Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

Jul 17

Game 94, 2016

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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

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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

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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.

Jul 10

Game 91, 2016

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Padres at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.07 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and Christian Friedrich (4-4, 4.42 ERA) for the Friars. Friedrich’s had a rough last month, giving up at least four earned runs in each of his past four starts. This after giving up only eight earned runs in all of his first six. Maeda had his worst start of the season his last time out against the Orioles, lasting just four innings and allowing four runs on seven hits.

Lineup when available.


Vinnie is taking the day off.

Jul 09

Game 90, 2016

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Padres at Dodgers, 4:15PM PT, TV: Fox

Brandon McCarthy makes his second start for the Dodgers after a year off recovering from surgery; he won his first start while going five scoreless innings. He’ll face the Padres’ Luis Perdomo (3-3, 7.93 ERA), whose last two starts have been quality ones.

Lineup when available.

Jul 08

Game 89, 2016

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Padres at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Andrew Cashner (3-6, 4.42 ERA) goes for the Padres while Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.37 ERA) goes for the Dodgers. Here’s a bit of a surprise: Kazmir hasn’t lost in his last ten starts. Cashner pitched well in his first start last Sunday after coming off the DL, giving up just two runs in six innings against the Yankees.

A-Gon has been very successful against Cashner; he’s hit .344/.432/.750 with four homers. Likewise, Alexei Ramirez and Adam Rosales have a combined .930 OPS in 62 plate appearances against Kazmir from their days in the AL when he was there.

Lineup when available.

Jul 07

Game 88, 2016

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Padres at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

The Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his 2016 debut after sitting out the entire 2015 season recovering from shoulder surgery on May 21. In his last rehab start he threw 84 pitches, so he appears to have mended pretty well. His opponent will be Drew Pomeranz (7-7, 2.65 ERA). Pomeranz faced the Dodgers on May 1 and threw 7 innings of 3-hit ball, only to lose to a Kershaw RBI single in the third inning and a 3-hitter by the Dodgers’ pitcher as well. It was the only win the Dodgers got on that 7-game homestand.

From a column at SI comparing Kershaw’s six-year run to others in history:

my favorite stat on Kershaw: Since his debut season of 2008, he has lowered his career ERA every year without exception—eight straight years of improving upon greatness. Now that’s a special run.

Lineup when available.

Jul 06

Game 87, 2016

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Orioles at Dodgers, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN

Kevin Gausman (1-6, 3.97 ERA) goes out for the Birds and Bud Norris (4-7, 3.89 ERA) makes his second start for the Dodgers.

Ethier might be back for the first game in August, Roberts says. Kershaw and Anderson are all on a fast track to recovery now.

Lineup:

Jul 05

Game 86, 2016

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Orioles at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MASN 2

The Os send their Opening Day starter Chris Tillman (10-2, 3.71 ERA) out to face the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda (7-5, 2.82 ERA). Tillman has surrendered 14 earned runs in his last 14 2/3 innings, while Maeda has given up 6 earned runs in his last 17 1/3.

If you think Puig is hitting better than he has all year, well…”Yasiel Puig homered Monday and is currently hitting .381 in 13 games since returning from a DL stint due to a hamstring injury.”

Lineup:

Jul 04

Game 85, 2016 and 4th of July historical revisionism

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The guy who wrote the latest Ty Cobb biography explains why most of what we’ve been told of Cobb is a lie. For example, his family history would indicate he was no racist, despite what we’ve been told:

Ty Cobb was descended from a long line of abolitionists. His great-grandfather was a minister who preached against slavery and was run out of town for it. His grandfather refused to fight in the Confederate army because of the slavery issue. And his father was an educator and state senator who spoke up for his black constituents and is known to have once broken up a lynch mob.

[snip]

Cobb himself was never asked about segregation until 1952, when the Texas League was integrating, and Sporting News asked him what he thought. “The Negro should be accepted wholeheartedly, and not grudgingly,” he said. “The Negro has the right to play professional baseball and whose [sic] to say he has not?”

I’ve read the biography, and it’s a good one. I give it 4 stars.

On to today’s game.

Orioles at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), MASN, SPNLA

The Dodgers have won four straight and the Orioles have lost four straight. Despite that the Orioles still lead the AL East by three games. Each streak could continue after this evening’s game with its early start time (fireworks afterward!). The Dodgers ask young Julio Urias (1-2, 4.09 ERA) to keep up his good work; he’s lowered his ERA from one game to the next in each of his 7 starts. He’s thrown 33 innings so far for the big leaguers in 2016 after throwing 41 in the minors this season. The most he’s ever thrown in a season is 87 2/3 in 2014, so he’s coming close to a shutdown point.

Urias will be opposed by Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 5.77 ERA). This is his fourth start after coming off the DL, where he’d been with shoulder tendinitis. His last start was his best since his return; he went six innings against the Padres and got the win.

Note: the Orioles hit a lot of home runs. They just set a major league record by hitting 56 in June, the most ever in that calendar month. They are on pace to hit 262 for the season, just two short of the all-time record of 264 set by the A-Rod-Griffey Jr.-Jay Buhner-E. Martinez Mariners in 1997.

Update: Hyun-Jin Ryu will start Thursday’s game for the Dodgers against the Padres.

Lineup: