Game 96, 2016

Dodgers at Nationals, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN-2

Bud Norris (5-7, 4.17 ERA) will make his fourth start for the Dodgers; he’s given up seven runs in 16 innings in the first three. He’ll face Gio Gonzalez (5-8, 4.70 ERA), whose July has been an improvement over his June; in his last start he went 5 2/3 innings against the Mets and gave up two runs, the fewest he’d allowed in any start since May.

Rumors have it the Dodgers are hunting a front-line pitcher like the Rays’ Chris Archer, now that Kershaw’s return is delayed, Ryu is back on the DL and Alex Wood’s elbow needed surgery which puts him out for eight weeks.

The team is obviously very highly-strung as we head down the stretch of the season:

Lineup:

83 thoughts on “Game 96, 2016

  1. I wonder when Link will wake up and realize the starting time of today’s game?

  2. The Harper 451 ft dinger was the biggest one I have ever witnessed since Adam Dunn hit one off of Clayton 460 ft to the same area (actually hit two three-run homers off of Kershaw that day in 2010).

  3. Day game after a night game! I am beat (thank goodness I don’t have to play – though available to pinch hit as needed).

  4. Guy just made a pretty good catch of that dinger a couple rows behind me.

  5. The first seven batters for the Giants reached base in the 4th, five of them scoring, before Ross relieved Pomeranz and retired Pagan, Belt and Posey. Still 8-5 Red Sox. It is enjoyable to watch a game on TV from Fenway

    • it may be enjoyable, but I’m going to get really cranky if they rally all the way from 8 down to win 🙂

      It was great to see a game live there many years ago

      • I appreciate the layout and idiosyncracies of Fenway regardless of who is playing. There is great atmosphere, both inside and outside the stadium. I have attended two games there, about 45 years apart. The first was in 1969 or 1970, the second two years ago. Even bought a Green Monster T-shirt there in 2014.

  6. Giants have just put up a 5-spot in the 4th and are still hitting with none out. It is now 8-5 Red Sox.

  7. Norris has pitched good to strong tonight. Just the one blip in the first.

  8. As far as I’m concerned the Kershaw situation casts a pall over everything and makes each game seem somewhat irrelevant. I will acknowledge that I am often a doom-and-gloom guy.

        • Faith is useless. Follow the evidence, which does not yet indicate a wheelchair in his (near) future.

        • also how many years have we had him generally injury free? we have been very fortunate. It would be worse if our record was something like 60-35 and we were have the best season ever and then he got injured

      • Overeaction? Perhaps. But if Kershaw does not return at all this season, or if he is out for a long period, I do not think we have any chance of reaching the post-season. So, the individual games would seem rather meaningless.

        • If one had reacted that way when he first went down they would have missed a lot of great baseball.

    • Guy behind me says that they are saying it’s within the realm of possibilities at this point.

    • Does that change anyone’s thoughts here about trying to make (a) major trade(s)? Anyone wonder if they shouldn’t sell the farm (so to speak) to get a major player or two if Kershaw is out for the year? Wouldn’t it make more sense to hold on and wait til next year? Just a thought.

  9. When the count went to 3-1 on Harper, that’s exactly what I thought would happen.

  10. Even though we need another starter, I would be reluctant to let go of Puig to do it (but I’m not sure who else though)

    • That is a tough decision. He still has so much promise, but he has basically just been OK at the plate this season. Puig’s fielding and understanding of hitting the cutoff man have improved. He is not showboating. It we could get a solid starting pitcher and something else valuable, I’d probably make the trade.

    • We should use the well stock farm to do that at this point. Otherwise we would need another outfielder in any event.

  11. Both Taylor and Culberson better than one of them plus Utley, even though it’s vs. a lefty?

    • I was thinking the same thing, but I looked at the numbers:
      Utley in career: vs. lefties — .258, .361, 444. 805; vs. righties — .289, .365, .487, .852.
      This season: vs. lefties — .188, .220, .271, .491; vs. righties — .281, .369, .411, .780.
      Career vs. Gonzalez, a lefty — .150, .190, .150, .340 — 3 singles in 20 ABs, 1 BB, 2 K’s.