Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 5:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A
Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 2.70 ERA) makes his third start of the season. He’s gone five innings in each of his first two since recovering and rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. His opponent is Archie Bradley (3-5, 4.64 ERA), who lost to the Dodgers in his only start against them this season on June 14 in Phoenix, pitching four scoreless innings then giving up five runs in the next 1 2/3 innings.
Fun fact: Since the start of 2013, the Dodgers own the best record in baseball after the All-Star break at 126-79 entering Friday. Next was Kansas City at 127-87.
Trayce Thompson goes to the 15-day DL with lower back irritation, Zach Walters comes up. Ethier’s leg isn’t healed, but he’s going to up his workout level anyway. From Dave Roberts, this statement sounds ominous:
“Because it’s not healed completely, we really don’t have a timetable. It’ll be healed at some point, but this season to hope and expect it to be pain-free is something that’s maybe too optimistic. Andre wants to be back and he’ll do whatever he can to be back.”
Lineup:
Tonight’s Dodger lineup:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Grandal C
Kendrick LF
Puig RF
Toles CF
McCarthy P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 16, 2016
Late addition: Tim Kurkjian screws up on SportsCenter, picks Orel Hershiser as his player to watch in the second half of the season.
NPUT
I abhor the Gnats, but Grant Brisbee? I wish he were ours….http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2016/7/16/12207918/santiago-casilla-balk-sf-giants-not-even-mad-actually-i-find-this-funny
I’ll try to do better. 😉
It’s “both, and,” Link! Never “either, or.”
I’d be more than happy to share the load with Grant, but I’ll bet SB Nation pays him something for his work, which the jerks who run Elysian Fields are too
cheappoor to do. 😉Grant is the best, especially when the Gnats lose. but he is wrong about one thing: the balk-off was hysterically funny, and I’ve rewatched it several times.
From a Gnatblog: “C’mon, that wasn’t a balk….he just slipped on the pile of excrement he left on the mound.”
Bah. Kenley can’t be perfect every time out, but the offense surely failed tonight. 1 for 15 with RISP. This game is so unpredictable. After last night’s explosion, tonight they hit zip.
Disappointing finish, which I missed, but at least I got more than a chuckle out of the Gnats’ balk-off loss. I could watch that over and over again.
Ha! Walk off balk and SF loses. So 5.5 back.
6 back for now.
Fien is really bad. He has nothing.
He was good briefly but, when some of these guys come off the DL, he’s the first DFA.
And the Dodgers have now left 1000 runners on base tonight.
Of course the only time Kendrick doesn’t get a hit he leaves the bases loaded. Sometimes this game drives me bonkers.
Jansen not quite right still.
Meaning perfect.
Nice play by Seager on Segura’s ball.
Show time for Kenley.
Padres 5, Giants 5, after 5.5.
The Padpen is self-immolating at the The Litterbox.
So I just reserved the book Orel and Davis are talking about at my library — The Arm by Jeff Passan.
I heard a review of the book on NPR. It sounded very interesting.
I am about halfway through. It is insightful, interesting and well-researched. Also somewhat shocking.
Bet this inning the Dodgers get the first few on here.
Would the Dodgers bats from yesterday please report to home plate!
When is Roberts going to let McCarthy pitch in the seventh? What’s he got to do different than he did tonight?
Given his recent return, I think you can justify a conservative approach. Also, it’s hot in Phoenix.
Next time.
Here’s hoping he pitches as well next time out.
So frustrating. Why couldn’t Kendrick double of the wall this time instead of last time. I swear. This reminds me of a hockey game I saw once where the Jets had 49 shots on net and lost 2-1.
Terrible AB by Kendrick, who didn’t appear to swing at a single strike.
Bases loaded. Kendrick up.
No joy in Mudville.
McCarthy with a tidy 77 pitches through six innings.
He’s looking very sharp, far better than I would have expected after such a long layoff.
Now if Ryu and Anderson can round into form in anywhere close to as fast…
Grrr. Dodgers going to be at 8 LOB very soon, unless McCarthy gets a hit.
Now 1-for-12 with RISP.
Kendrick is on fire!
At this point last night, about 15 runs had been scored. Much better pitching from both teams tonight.
Pads gnow lead Gnats 5-2 in the fourth.
Kemp hit a solo homer for one of the Padres’ runs.
All Toles, that was a nice catch.
I’m relieved he didn’t collide with Puig.
True. We don’t need any more on the disabled list.
McCarthy is pitching well again tonight thus far.
Padres lead Giants 3-0 after two innings.
I’m liking the Pads right now.
Urp – now 3-2 Padres.
Kemp homers off Smegma, and it’s now 4-2.
Padres lead Giants 2-0 after one inning.
What is the reason for the injury delay?
Umpire took a hard foul tip, had to come out of game.
Belatedly, thank you.
if Orel is a player to watch in the second half of the season, our current starting rotation were either abducted by aliens or we have suffered catastrophic injuries to them.
https://twitter.com/OrelHershiser/status/754420783443693570
Given the abundance of starters nearly ready to return, I doubt we’ll be treated to an Orelian comeback.
Hershiser got off to a bad start and was 2-3 with an ERA of 5.44 in mid-June in his first full season. He ended the year 11-8 with an ERA of 2.66. So he had an Orelian comeback . . . in 1984.