Dodgers at Royals, 5:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA
James Shields (8-3, 3.70 ERA) will pitch for the Royals, and Dan Haren (7-4, 3.62 ERA) goes for the Dodgers. Each guy has been hit with the home run bug recently. In Shields’ last game he gave up two dingers for four runs, while Haren had given up ten HRS in seven starts prior to his last one, and he didn’t improve. He gave up two to Seth Smith of the Padres that night.
History: In 267 career starts, Shields has never faced the Dodgers, while Haren owns a 5-2 record and a 2.77 ERA against the Royals in 11 career starts.
There’s no word yet on whether Hanley Ramirez’s shoulder will allow him to play.
Lineup when available.
#Dodgers lineup at Kansas City:
Gordon 2B
Puig RF
Gonzalez DH
Kemp LF
Ethier CF
Turner 3B
Van Slyke 1B
Ellis C
Rojas SS
Haren P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 25, 2014
NPUT
DM gets roasted for some of his dubious moves, so he should get credit for a good strategic move using Wilson. His reason, from dodgers.com game story:
“Closer Kenley Jansen had pitched on four of the previous five days, and Mattingly said to
use him in this game meant he would be down the first two games of the Cardinals series at home.”
Even if the outcome might have been different if SVS hadn’t made that sparkling play to end it.
Game of inches, etc. “Don Mattingly played the right first baseman tonight — the tall one,” cracked A.J. Ellis.
DM also correctly called a spade a spade, saying this was Haren’s first “dud” outing.
Not to get overly greedy, but better production out of his rotation spot could mean an eventual Dodger division runaway, given how the other 4 have pitched.
I think that you are underestimating Haren’s performance and what he has given the team to date for a fifth. He has the same number of quality starts as Greinke and averages the same number of innings per game. Of course, love for him to do better (and Greinke for that matter as well).
Prob I see with Haren is more potential than urgent and involves his relative falloff after April plus the increasing number of dingers. Yes, he has done relatively well, but trends not so good….fewer bats missed and as many HRs allowed as Ks at least a couple times. Fine April, mediocre May and no real rebound this month, IIRC.
Also handicapped by throwing most everything mid to maybe high 80s, making it easier for hitters to zero in.
Just thinking team needs to watch him closely while hoping he can hold where he is, eat innings, and not turn into the proverbial pumpkin.
Can’t overexpect from rotation backend, which really shouldn’t be expected to match the top 3–or top 4, counting how well Beckett has done. Beckett’s great comeback at supposedly #5 to Haren’s #4 makes it all the more glaring when Haren doesn’t measure up.
Not directly related, but thought this on all the starters was very informative.
Speaking of trends, they’re riding a great one:
http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/25/5840930/dodgers-starters-walks-strikeouts
It was so close to being great, but a good road trip . . . now gotta keep winning at home!
Line for the pen: 4 2/3 3 0 0 1 7
Those are the kind of numbers that win titles….except you could hope for fewer bullpen IP. However, the starters have done very well lately and mostly have not left so much work undone.
Very small sample size, and Wilson pitched poorly but very luckily. Wright is probably now the third-best reliever after Kenley and Howell.
Yes to SSS. But pen has improved as starters have gone deeper and reduced relief load. Still, as long as Maholm and Perez are still in it, pen is vulnerable.
Video of the final DP: http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/lad/video/v34047645/?partnerId=as_lad_20140626_26733166
just saw the vision on Gameday, wow, we were lucky there
and Wilson brings his ERA down to an even 5.00
He’s pretty much been on a roll lately.
Can’t argue with the result. But anyone with eyes or ears hear why no Kenley in his usual spot?
Several days in a row already, I imagine.
Had KC feed. They were surprised as well, but offered no insights.
Wonder if it was to give Wilson work? He has 0.66 ERA in last 16 appearances, and has thrown only 30 pitches since June 17th.
And maybe to reward that, plus give Kenley a breather…
Ballgame!
great news, thanks because both gameday and espn froze on me
Same here with Gameday.
SVS snagged a hot and high line drive and doubled the guy off second.
Great, I was kind of hoping for that sort of a double play (especially with the mixed emotions of the caught stealing changing with the successful challenge)
now they have challenged it
bother
Rojas with nice tag.
feel a bit better now, 1 to go
no I don’t 🙂
but looks safe on replay.
I wonder if Donny was tempted to leave League in instead
Nice, that’s 1
Let’s go Beardo!
let’s find that old 9th inning magic
Where would we be this year without Gordon? (and Puig for that matter)
3rd on the team in oWAR at 1.9.
Nicely done League!
just saw some vision of Puig, that was incredible hustle on his triple and his throw home may have stopped the runner scoring if Ellis had not tried to half volley the ball (or Puig’s throw was just a bit higher)
Not hard to think it’d be better if Wright became a starter and Haren long man. Think Wright has started in the past, and he continues to get the job done this year relieving. Haren hasn’t been awful, but his trends aren’t good and the long ball continues to hurt him.
Some analysis talked about the Royals having no power. Coulda fooled Haren.
Greinke got dinged for a long HR in game one, also.
Wright really hasn’t started since 2006 (21 times for the giants). KC also hard to K, but we have gottent them 9 times already.
Yeah. Unlikely Haren loses the spot less he gets considerably worse. Tho he may be working on that. If the Dodgers were going to make a change, they’d likely call up someone or maybe trade.
Wright would take time to be stretched out, making him less likely.
But his effectiveness v Haren’s mediocrity prompted the idea.
I hadn’t realized Wright had been a Gnat.
Was surprised myself, and 21 starts at that.
a lead is a lead, no matter how small (another bases clearing double from Rojas would have been better however)
Can AJ get the bases loaded BB?
Nope but the HBP!
Wow, Agon first to third.
but not to home…
good start
More Dee/Puig show please.
Ugh
Trying to still third in that situation is hard to rationalize.
I disagree, Good record of success, easier to score from third.
Did take a perfect throw, which happens, and almost made it anyway.
We need a DP here
now we start all over again
Haren found the bats of the banjo hitters.
Rojas has been pretty impressive in the field.
uh oh
tip my hat to a great at bat to Dyson
another HR (at least they have only been solo shots)
40 bases – wow, what a year he is having (could he make 100)?
At the halfway point of season now. I doubt it, for various reasons. Unlikely to play every day, particularly, because of lefties.
I’ll be happy with around 70 then 🙂
Time for Puig to pop one over the fences
Ok, an RBI double will do I guess
so far we have scored 0,1,2. I think we are due for 3 runs this time 🙂
So that’s what a real centerfielder looks like.
Dyson? What’d he do?
Couple of good catches. Plays shallow.
and another one.
and now a HR
I need an easy, no-drama Dodger victory.
Haren’s tendency toward the gopher ball is getting worrisome.
That’s the Kemp stroke…right center.
OK….now that we have that out of the way…
I don’t care so much that Lincecum got the no-hitter . . . but the Giants also won!
At least Lincecum now thinks he is better than he really is and next time we face him, we will smash him all over the park
Yep. Through 7 1/2 innings it’s still interesting.
Still interesting in SF.
Interesting game in San Francisco.
I would say “tedious.”
Error in standings. Dodgers only 3 games behind, unless Lincescum can hang on to a 2-0 lead.
Hmm. Yeah, it didn’t pick up the Giants’ 32nd loss. Well, hopefully it will self-correct tonight (I don’t keypunch it; it’s a Word Press plug-in which updates around midnight).
How about a more relaxing game for us fans? — Dodgers hit the homers, Haren don’t give ’em up. (NOTE: Tension is allowed if it means Haren is going for the trifecta!)
Win the series then head back home and take the other MO team!