Dodgers at Phillies, 4:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-P
The Dodgers go for a series sweep with rookie RHP Ross Stripling (3-4, 4.07 ERA). He’ll face RHP Jerad Eickhoff (8-12, 3.82 ERA), who’s like Dodgers’ pitchers in that he gets in trouble in the sixth inning when the opposing batters get their third look at him. His ERA for that inning this year is 12.71. Stripling has, this season, shown himself to be better in a long relief role; he’s made three long-relief appearances in July, posting a 1.54 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Over his 10 starts this season, Stripling has a 4.61 ERA.
A.J. Ellis writes a column for ESPN about Vin Scully.
Pitching notes from Jon Weisman. Highlights/lowlights: Kershaw may throw a bullpen session on Saturday, and Ryu is not expected to pitch again this season.
Lineup when available.
Tonight’s Dodger lineup at Phillies:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Reddick RF
González 1B
Grandal C
Pederson CF
Kendrick LF
Stripling P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 18, 2016
NPUT
Even the eastern establishment acknowledges https://twitter.com/TylerKepner/status/766702727858642945
Wild game up north. 8-7 Gnats, top of the 8th. 28 hits, so far.
So to recap. What started out as a typical Dodger win turned into a Giants type loss.
Of course, any loss is a Giant type of loss.
I am a Mets fan for tonight!
DeGrom allows a leadoff double, but then K’s Pagán and Belt, then Busted Poseur grounds out.
I expect Mets are likelier to score off BadGums than Gnats are to score off DeGrom.
That said, Mets have a pretty unimpressive lineup.
Have you been watching this one?
No, I am blacked out of Gnatgames. Just read from Gameday.
The team that opened the scoring has lost each game of the series.
Things not working for the Dodgers tonight – except for the HR’s.
That was played poorly by Turner and very poorly by Seager. Looked like he was just jogging after that ball.
Ok after another look, it was smashed to Tuner. Tough play.
Bourjos is extremely fast.
Which is why Seager should have chased after it more quickly.
That error by Utley looms large. It cost only one run, but that might be all it takes.
Can we do it with four outs left?
Reddick hits another bullet for an out.
He must be so frustrated..
Drat!
Good series for Howard. Several home runs and some fine defensive play.
In what’s probably his final season.
Dayton doing well in his appearances, but guess that he will be sent down for Libby.
I’m not so sure but, even if so, he’ll be back in September.
Doc staying with him!
Surprising move for me.
Sadly, it turned out to be the wrong one.
Does suggest that they were thinking bigger things for him, as you noted.
Borderline calls going against the Dodgers and for the Phillies the last few innings.
Some not so borderline.
For them, or against us?
For the Fillies. Some obvious strikes called balls.
AGon didn’t lift it quite enough. Time for some insurance.
Yes. Got him!
What’s with the ump?
At least 2 probably 3 of those pitches could have been called strikes.
Once Seager got to second, it looks like they did not want to throw a good pitch to Turner.
OK Josh, hit it hard.
Nope.
Well, he hit it high.
It looks as if the Dodgers may have to score some more runs.
Hopefully they don’t have too.
But hopefully they do it anyway.
Could we play the Phillies again tomorrow? And for the rest of the year?
I was actually going to Cincinnati to see them play tomorrow! (But something came up).
Well, sorry that you won’t see them play. You would have enjoyed that.
I take it all back. The Phillies are bouncing back this inning.
Grandalicious!
Which hitter is luckier? https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/766423222820573184
Reddick is luckier to be on the Dodgers than on the A’s. So there is that.
Well – I did ask for the score to be 3-1 Dodgers tonight.
But for an uncharacteristic misplay by Chutley, it would be 3-0.
Justin Turner in overdrive.
Another moonshot.
That’s an auspicious start.
More notes above.
If the Dodgers and Phillies have any love of (almost) mathematical progression then it would be great if the final scores in the series went from 15-5 to 7-2 to 3-1.
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Reddick RF — .170/.228/.189/.417 — no homers, no RBIs in 13 games
Gonzalez 1B
Grandal C
Pederson CF
Kendrick LF
Stripling P
Can’t figure out why Roberts keeps batting Reddick cleanup. Wouldn’t Pederson or Gonzalez be a better choice?
Reddick has also batted second. He’s been hitting the ball well, but they’ve not been falling in.
Yeah, True Blue says that despite maintaining a line drive rate of 27%, his babip has dipped to .205 down from .297 with the A’s, so bad luck involved. Jon also posted on this.
Ha! With Justin Turner cleaning things up maybe Doc thinks that he needs an additional lead off guy.
I’m on board with Stripling in the rotation. Of all the rookie starters (including Urías), he’s looked the best prepared, and most poised.