His first one was successful: he went seven innings and gave up just three runs in a win over the Reds last Saturday.

Josh Reddick hasn’t gotten off to a great start with the Dodgers, but he’s 5-for-13 with two homers against Nova in his career.

Lineup when available:

Aug 06

Game 110, 2016

Red Sox at Dodgers, 1:05PM PT, TV: FS1, SPNLA, NESN

The Red Sox send LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4, 5.91 ERA) out to do battle with the Dodgers’ Ross Stripling (2-3, 4.14 ERA). Rodriguez has a 2.63 ERA and has gone at least five innings in all four starts since he was brought up from Pawtucket July 16. Stripling gave the Dodgers 3 2/3 innings of relief last Sunday when he replaced Bud Norris, who left after a dozen pitches with a mid-back strain. He’s replacing him again today, as the Dodgers have placed Norris on the 15-day DL.

The Red Sox will have David Ortiz at first base for the first time this season. Manager Farrell said Friday that “his bat in our lineup is an important one and it will be in the lineup tomorrow.”

Lineup:

Aug 02

Game 106, 2016

After yesterday’s sturm und drang about Yasiel Puig and his status — not to mention the incorrect verb used by Ken Rosenthal since it’s hard to “storm off” if you aren’t at the location you ostensibly left angrily — today we’re back to baseball. Puig is apparently on his way to Oklahoma City to work on his swing, although the team has said nothing publicly yet. Here’s CBS Sports’ attempt to explain what went on.

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOTRM

Brandon McCarthy (2-1, 2.39 ERA) is coming off his worst start since his season began several weeks ago; he lasted only four innings against the Rays on the 27th of July. His opponent will be Jon Gray (7-4, 3.94 ERA), who’s made three starts against the Dodgers in his career, two this season, and has struck out 22 in 15 2/3 innings, but he is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA.

The Dodgers announced they’ve optioned Puig, Stripling and Fields to OKC and activated new acquisitions Jesse Chavez and Josh Reddick. They’ve put their other new pitcher, Rich Hill, on their 15-day DL, but he’s eligible to be activated on Thursday, August 4.

Lineup:

Jul 23

Game 99, 2016

Dodgers at Cardinals, 4:15PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-M

Kenta Maeda (8-7, 3.25 ERA) tries to bounce back from a poor start his last time out against the D-Backs in which he gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings. He’ll face Mike Leake (7-7, 4.00 ERA), who has won his last two starts.

Also: “Dodgers have recalled RHP Ross Stripling from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned LHP Grant Dayton to OKC.”

Lineup when available.

May 24

Game 47, 2016

Before we get to the game details, have a look at a new book featuring a whole bunch of Dodgers from the 1960s teams: “The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers.”

Leahy places these men’s lives within the political and social maelstrom that was the era when the conformity of the 1950s gave way to demands for equality and rights. Increasingly frustrated over a lack of real bargaining power and an iron-fisted management who occasionally meddled in their personal affairs, many players shared an uneasy relationship with the team’s front office.

Since that was the period in which I became a fan, I’m looking forward to reading this.

Now, on to today’s game.

Reds at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CIN TV

The Dodgers sent Stripling down to AAA after his three-inning relief stint on Sunday in order to bring another starter back up, and it’ll be Mike Bolsinger, (0-1, 6.23 ERA). He’ll pitch against Daniel Wright, who’s making his MLB debut after a nine-inning complete game win at AAA Louisville May 16.

This is hard to believe, considering how hard-fought those Dodgers-Reds games were in the 1970s and 1980s, but over the last decade the Dodgers have a 45-23 record against the Reds, their best winning percentage against any team in the National League.

Lineup when available.

May 19

Game 42, 2016

Dodgers at Angels, 7:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-W

Ross Stripling (1-2, 4.26 ERA) goes for the Dodgers against Jhoulys Chacin (1-2, 4.81) of the Angels. Chacin spent six years with the Rockies before the Angels acquired him from the Braves on May 11. He’s thrown 110 2/3 innings against the Dodgers in his career, and several of them have hit him pretty hard. Adrian Gonzalez is the only one with more than 10 ABs against him, though, so small sample sizes must be considered.

Lineup when available.

May 13

Game 36, 2016

Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN (out-of-market only)

Tonight’s pitchers: The Cardinals’ Michael Wacha (2-3, 3.12 ERA) will pitch against the Dodgers’ Ross Stripling (0-2, 3.82 ERA). They were teammates at Texas A&M for three years and were each drafted in 2012. That winter they even roomed together and they work out together in the off-season. Knowing how these things work, they’ll probably try to beat each other’s brains out on the diamond tonight.

Wacha has lost his last three starts and Stripling’s most recent was the best since his first of the year. In those starts the Cards’ pitcher has given up four home runs which cost him dearly. The Dodgers’ home run production seems to be picking up a little, so maybe…

Lineup when available.

May 08

Game 31, 2016

Dodgers at Jays, 10:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Ross Stripling (0-2, 4.33 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.64 ERA) goes for the Blue Jays. Estrada’s gotten only 10 runs to work with in his five starts this year while Stripling has seen his ERA climb every start since his first, when he threw 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball and was pulled due to a predetermined pitch count. In two of his last three starts he hasn’t made it to the fifth inning. It’s not for lack of determination, though:

Stripling

Gonzalez will be the Dodgers’ DH, but the first base job is between Utley and Turner. Meanwhile, Russell Martin returns to the catching position for the Jays; he took Dickey’s start off.

From pink bats to specially-designed uniform logos to honorary bat girls to “Pink Out” days in the stands all of MLB will celebrate Mother’s Day in one way or another.

Someone please post the lineup in the comments if I don’t get to it before the game starts (7:10AM my time).