Jul 26

Game 101, 2016

Rays at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, Fox Sports Sun, MLBN (out-of-network only)

The visitors in this interleague matchup send Chris Archer (5-13, 4.60 ERA) to the mound to face the Dodgers’ Bud Norris (5-9, 4.56 ERA). Archer had his first quality start in a month his last time out, going six innings while giving up two runs on four hits. This will be his first career start against the Dodgers. He and his team haven’t done well in his starts recently: “The Rays are 2-10 in Archer’s last 12 starts, and he owns a 4.74 ERA in 74 innings with opponents hitting .248 against him over that stretch.” Norris lost in relief in the 16-inning game last Friday night against the Cardinals, and he also lost his last start when he gave up six runs on seven hits to the Nats July 20.

Yasiel Puig is still suffering from a sore hamstring and Roberts suggested he may have to go on the 15-day DL if he’s not back today. He’s not in the lineup but there’s been no Twitter announcement of his de-activation.

Lineup:

Jul 17

Game 94, 2016

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

The Dodgers ask Kenta Maeda (8-6, 2.95 ERA) to win the rubber match of the series. The last time he faced the D-Backs in Chase Field he was hit on the leg by a line drive off Paul Goldschmidt’s bat and had to leave the game. He’ll face Robbie Ray (4-8, 4.81 ERA). Ray is on a downslope; he’s lost three of his last four starts and hasn’t won since June 17. He has pitched reasonably well against the Dodgers in his career, putting up a 2.40 ERA in five career starts against them.

Not that we need to be reminded, but

Goldschmidt’s homer on Friday night was his 24th against the Dodgers since he debuted on Aug. 1, 2011. That’s 11 more than any other player against L.A. in that span. His 71 RBIs against the Dodgers are also the most in that stretch.

Lineup:

This will be Puig’s first start in center field since the last game of the 2014 season. In possibly related news, Joc Pederson is expected to make his final rehab start with OKC today and be reactivated for Tuesday’s game in DC.

Jul 05

Game 86, 2016

Orioles at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN 2

The Os send their Opening Day starter Chris Tillman (10-2, 3.71 ERA) out to face the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda (7-5, 2.82 ERA). Tillman has surrendered 14 earned runs in his last 14 2/3 innings, while Maeda has given up 6 earned runs in his last 17 1/3.

If you think Puig is hitting better than he has all year, well…”Yasiel Puig homered Monday and is currently hitting .381 in 13 games since returning from a DL stint due to a hamstring injury.”

Lineup:

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 20

Game 72, 2016

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN 2, ESPN

The hype has already begun for this game, and it’s only natural. Washington’s Stephen Strasburg hasn’t lost a game yet this year while winning ten; Los Angeles’s Clayton Kershaw has lost one game while also winning ten. In ERA Kershaw has the edge, giving up a measly 1.58 earned runs per nine innings; Strasburg has given up 2.90 earned runs per nine innings.

The Dodgers may activate Yasiel Puig today. If they do they’ll have to send someone down to OKC. Update: Nope, tomorrow, says Roberts.

In other news:

Lineup when available.

Jun 11

Game 63, 2016

Dodgers at Giants, 4:15PM PT, TV: Fox

The Dodgers send Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.46 ERA) to do battle with Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 3.33 ERA). Kazmir has made two starts against the Giants this season and they haven’t been good: he’s given up 10 runs in eight innings in the two games. In Samardzija’s last start he went five innings against the Cardinals and gave up six runs on nine hits, four of them HRs.

Puig goes to Lake Elsinore Rancho Cucamonga to begin rehab on Monday. The Dodgers want him to shorten his swing a bit while there, hoping to reduce his rotation and “eliminate some of the strain he exerts.”

Lineup when available.


I just noticed that in this lineup all members of the infield hit first. Then Roberts goes off script and has C Yasmani hitting between CF Joc and LF Howie. Come on, Doc, symmetry is important!

Jun 03

Game 56, 2016

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

Los Bravos send out Julio Teheran, whose 1-5 record makes no sense when you look at his 2.77 ERA, against the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda, who’s 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA. Neither of them has had much success at Dodger Stadium:

In five starts against Los Angeles, Teheran has posted a 0-4 record. His 5.63 ERA and .298 batting average against are his worst against any National League team. He’s struggled mightily at Dodger Stadium, where he’s allowed 10 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings (16 runs in 15 innings including the postseason).

The Dodgers will counter with Maeda, who was given an extra day of rest after being struck in the right hand by a comebacker in his start against the Mets on Saturday. The rookie right-hander has also experienced his trials when pitching in his home park, going 1-3 with a 4.08 ERA this year.

A-Gon hit .312 for May, raising his season average to .299. He leads all Dodgers in average, followed by Utley, Seager and Thompson.

In praise of Kershaw, MLB’s Richard Justice appreciates his work.

Lineup:

They’re apparently being very careful of Puig’s hamstring by sitting him again tonight.

May 31

Game 53, 2016

Dodgers at Cubs, 5:00PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ESPN (out-of-market only), ABC7

The last time the Dodgers saw Jake Arrieta it was a Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN in which Jessica Mendoza made her second ESPN appearance and he threw a no-hitter against them. That was last August 30. Since then he’s thrown another no-hitter, hasn’t lost a game yet this season, and is currently 9-0 with a 1.72 ERA. Scott Kazmir (4-3, 4.84 ERA) has been improving (he’s 3-1 in May with a 4.13 ERA) since a poor start, but he’s got his work cut out for him. He’ll need to hold the Cubbies at bay and hope the Dodgers can get a couple of runs off Arrieta.

Oh, the Cubs have won all of the last 23 starts Arrieta has made. That ties a Major League record.

Lineup when available.

Personnel news: Julio Urias will be brought back up to replace Alex Wood, who’s been placed on the 15-day DL with elbow soreness. Yasiel Puig has been scratched from today’s game with a sore left hamstring and Alex Guerrero has been designated for assignment.

May 14

Game 37, 2016

Cardinals at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-M (HLKLA, take notice!), MLBN (out-of-market only)

The Dodgers hope Scott Kazmir (2-3, 5.54 ERA) can right his ship. He showed signs last outing, coming within one out of a quality start (5 2/3 innings, three earned runs against the Mets). He’ll face Carlos Martinez (4-2, 2.61 ERA). The Cardinals hope Martinez has recovered from a respiratory illness which caused him to lose 15 pounds in ten days and pushed this start back two days.

Lineup when available.

May 01

Game 26, 2016

Padres at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Lefthander Drew Pomeranz (2-2, 2.86 ERA) v. lefthander Clayton Kershaw (2-1, 2.43 ERA). Both pitchers are strikeout artists: Kershaw’s strikeout-per-nine-innings ratio is 9.73, while Pomeranz’s is 12.68. The Padre pitcher has only made it into the sixth inning in two of his four starts this year, while Kershaw’s been his usual self, getting into or past the seventh inning in all five of his starts.

Lineup when available.

A vote of confidence for a slumping Puig? Maybe, but the way he’s hitting this looks like a black hole to lead off the game. As thousands have said before, though, you only lead off once in the entire game.