Monthly Archives: August 2014

Aug 08

Game 117, 2014

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Dodgers at Brewers, 5:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The Dodgers will trot out their brand-new pitcher Roberto Hernandez, who’s been pretty good lately: he’s won his past three decisions, pitching at least seven innings in three of his past five starts. He admits to butterflies:

“It’s the first time that I’ve been traded,” Hernandez said through a translator. “Obviously it’s a nice feeling going to a team that has a chance. I’m really nervous right now. I wasn’t expecting this. I’m excited, but at the same time, I’m nervous.”

The Brewers counter with Kyle Lohse, who lasted only four innings Saturday against the Cardinals, giving up nine runs. Overall he’s 11-6 with a 3.40 ERA.

It may be a surprise, but this is a series between two first-place teams. The Dodgers lead the Giants by 3 1/2 games in the NL West, as you know, but the Brewers lead the Cardinals by a game in the NL Central.

Update: SI has a discussion of the Dodgers’ rotation with the loss of Beckett and Maholm as well as Haren’s recent troubles and the loss to the DL of Chris Perez and Paco Rodriguez.

Lineup when available.


I am amused that our second baseman’s name is now Dee rather than Gordon.

Aug 07

Game 116, 2014

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Dodgers at Angels, 7:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSW

The Dodgers hope to take the series 3-1 behind Hyun-Jin Ryu, who’s got 12 quality starts in his last 14 and is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in his past four. In 21 starts this season, Ryu has allowed two or fewer earned runs 14 times. He’s 12-5 with a 3.39 ERA overall. His opponent will also be a lefty, C.J. Wilson. He’s having an up-and-down year for the Halos; he’s 8-7 with a 4.74 ERA overall and trending downward.

Wilson limped into a stint on the disabled list with a right ankle sprain following a rough outing on July 9. That wrapped up a four-start stretch that saw Wilson’s 3.34 ERA increase by nearly a full run. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Wilson’s return to the hill was also tough.

He surrendered six earned runs on six hits in only 1 1/3 innings against the Rays on Saturday. His ERA in his past five turns is 12.50.

Nonetheless, this is a guy with an 81-59 career record and a lifetime ERA of 3.71.

In acquisitions news, the Dodgers have acquired Roberto Hernandez from the Phillies for two “low-level minor leaguers.” He’s the guy who used to be Fausto Carmona. He’s 6-8 with a 3.87 ERA in 23 appearances for the Phillies, 20 of them starts.

A source told ESPN.com that he will take the place of Josh Beckett in the Dodgers’ rotation.

Beckett has been attempting to pitch with a torn labrum in his hip. But this deal is an indication he could be injured more seriously than was previously thought.

Happy Birthday, Mike Trout! Celebrate it with a bunch of hits and runs after the Dodgers series is done, please!

Lineup when available.

I can’t find an explanation for Gordon’s absence from the lineup.

Aug 06

Game 115, 2014

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Dodgers at Angels, 7:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSW

Dan Haren versus Matt Shoemaker. Haren’s lost five straight games and has a 10.03 ERA, allowing 36 hits and six home runs in 23 1/3 innings over that stretch. Opponents have hit .340 with a 1.016 OPS against him. Shoemaker is 2-2 with a 7.45 ERA in his last four starts himself.

Lineup:

Aug 05

Game 114, 2014

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

Repeat Pitcher-of-the-Month winner Clayton Kershaw goes after his 14th win tonight against Hector Santiago, who’s 3-7 with a 3.76 ERA. Santiago’s last outing was a scoreless two innings in relief in the Angels’ 1-0 13-inning win over the Orioles last Thursday night. His last start was July 27, when he gave up one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Tigers.

Kershaw, meanwhile, has won 10 straight and is 13-2 on the season with a best in-the-majors 1.71 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings.

Lineup:

via Twitter: The Dodgers placed LHP Paco Rodriguez on 15-day disabled list with a Teres Major strain & recalled RHP Pedro Baez from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Oh by the way: “The Angels, at 92-48, have the best Interleague record since 2007.”

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: