Aug 10

Game 114, 2016

Phillies at Dodgers, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-P

Scott Kazmir (9-5, 4.51 ERA) goes for the Dodgers against Jeremy Hellickson (9-7, 3.72 ERA) for the Phillies. Worrisome stat: Kazmir has made 22 starts for the Dodgers and hasn’t gotten past the sixth inning in 12 of them. Hellickson, on the other hand, has gotten through the sixth in all but one of his last ten starts and in two-thirds of all his starts this season.

Lineup:

Hmm. No Turner, Segedin at 3rd?

Aug 05

Game 109, 2016

Red Sox at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, NESN

Former University of Hawai’i pitcher Steven Wright (12-5, 3.20 ERA) goes for the Sox and Scott Kazmir (9-4, 4.41 ERA) goes for the Dodgers. When Wright pitched for UH he didn’t throw the knuckleball, which is what his bread-and-butter pitch has become. This will be his first start against the Dodgers, while it will be Kazmir’s 30th start against the Red Sox thanks to all the time he spent with the Rays.

The Dodgers and Sox met once in the World Series in 1916, when some guy named Ruth won Game Two by outpitching Sherry Smith in 14 innings. Smith did hold the Babe hitless in the 13 innings he pitched. Other than that, they’ve played just twelve times between 1901-2016.

The Dodgers will honor the Sox’ retiring Big Papi, David Ortiz, before the game. I have no idea why. I don’t begrudge him the accolades, but it’s not like he or his team are hated enemies that the Dodgers play multiple times a year and he’s been mashing against them. That’s a guy you’d want to say “Bye! Good luck! Glad you can’t hurt us anymore!” to. For example, if Paul Goldschmidt were to retire, or Matt Holliday, or Hunter Pence, I’d be quite happy to see them off.

Lineup when available.

Jul 30

Game 104, 2016

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

The Dodgers send Scott Kazmir (9-3, 4.35 ERA) out to face the D-Backs’ Braden Shipley (0-1, 10.13 ERA). Kazmir’s W-L record is deceptive; he’s not pitched quite as well as that would indicate. This will be Shipley’s second big league start; he gave up three homers to the Brewers in his first start. It was a three-run shot by Martin Maldonado which ended his outing.

A-Gon is one dinger shy of 300 for his career, and this will be Kazmir’s first time facing Arizona since 2006.

Lineup:

Jul 24

Game 100, 2016

One hundredth game of the year? Really?

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

Wily veteran Scott Kazmir (8-3, 4.30 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers in the rubber match of this three game series against a longtime (like, 1890 longtime) enemy. The Dodgers have gone 8-3 in Kazmir’s last 11 starts, and he’s had a 3.84 ERA during that stretch. The Cardinals are asking a rookie named Mike Mayers to make his ML debut tonight. He’s 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA between AA and AAA ball this season, so he’s not chum thrown to the sharks.

A tale of two pitching staffs: Mayers will be the sixth starter for the Cardinals all season long. The Dodgers have used a dozen.

Lineup when available.

It’s Van Slyke’s birthday, so of course he gets the day off.

Jul 19

Game 95, 2016

Dodgers at Nationals, 4:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN 2, MLB.TV free game

Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52 ERA) tries to improve on his last outing when he went only three innings and threw 85 pitches. His opponent will be the Nats’ #5 prospect (per MLB.Pipeline.com), RHP Reynaldo Lopez, who’s making his MLB debut this evening. He put up a 3.19 ERA in 16 starts in the minors this season.

The Dodgers activated Joc Pederson from the DL on Tuesday, so expect to see him back in center field. The Nationals expect to get Daniel Murphy back into their starting lineup. Also, the Dodgers have put Fein and Ryu on the 15-day DL.

Lineup:

Jul 08

Game 89, 2016

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

Andrew Cashner (3-6, 4.42 ERA) goes for the Padres while Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.37 ERA) goes for the Dodgers. Here’s a bit of a surprise: Kazmir hasn’t lost in his last ten starts. Cashner pitched well in his first start last Sunday after coming off the DL, giving up just two runs in six innings against the Yankees.

A-Gon has been very successful against Cashner; he’s hit .344/.432/.750 with four homers. Likewise, Alexei Ramirez and Adam Rosales have a combined .930 OPS in 62 plate appearances against Kazmir from their days in the AL when he was there.

Lineup when available.

Jul 02

Game 83, 2016

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOTS Sports

The visitors send RHP Chad Bettis (6-5, 5.84 ERA) to the mound to face the Dodgers’ LHP Scott Kazmir (6-3, 4.67 ERA). Bettis has given up at least three runs in each of his last seven starts, but he hasn’t surrendered a dinger in his last three. Kazmir said he’s going to try a simulated inning in the bullpen before the game in hopes of avoiding a repeat of his last start’s four-run 40-pitch first inning.

Corey Seager’s riding a 14-game hitting streak which includes 11 extra-base hits. It’s the longest active streak in the major leagues right now.

There will be a two-inning Old Timers’ Game starting about 5:00PM, and the Dodgers will also honor their triumvirate of co-MVPs from the 1981 World Series team, Guerrero, Yeager and Cey.

Lineup when available.

Jun 27

Game 78, 2016

Dodgers at Pirates, 9:35AM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOT Sports, MLBN (out-of-market only)

The Dodgers ask Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.52 ERA) to stop their slide before it gets worse. His last start was a quality one in which he gave up only two runs to the Nats in six innings. The Pirates ask Francisco Liriano (4-7, 5.17 ERA) to stop his personal slide during which he’s gotten no wins in his last five starts and walked 19 batters during that stretch.

Expect Adrian González to sit this one out as per this word from Dave Roberts on Sunday.

Lineup: somebody post it in the comments when it turns up. I am NOT getting up at dawn to watch this game.

Jun 21

Game 73, 2016

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN

The Nats send Tanner Roark (6-4, 3.14 ERA) out to make his first-ever start against the Dodgers, who counter with Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.64 ERA). It’s a matchup of differing pitchers: Roark has made it through six innings in 11 of his 14 starts, while Kazmir hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in any of his three starts since May 31.

The Dodgers want to extend their four-game winning streak while the Nationals want to halt their three-game losing streak.

As expected, the Dodgers have activated Yasiel Puig from the 15-day DL and have optioned Carlos Frias back to OKC.

Also, Vinnie is taking the night off to rest his sore throat.

Lineup:

Jun 16

Game 68, 2016

Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSWI

The Brewers open up a four-game series with the Dodgers tonight, sending righthander Junior Guerra (3-1, 3.31 ERA) out to face the Dodgers’ Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.52 ERA). Kazmir walked five in his last start against the Giants and left after just five innings, but he’s won his last three decisions. Fun fact: when he throws his first pitch tonight Kazmir will become one of the small number of pitchers who have faced all thirty MLB teams over their careers. In other milestone news, Jansen’s save last night was his 161st as a Dodger. That ties Eric Gagne for most ever by a Dodger reliever.

The Brewers’ Braun (OF) and Lucroy (C) have both been mentioned in trade rumors. I can’t see the Dodgers wanting Braun, but they might want a catcher who’s less vulnerable to injury than Grandal has shown himself to be over his 160 games in a Dodgers uniform.

Lineup:

This is Venable’s first start in Dodger blue.