Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

May 08

Game 31, 2016

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Dodgers at Jays, 10:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Ross Stripling (0-2, 4.33 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.64 ERA) goes for the Blue Jays. Estrada’s gotten only 10 runs to work with in his five starts this year while Stripling has seen his ERA climb every start since his first, when he threw 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball and was pulled due to a predetermined pitch count. In two of his last three starts he hasn’t made it to the fifth inning. It’s not for lack of determination, though:

Stripling

Gonzalez will be the Dodgers’ DH, but the first base job is between Utley and Turner. Meanwhile, Russell Martin returns to the catching position for the Jays; he took Dickey’s start off.

From pink bats to specially-designed uniform logos to honorary bat girls to “Pink Out” days in the stands all of MLB will celebrate Mother’s Day in one way or another.

Someone please post the lineup in the comments if I don’t get to it before the game starts (7:10AM my time).

May 07

Game 30, 2016

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Dodgers at Jays, 10:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Kershaw (3-1, 1.96 ERA) goes against R.A. Dickey (1-3, 5.73 ERA). This will be the Dodgers’ lefty’s first outing against the Blue Jays in his 9-year career. He still has the Orioles, Red Sox and Twins to go (barring expansion). Dickey was the guy who won the Cy Young Award the one time Clayton didn’t between 2011-2014. He’s not had a good start to this season, but the Jays are hopeful he’s turned it around.

Lineup:

May 06

Game 29, 2016

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Dodgers at Blue Jays, 4:07PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Kenta Maeda (3-1, 1.41 ERA) goes to Canada for presumably the first time in his life and the poor guy has to work. He’ll pitch tonight against Marcus Stroman (4-0, 3.77 ERA). Maeda had an extra two days of rest thanks to the oddities of the schedule and all the Jays’ right-handed bats. It was decided he matched up better against the Canadian team than against the Rays.

Roberts says Kendrick will DH today and Gonzalez will fulfill those duties tomorrow.

The Dodgers have a center fielder named Logan Landon playing for the low-A Great Lakes Loons, and yesterday he did this:

Lineup when available.

May 04

Game 28, 2016

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Dodgers at Rays, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Alex Wood (1-2, 4.82 ERA) goes against Drew Smyly (1-3, 2.60 ERA). The two lefties are both coming off good starts their last times out.

Manager Roberts says we should expect to see Justin Turner at DH and someone other than Pederson in CF. He thinks Smyly’s rising fast ball might be tough on the young lefthanded hitter.

Lineup when available.

May 03

Game 27, 2016

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Dodgers at Rays, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, Fox Sports Sun

Three ex-Rays are on the Dodgers roster these days, including lefty Scott Kazmir (1-2, 5.76 ERA). He’ll face lefty Matt Moore of the Rays (1-2, 3.66 ERA) in the first of an abbreviated two-game interleague series.

Lineup:

Somehow I doubt that Kiké ever expected to be a designated hitter. Pederson is starting against a lefty because Roberts likes his chances against Moore’s out pitch, a changeup.

Sorry for the delay. Here’s what caused it, and it ain’t done yet. For some reason the new router can’t see the printer, despite new cables from one to the other and countless imprecations directed at each.

May 01

Game 26, 2016

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

Lefthander Drew Pomeranz (2-2, 2.86 ERA) v. lefthander Clayton Kershaw (2-1, 2.43 ERA). Both pitchers are strikeout artists: Kershaw’s strikeout-per-nine-innings ratio is 9.73, while Pomeranz’s is 12.68. The Padre pitcher has only made it into the sixth inning in two of his four starts this year, while Kershaw’s been his usual self, getting into or past the seventh inning in all five of his starts.

Lineup when available.

A vote of confidence for a slumping Puig? Maybe, but the way he’s hitting this looks like a black hole to lead off the game. As thousands have said before, though, you only lead off once in the entire game.

Apr 30

Game 25, 2016

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Padres at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

The Padres send rookie right-hander Colin Rea (1-1, 5.06 ERA) out to face the Dodgers’ rookie Ross Stripling (0-1, 3.22 ERA). The Dodgers have seen Rea twice before, once on Opening Day and once last season. They scored three runs on five hits against him in six cumulative innings. The Padres have never seen Stripling pitch.

Lineup when available.

Apr 29

Game 24, 2016

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

The Dodgers look to Alex Wood (1-2, 6.00 ERA) to halt their unexpected 4-game losing streak. Wood has struggled so far this season, but he’s been better at home than on the road. The Dodgers hope that continues tonight. The Padres send out Cesar Vargas, a right-handed rookie who made his major league debut last weekend. He went five innings and gave up just one run but didn’t get the decision.

In this series there are a couple of guys playing against teams which traded them who have been successful doing so: Matt Kemp is hitting .310/.364/.408 in 19 games against Los Angeles. Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has had similar success against his old club, batting .316/.360/.540 in 69 games.

Lineup when available.

Apr 28

Game 23, 2016

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Marlins at Dodgers, TV: SPNLA, FS-F

The Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda makes his fifth MLB start today, and he’s already a record-setter:

Maeda (3-0, 0.36 ERA) has made four starts and allowed a total of one run, becoming the first pitcher since at least 1913 to begin a career in that fashion. The Japanese right-hander is only the third pitcher since 1900 to throw at least 25 innings in his first four Major League starts while allowing no more than one run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his last start Saturday against the Rockies at Coors Field, finishing with 6 1/3 scoreless innings to record his third win of the season.

He’ll face right-hander Jose Fernandez, who was the NL’s 2013 Rookie of the Year but then needed Tommy John surgery in May of 2014. He started his recovery in August of 2015 but suffered a biceps strain and didn’t come back until mid-September. He’s 1-2 with a 4.37 ERA this year and hasn’t shown that he can pitch well consistently on the road. He has a career record of 5-10 with a 3.81 ERA away from Miami. He did beat the Dodgers once at Dodger Stadium in 2013.

If you think Stanton kills the Dodgers in Los Angeles, you’re right.

In 18 career games at the ballpark, Stanton is 21-for-66 (.318) with eight home runs and 21 RBIs. In this series alone, he’s 4-for-10 (.400) with three homers, one double, six RBIs and three walks.

Lineup:

Apr 27

Game 22, 2016

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Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-F

Scott Kazmir takes his 1-1 record and his 6.63 ERA to the mound along with some bruises at the base of his left (throwing) thumb. He says he’s fine and will be “good to go.” His opposition will be Justin Nicolino, who’s just been brought up from AAA New Orleans. Down there he had a 3.60 ERA over 25 innings in four starts. He pitched 74 innings in MLB last year, going 5-4 with a 4.01 ERA. He’s replacing Jarrod Cosart on the Marlins’ roster. Cosart was optioned to work on his control at the AAA level.

Lineup when available.