Aug 18

Game 120, 2016

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.

Aug 09

Game 113, 2016

Phillies at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-P

The Dodgers put RHP Kenta Maeda (10-7, 3.22 ERA) on the hill to face RHP Vince Velasquez (8-3, 3.33 ERA). Maeda has now exceeded Kershaw in number of innings pitched this season with 125 2/3. Velasquez has walked 17 in his last 36 innings, which is not ideal.

SVS goes to the 15-day DL, Taylor is recalled.

Lineup:

Aug 07

Game 111, 2016

Red Sox at Dodgers, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, NESN, MLB Plus free game

The Sox ask David Price (9-7, 4.30 ERA) to win the rubber match of this series, and the Dodgers ask Brandon McCarthy (2-2, 2.76 ERA) to keep him from doing so. This will be Price’s third start of this 11-game West Coast road trip for the Red Sox; he’s pitched 15 innings, given up only four runs and gotten two no-decisions out of it. Today was supposed to be newly-acquired Rich Hill’s first start for the Dodgers but the blister which landed him on the 15-day DL hasn’t yet healed, so McCarthy will pitch with normal rest. He hasn’t made it past the fourth inning in either of his last two starts.

Lineup when available.

Segedin? Who’s he? Oh. To make room on the 40-man roster Trayce Thompson has been moved to the 60-day DL.

Aug 06

Game 110, 2016

Red Sox at Dodgers, 1:05PM PT, TV: FS1, SPNLA, NESN

The Red Sox send LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4, 5.91 ERA) out to do battle with the Dodgers’ Ross Stripling (2-3, 4.14 ERA). Rodriguez has a 2.63 ERA and has gone at least five innings in all four starts since he was brought up from Pawtucket July 16. Stripling gave the Dodgers 3 2/3 innings of relief last Sunday when he replaced Bud Norris, who left after a dozen pitches with a mid-back strain. He’s replacing him again today, as the Dodgers have placed Norris on the 15-day DL.

The Red Sox will have David Ortiz at first base for the first time this season. Manager Farrell said Friday that “his bat in our lineup is an important one and it will be in the lineup tomorrow.”

Lineup:

Aug 03

Game 107, 2016

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOTRM

Rookie righthander Brock Stewart (0-1, 9.00 ERA) spot-starts for the Dodgers, filling in for the newly-acquired Rich Hill and the possibly-injured Bud Norris, not to mention the disabled Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brett Anderson and Clayton Kershaw. In his first and only other MLB start he went five innings, gave up five runs, struck out seven and walked two. He’s been very good in the minors, posting a 1.80 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A and has a 3.00 ERA in four Triple-A starts since he went back down after that MLB start. He’ll be opposed by the Rockies’ rookie lefty Tyler Anderson, (3-3, 3.33 ERA), who’s had six quality starts in his first nine in the big leagues. He hasn’t given up a dinger in his last 22 1/3 innings.

Personnel news: Stewart, Fields and Urias up; Toles and Josh Ravin down (the latter after reinstatement from the restricted list for PED usage; he also recuperated from broken bone surgery while out); Coleman (right shoulder fatigue) and Liberatore (left elbow inflammation) to DL. And the biggest and most unpleasant news of all: Kershaw moved to 60-day DL. Eligible to return August 27.

Lineup when available.

Aug 02

Game 106, 2016

After yesterday’s sturm und drang about Yasiel Puig and his status — not to mention the incorrect verb used by Ken Rosenthal since it’s hard to “storm off” if you aren’t at the location you ostensibly left angrily — today we’re back to baseball. Puig is apparently on his way to Oklahoma City to work on his swing, although the team has said nothing publicly yet. Here’s CBS Sports’ attempt to explain what went on.

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOTRM

Brandon McCarthy (2-1, 2.39 ERA) is coming off his worst start since his season began several weeks ago; he lasted only four innings against the Rays on the 27th of July. His opponent will be Jon Gray (7-4, 3.94 ERA), who’s made three starts against the Dodgers in his career, two this season, and has struck out 22 in 15 2/3 innings, but he is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA.

The Dodgers announced they’ve optioned Puig, Stripling and Fields to OKC and activated new acquisitions Jesse Chavez and Josh Reddick. They’ve put their other new pitcher, Rich Hill, on their 15-day DL, but he’s eligible to be activated on Thursday, August 4.

Lineup:

Jul 20

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:

Jul 17

Game 94, 2016

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

The Dodgers ask Kenta Maeda (8-6, 2.95 ERA) to win the rubber match of the series. The last time he faced the D-Backs in Chase Field he was hit on the leg by a line drive off Paul Goldschmidt’s bat and had to leave the game. He’ll face Robbie Ray (4-8, 4.81 ERA). Ray is on a downslope; he’s lost three of his last four starts and hasn’t won since June 17. He has pitched reasonably well against the Dodgers in his career, putting up a 2.40 ERA in five career starts against them.

Not that we need to be reminded, but

Goldschmidt’s homer on Friday night was his 24th against the Dodgers since he debuted on Aug. 1, 2011. That’s 11 more than any other player against L.A. in that span. His 71 RBIs against the Dodgers are also the most in that stretch.

Lineup:

This will be Puig’s first start in center field since the last game of the 2014 season. In possibly related news, Joc Pederson is expected to make his final rehab start with OKC today and be reactivated for Tuesday’s game in DC.

Jul 16

Game 93, 2016

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 5:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 2.70 ERA) makes his third start of the season. He’s gone five innings in each of his first two since recovering and rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. His opponent is Archie Bradley (3-5, 4.64 ERA), who lost to the Dodgers in his only start against them this season on June 14 in Phoenix, pitching four scoreless innings then giving up five runs in the next 1 2/3 innings.

Fun fact: Since the start of 2013, the Dodgers own the best record in baseball after the All-Star break at 126-79 entering Friday. Next was Kansas City at 127-87.

Trayce Thompson goes to the 15-day DL with lower back irritation, Zach Walters comes up. Ethier’s leg isn’t healed, but he’s going to up his workout level anyway. From Dave Roberts, this statement sounds ominous:

“Because it’s not healed completely, we really don’t have a timetable. It’ll be healed at some point, but this season to hope and expect it to be pain-free is something that’s maybe too optimistic. Andre wants to be back and he’ll do whatever he can to be back.”

Lineup:

Late addition: Tim Kurkjian screws up on SportsCenter, picks Orel Hershiser as his player to watch in the second half of the season.

Jul 15

Game 92, 2016

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

Bud Norris (4-7, 3.98 ERA) makes his third start for the Dodgers. Since he’s 0-7 with a 13.92 ERA in his career against Arizona and is 0-4 at Chase Field he seems an odd choice for Manager Dave Roberts, but maybe he’s got a hunch. Norris will face Patrick Corbin (4-7, 4.94 ERA), who hasn’t made it past the sixth inning in any of his last three starts and has a 6.91 ERA in those games to boot. He’s a little better career-wise against the Dodgers, posting a 3.83 ERA in 11 games.

This is the first of thirteen games these two teams play against one another in the remainder of the season.

Joc Pederson is headed for Oklahoma City for a rehab assignment. Clayton Kershaw threw 60 pitches in the bullpen Wednesday. Other DL denizens’ news at Jon’s place.

Lineup when available.