Dodgers at Padres, 12:40 PM PDT, TV: FSSD, SPNLA
LHP Clayton Kershaw (15-5, 3.15 ERA) tunes up for the playoffs and tries to get his ERA below 3.00. He’ll face LHP Joey Lucchesi (10-9, 4.28 ERA). Kershaw gave up three HRs and four runs in six innings to the Rockies his last time out but still got the win thanks to the Dodgers’ prolific offense. Lucchesi has had two bad outings in a row (11 runs in 7 2/3 innings), but his sophomore season has been otherwise acceptable.
Here’s Rios’s 473-foot HR:
On this day in Dodgers’ history:
- 1908 Cubs right-hander Ed Reulbach pitches two shutouts in the same day, whitewashing the Brooklyn Superbas in the opener 5-0 on a five-hitter and 3-0 on three hits in the nightcap. The entire Washington Park doubleheader takes less than three hours to complete.
- 1954 Willie Mays, with three hits in the season finale, wins the batting title, finishing the campaign with a .345 average. The ‘Say Hey Kid’ goes third to first in batting average with his performance passing teammate Don Mueller (.342) and Dodger center fielder Duke Snider (.341).
- 1975 Burt Hooton sets a Dodger record for starting pitchers by winning his twelfth consecutive game. The 25 year-old right-hander, who was traded to LA in May for Eddie Solomon and Geoff Zahn, accomplishes the feat by beating J.R. Richard and the Astros at Dodger Stadium, 3-2.
- 1981 Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to throw five no-hitters when the Astros defeat the Dodgers at the Astrodome, 5-0. The Ryan Express, who will finish his 27-year major league career with a record seven no-hitters, previously has thrown hitless gems against the Royals (1973), Tigers (1973), Twins (1974), and Orioles (1975).
- 1997 Dodger catcher Mike Piazza, in a 10-4 win over the Rockies, hits the longest home run in the history of Coors Field. The 28 year-old backstop’s sixth-inning blast travels 496 feet and hits the left-center field billboard between the scoreboard and the Rockpile.
Lineup when available.
Today’s Dodger lineup at Padres:
Freese 1B
Pollock LF
Taylor CF
Muncy 2B
Hernández SS
Smith C
Gyorko 3B
Negrón RF
Kershaw P#Dodgers | @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/H7NqPCCWb4— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 26, 2019
Roberts said the Dodgers are being prudent ahead of the playoffs as Turner sits with back tightness and Seager sits with hamstring tightness. Seager's expected to return Friday. https://t.co/GkAXXlpjW9
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 26, 2019
NPUT
Grant thinks the Gnats can aspire to being the Dodgers. https://twitter.com/GrantBrisbee/status/1177677919201554432?s=20
Friday Funtime – Yesterday couldn’t have gone much better, as Dodgers defrocked Friars and Minute Maids fell to Angles on 12th-inning error by rookie 1B Kyle Tucker. For best in baseball, LA now trails Houston by just one game with three to go, and is one full game ahead of NYY.
In the mediocre NL Central, Redbirds remain one game ahead of BeerGuys. Worst-case scenario – a divisional tie in which run differential determines the champion and other goes to mild card. Interesting to note that Milwaukee has played better without Yelich.
Friday Fun – Yesterday couldn’t have gone much better, as Dodgers defrocked Friars and Minute Maids fell to Angles on 12th-inning error by rookie 1B Kyle Tucker. For best in baseball, LA now trails Houston by just one game with three to go, and are one full game ahead of NYY.
In the mediocre NL Central, Redbirds remain one game ahead of Beerguys. Worst-case scenario – a divisional tie in which run differential determines the champion and other goes to mild card. Interesting to note that Milwaukee has played better without Yelich.
No. 103! Dodgers now one full game up on Yanquis, 1-1/2 behind Minute Maids, pending what happens in Anaheim tonight.
Seager listed as day-to-day with left hamstring tightness. Roberts said that he is confident of him playing tomorrow night in San Francisco. Describing the same prognosis many years ago for a mildly injured Bobby Bonilla — being day-to-day — Vin Scully once said, “Aren’t we all?”
Woo-HOO!!!
We finished with a 13-6 mark vs. the Padres this season.
That was a bit like a tight playoff type game
Yee-haw!
An excellent conclusion to a Thursday matinee.
Blue has someplace to be.
I hope Roberts doesn’t go to Jansen for the third time in about 44 hours.
Maeda up.
Already stated he gets day off.
Thanks.
Orel just said that Dodgers pen has been the best in NL during September. Who wudda thunk it!?
Petey bears down!
Let’s remove this game from the “save” category.
Taylor yesterday: 3Ks and an HR.
Taylor today: 3Ks, a walk and the only run (thus far).
https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/1177339940775923715?s=20
Baez for the 8th it seems. Does he go two?
The Padre pitcher Reyes has an ERA of 8.37.
Down from 18.69 on May 17.
Pretty impressive, and he looked impressive in the top of the 8th.
https://twitter.com/jonweisman/status/1177337567051571200?s=20
Austin Barnes sighting!
Who would you rather face, if it came to that, Brewers or Cardinals?
Brewers. The Cardinals have history with us.
That’s how I feel as well.
Yes, Brewers. Sorry about the injury to Yelich, but it does weaken their lineup, although you wouldn’t know that lately.
Remember that year (2007) the Rockies swept the playoffs and then got swept in the Series? The Brewers are just about that hot.
Slay the dragons!
None of the above.
3.05
To end the regular season, it seems.
Clutch pitching there, Kersh. Saved your chance for a win.
You’re back?
Auditory descriptions only. I do have to go out for a CT scan later today — follow up to last year’s excitement in May.
Ack! My SPNLA channel died in mid-game! Stuck with radio only!
No eyes, no ears. How did Taylor score from first on that single by Muncy?
Dino sent him home. Would have been out by several feet, but catcher dropped the ball
Got a ribbie, though, since you can’t assume a tag play out.
Thanks. In a scoreless game where hits are at a premium it was a gamble that worked.
Yep. Pads execute well, except for the one last part.
The relay was good, but not perfectly on line, and with a short hop.
And Taylor has speed.
Do No Evil!
A couple of years ago it wouldn’t have taken Kershaw 27 pitches to dispose of the likes of France, Urias and Hedges. Pitch count is now 75, ERA at 3.06.
Klayton remains one of the most efficient pitchers pitch-wise in the League.
I agree, but I still feel that was an unusual inning.
That’s why it was unusual, no? He ranks third in the NL at 15 per inning.
Klayton at 3.08.
I’ll take a complete game one-hitter.
3.06.
Nice catch by Negrón!
Big time catch by Negron!
15 SH for Klayton. 2 up on Maeda and 3 on Ryu.
Is he the league leader?
Ranked 1,2 and Ryu tied for 3rd.
I’d say he’s clinched the Bronze Bunter for this season.
Good second inning from Kersh. Krisp.
Klayton keeps it in the park – so far, at least.
Freese 1B
Pollock LF
Taylor CF
Muncy 2B
Hernandez SS
Smith C
Gyorko 3B
Negron RF
Kershaw P
Bellinger getting a day off.
Turner as well, but as a precaution.
Dodgers by the month:
March 3-1 .750
April 17-11 .607
May 19-7 .731
June 18-10 .643
July 14-10 .583
August 17-11 .607
September 14-6 .700 (four games remaining)
Would take Klayton 9 innings with no earned runs to get below ERA 3.00. As pitch count rather than IP is Doc’s greater concern at this point, it seems possible but not likely.
I’m no bettor, but I’d bet against it.
He’ll throw his second no-hitter, then. No problem.
Just what Ryu needs in his last start to get any shot at CYA.