Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05 PM PDT, TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), NBCSCH, SPNLA
RHP Kenta Maeda (3-1, 3.80 ERA) goes for the Dodgers while LHP José Quintana (2-1, 3.43 ERA) pitches for the Cubs. Maeda will be working on six days rest, which bodes well for the Dodgers: he’s 10-4 lifetime when he has that much time between appearances. Quintana has held his opponents scoreless for 14-plus innings in his last two starts, striking out 18 and walking just one.
There’s a very flattering profile of Cody Bellinger at MLB.com as part of its “Young Stars Week.”
Bellinger’s overall approach at the plate has changed in ways that set him up to continue being an offensive menace, too. His strikeout rate has slashed in half, down to 12 percent from his career average of 24.2 percent. His walk rate is up a few ticks, too, in part due to pitchers approaching him more cautiously and in part due to improved discipline — he’s swinging at just 21.7 percent of pitches out of the strike zone, down nearly six percent from last season. And when he swings, he’s missed less often than anyone in the NL, with a league-best contact rate of 87.7 percent.
- 1958 In a 7-6 loss to Chicago at the LA Coliseum, two Dodger mainstays from Brooklyn reach career milestones. First baseman Gil Hodges, who will finish his 18-year major league tenure with 370 home runs, hits his 300th career round-tripper, and Captain Pee Wee Reese, a future Hall of Fame shortstop, plays in his 2000th game.
- 1999 Fernando Tatis becomes the only player in baseball history to hit two grand slams in one inning when he collects eight RBIs in one frame to breaks the old record of six. The Cardinal third baseman hits both off Dodger starter Chan Ho Park in an 11-run third of the team’s 12-5 victory at Chavez Ravine.
- 2000 The Dodgers complete a sweep of the Reds to notch their 1,000th win over baseball’s oldest professional franchise. Since 1970, Los Angeles is the only National League franchise to play over .500 ball (120-115) in Cincinnati (Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field).
Lineup:
Tonight’s Dodger lineup at Cubs:
Hernández 2B
Turner 3B
Freese 1B
Seager SS
Pollock CF
Bellinger RF
Taylor LF
Barnes C
Maeda P
#Dodgers | @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/OqVbH5Xwli— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 23, 2019
NPUT
Good Barnesy.
Pfui.
Hope the boys brought their bats.
They made solid contact in the first
Joc one out Kike’ to lead this game off.
Oh. Well.
Says Peter Green (of the real Fleetwood Mac) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE4HGlmtOcg
Last or next to last appearance by Yimi for the Dodgers?
Groan.
Went for the 5 run home run
Strike zone is all over the place.
Wow! Ump?
Had to swing at ball 5.
No DP A. J.
Another brew?
The Dodgers likely don’t win this one. But it’s a nice feeling that with this lineup – you could imagine them coming back to win.
It sure looked outside.
Home field strike after the crowd groan on the previous one.
Muncy – you have to swing the bat dude!!
Oh, Max.
Bellinger gets his requisite extra base hit.
Something brewing?
Smallest brew possible right now.
Micro-brew. But Muncy could change it.
This Urias kid looks pretty good
Tuned back in after watching the second episode of Les Misérables. Seem apropos tonight
A Les Mis mini-series?! Please tell me more. I love that novel. And musical.
On our Public Broadcasting television’s “Masterpiece”
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/les-miserables/
Thanks Link!
The Dodgers seem to want the Cardinals and Cubs to think they are contenders.
Surprised Heyward missed that one.
JT doesn’t look very fluid running-wise.
Freese misplayed it, umpire miscalled it.
Ump blew that one.
Good explanation by Orel on why Floro up, if they need someone, it should be one of their best.
Ha! Was thinking more if Rizzo had gotten on base.
Well, he did get on base…
On and off quickly.
Worst AB from Belli in quite a while.
Shoulda nibbled a bit more.
I guess he got hungry.
Long scoreless inning?
Nope.
Half right though
I hate Kenta’s nibbling.
Has been able to be a top pitcher over the years as regards soft contact. Perhaps they are related?
Baez sure surprised.
He doesn’t often go deep into games. I consider him a back-of-the-rotation starter.
For the Dodgers certainly. First guy to the pen in the playoffs, where he seems to let loose.
If not sooner
I’m watching MLB Network instead of MLB.tv What is your flavors?
Did Turner look like he was trotting to first?
Seemingly compared to Freese.
I hope his ankle is okay.
I see where Bellinger is batting 6th tonight. I don’t think he has batted that low before, or at least not lower than that.