Monthly Archives: July 2016

Jul 31

Game 105, 2016

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

Bud Norris (6-9, 4.27 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and Patrick Corbin (4-9, 5.31 ERA) pitches for the D-Backs. It’s a rematch for these two pitchers: between the two of them they gave up 10 earned runs and 15 hits in nine combined innings in a 13-7 Dodgers win on July 15.

Roberts said Yasiel Puig will start on Sunday for the first time in a week. There have been several different rumors about a possible trade including Puig, so I’m wondering if this is a showcase game for him. CBS Sports came up with eight different teams to which he might be traded. He’s also been rumored to be part of a three-team deal with the Reds for Jay Bruce.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is one home run away from joining the 300-homer club. He would become the seventh active player to reach 300 homers and 400 doubles. The other six are Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre, and Carlos Beltran.

Pretty good company, I’d say. I think five of the six are locks for the Hall of Fame, and A-Rod would be were it not for his PED use.

Lineup when available.

Jul 30

Game 104, 2016

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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 29

Game 103, 2016

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

It’ll be the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda (9-7, 3.25 ERA) against the D-Backs’ Zack Godley (3-1, 5.88 ERA) in the first game of a three-game series which ends the Dodgers’ home stand. Maeda had a poor outing against the Arizona team on July 17, giving up five runs in only 4 1/3 innings. His last time out against the Cardinals, however, he gave up only two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings and got the win. Godley has been on a bus between Reno and Phoenix all year; he got his first road win last time out against the Reds despite giving up five runs on ten hits over 5 2/3 in that game.

Puig is still not in the lineup but there’s nothing on Twitter about placing him on the DL, so who knows?

Here’s a picture I never expected to see:

Jon has the story.

Lineup:

Jul 27

Game 102, 2016

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Rays at Dodgers, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, Fox Sports Sun

Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.61 ERA) makes his fifth start since his return from Tommy John surgery. He won his first two starts and has gotten no decision in the last two, despite pitching well and going at least 6 innings in each one. His opponent will be Matt Moore (6-7, 4.31 ERA), whose last four starts have also been pretty good; he’s posted a 3.00 ERA and has gone at least six innings in every start during that span.

Here’s a tidbit from a larger discussion of whether a shorter baseball season (only a few games shorter, to be sure) might make sense:

This year, the Dodgers are the kings of killing offense late in games. From the seventh through ninth innings, batters against their pitchers have hit just .190, posted a .255 OBP, struck out in 27% of their plate appearances and scored only 80 runs in 94 games.

Dave Roberts thinks Puig will be back Wednesday. Meanwhile, his shoes have offended the high-minded executives (read: guardians of shoe contracts) at MLB.

Lineup when available.

Jul 26

Game 101, 2016

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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 24

Game 100, 2016

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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 23

Game 99, 2016

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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.

Jul 22

Game 98, 2016

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Dodgers at Cardinals, 5:15PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-M

Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.69 ERA) has come back from TJ surgery much more strongly than I expected. Tonight he’s up against Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.45 ERA), whose 2016 season has been disappointing after his outstanding 2015 one.

JT is having much too much fun with Animal, who thinks the Dodgers need a drummer:

Video deleted as it kept restarting randomly.

Lineup when available.

Jul 21

Game 97, 2016

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Dodgers at Nationals, 9:05AM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN 2, MLBN (out-of-market only)

The Dodgers’ rotation injuries have forced them to bring young Julio Urias (1-2, 4.95 ERA) back up from AAA OKC, where he’s only thrown one inning since he was sent down on July 5. He’ll have an easy task in front of him; keep the Dodgers in the game against Stephen Strasburg, who’s 13-0 on the year with a 2.51 ERA.

Somebody post the lineup in the comments when it’s published.