Dodgers at Cardinals, 4:45 PM PDT, TV: FS-M, SPNLA
RHP Ross Stripling (0-0, 2.31 ERA) goes for the Dodgers while RHP Dakota Hudson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) pitches for the Redbirds. Stripling’s opponents are hitting .209 against him in two starts, and while he gave up two HRs his last time out, he retired eight of the last nine men he faced in that game. In his short career he’s 0-2 at Busch Stadium. Hudson made his first MLB start on March 30, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up seven hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out six. He then made an appearance out of the bullpen, going 2/3 of an inning and earning a save.
From The Athletic, trying to explain Bellinger’s success so far:
Bellinger has swung at a quarter fewer pitches outside the strike zone, according to FanGraphs.com. And he has swung at more pitches inside the strike zone. All together, he is swinging at about the same rate he always has in the major leagues, but he is swinging at pitches that he is more likely to hit and hit hard.
On this day in Dodgers’ history:
- 1913 The Phillies spoil the debut of Ebbets Field, beating the Dodgers, 1-0, in front of a small crowd of approximately 10,000 fans, who brave the frigid weather to witness the pitching duel. Given special permission, Brooklyn opens the season a day early to properly inaugurate its new $75,000 Brooklyn ballpark, which took a year to build.
- 1947 Dodger skipper Leo Durocher, feuding with the Yankees, is suspended for one year by commissioner Happy Chandler for an assortment of actions deemed detrimental to baseball, including association with known gamblers. The Brooklyn and New York clubs are both fined $2,000 and by order of the commissioner are not allowed to discuss the matter.
- 1966 After sharing space at Wrigley Field in 1961 and Dodger Stadium from 1962-65 during their first five seasons in Los Angeles, the Angels move to nearby Anaheim into their own stadium. The ‘Halos’, now known as the California Angels, host the San Francisco Giants in a pre-season exhibition game in the first contest ever played at Anaheim Stadium.
- 1981 On Opening Day, Fernando Valenzuela, making his first major league start in place of scheduled starter Jerry Reuss, blanks Houston on five hits at Dodger Stadium, 2-0. During the strike-shortened season, the 20 year-old rookie from Mexico will lead the league in game starts (25), complete games (11), and shutouts (8).
Lineup:
Today’s Dodger lineup at Cardinals:
Pederson LF
Turner 3B
Bellinger RF
Pollock CF
Muncy 1B
Hernández 2B
Taylor SS
Barnes C
Stripling P #Dodgers | @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/KKROWUl51M— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 9, 2019
NPUT
Actually 20% points better, not 20% better. His groundball rate is around 45% better. (Response to comment by Joe Davis on Cards starter).
Welp. The pen seems to have stabilized.
The Cardinals have our number so far. And we look asleep at the wheel.
ESPN Sunday night baseball is a curse.
Hader can run.
It’s not like we haven’t had our chances…
Oh Ozuna!
Pen exploded in laughter. Hope he is OK.
Come ON, bats! 11 LOB, 2 for 8 RISP? Did you guys all simultaneously slump after Denver?
2 more left on. Slumping a bit here in St. Louis.
https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/1115792051981799425
Just got back from dinner and, so far, I’m uninspired here.
Bats have gone ineffective.
Just effective enough to be frustrating with LOB.
There was a sqeezy call by the ump. Apparently there was also one with Molina at bat, according to Joe, before the second double.
Does Quique know how many outs there are?
He does now.
Come on Mad Max!
A break! Cody didn’t score?
Time for us to break out the bats.
Dodgers are showing they can hit the ball hard but also at somebody
And sometimes hitting it softly but not at somebody
Time for A.J. to show up again.
Six hits and four BB over five. Need one more of those things to get at least one on the board.
Are the Cardinals expected to contend this year? It seems like they have quite a few young players.
Seen predicted wins in 88-85 range, so possible WC.
Some young players, but Dodgers are younger.
The item above On this day in Dodger’ history says the Angels shared space at Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field in 1961. Not sure with whom they shared space. The circus, midget car racing, concerts, religious or political rallies? They didn’t share it with a lot of fans, drawing only
603,510 in their only season there. Home Run Derby was filmed there in 1960. Wrigley Field was torn down 50 years ago.
I was one of those 603,510 for a single game.
Anyone have eyes on this game? Wonder how much the ump is squeezing Stripling. Seemed like on Gameday he is painting the corners but not getting the calls.
I am watching on the Cardinal Midwest channel and it does not appear to be squeezing either pitcher. The Cardinal announcers are annoying though.
Haven’t noticed anything egregious.
A tip of the cap to DeJong. Nothing else you ca do.
Better inning by Stripling.
Well that’s making the best of a bad situation. Only 1-0.
Doc says that they are leaning toward a farm call up for Saturday start and not a pen game.
Dustin May? His first start at Tulsa was five innings of shutout two-hit ball, one walk, nine strikeouts. And he had a great spring.
That would be my first choice!
May the best man win!
It’s a long, long way from May to September.
But maybe Corcino, who has some big league experience, rather than potentially messing with May’s development.
Due to pitch tomorrow, so Dodgers will need to tip their hand. Corcino to pitch on Thursday.
Thanks for the updated May info.
I have SiriuisXM on my car radio now. My gosh, Mike Shannon is a bad announcer.
First memory of him is 64 WS.
Me too.
Probably not as bad as McCarver.
Pollock has become somewhat of a roadblock to rallies in the last two-plus games.
And two rbis on Saturday.
Yes, on both counts, I sit corrected. Too impatient. After Sunday’s win, I wanted us to go 160-2.
He doubled in Belli last night in the first inning, though.
I wonder if Harrison Bader, outfielder for the Cardinals, has the nickname of Darth.