Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

Jun 09

Game 59, 2015

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The D-Backs send out LHP Robbie Ray, who’s 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings in his second partial season in the big leagues. He’s thrown a lot of pitches in each of his two starts, which is why he’s gone no longer than six innings in either of them. He’ll face the Dodgers’ Carlos Frias, who’s 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA. He’d been perking along with an under-2.50 ERA until a disastrous start against the Padres on May 24 when he gave up 10 earned runs in 4 innings.

Here’s a list of the Dodgers’ first ten draft picks. Begin your wild speculations now.

Lineup:

Joc Pederson sits down for the first time this season. Ethier sits because Ray is a lefty. Turner probably sits because he hit a ball hard off his knee in last night’s game.

Jun 08

Game 58, 2015

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Old friend Rubby De La Rosa pitched 61 1/3 innings for the Dodgers in 2011-2012 before being traded to Boston in the Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford deal. He was traded to the D-Backs last winter and will take the hill for the D-Backs tonight, sporting a record of 4-2 and a 5.09 ERA. He’s had four consecutive no-decisions but has given up four or more runs in four of his last five starts including seven his last time out.

The Dodgers counter with Mike Bolsinger, who’s been a really pleasant surprise. He’s 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA despite giving up four runs in five innings in his last start.

The Dodgers have beaten the D-Backs six consecutive times in Dodger Stadium including a three-game sweep in April.

In other news, MLB’s draft begins today and the D-Backs have the first pick.

Lineup:

Hmm. No Puig. I wonder if there’s anything wrong with him or if they’re just being cautious with the hamstring.

Jun 07

Game 57, 2015

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Cardinals at Dodgers, 5:00PM PT, TV: ESPN

The Cards and Dodgers play Sunday Night Baseball. It’ll be Zack Greinke for the Dodgers versus Lance Lynn for the Cardinals. Greinke’s last game was astonishing because it was the first bad one he’s had all year: he gave up ten hits and five runs to the Rockies over six innings. Even with that aberration, he’s 5-1 with a 1.97 ERA on the year. Lynn is 4-4 with a 3.03 ERA on the year. His last start was his best of the season: he went 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the Brewers.

Matt Carpenter’s bruised triceps makes him day-to-day for the Cardinals.

Lineup when available.

Turner hitting cleanup? I’ll bet he hasn’t done that since high school!

Jun 06

Game 56, 2015

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Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Kershaw goes for win number five on the year and 103 for his career. He’s coming off a win in his last outing, in which he went 7 innings and gave up 2 runs to the Rockies. He’ll be facing Jaime Garcia, who’s 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA after getting a late start on his season, pitching his first game on May 21. He had season-ending surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome last summer and then had to open 2015 on the DL.

Lineup when available.

Notice Mr. Yasiel Puig is in right field. He was reinstated from the DL earlier today and young Mr. Schebler was optioned back to OKC. Adrian gets the day off, as does Ethier. In André’s case it’s probably due to the Cards’ Garcia being a lefty.

Jun 05

Game 55, 2015

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Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The last time the Dodgers saw Carlos Martinez he threw seven strong innings of shutout ball. That was last Sunday. He was matched up against Brett Anderson that day, and he will be again tonight. Anderson pitched well, giving up only five hits and two runs, but he took the loss.

Lineup:

Schebler? Who the heck is Schebler?

Oh. He’s a 24-year-old left-handed outfielder hitting .216 at OKC.

Jun 04

Game 54, 2015

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Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

It’s a pitching rematch of last Saturday’s game featuring the Cards’ Michael Wacha versus the Dodgers’ Carlos Frias. Frias won the first game 5-1, going seven innings and giving up just that (unearned) run. Wacha gave up just three hits but four earned runs, including a three-run homer to Yasmani Grandal in the sixth which chased him. It was Wacha’s only loss of the season so far: he’s 7-1 with a 2.27 ERA. Frias is 4-2 with a 4.29 ERA.

Regarding Kenley Jansen’s non-appearance in last night’s ninth inning, Mattingly said repeatedly “he just wasn’t available.”

Update:

I think Vassegh co-hosts Dodger Talk on AM570 radio in LA.

Lineup:

Jun 03

Game 53, 2015

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Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ESPN2

Mike Bolsinger has been a big surprise to the Dodgers, and they hope he can keep it up. He’s 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA in five starts totaling 31 1/3 innings. His mound opponent will be Chad Bettis, who’s been a pleasant find for the Rockies. He’s 2-0 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts totaling 27 1/3 innings.

Tom Verducci has a good story on Adrian Gonzalez and why he’s bucking the trend of older left-handed hitters’ drooping on-base averages.

The major league average on balls in play is .299. But the majority of older lefthanded- and switch-hitting players fall under that mark, including the 39-year-old Ortiz (.235) and 36-year-olds Rollins (.223) and Utley (.209). Gonzalez, unlike last year, actually is way above the norm (.370).

Lineup:

Jun 02

Games 51 & 52, 2015

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Game 1, Dodgers at Rockies, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA. This is a makeup game for one that was postponed due to weather on May 9.

Juan Nicasio is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 16 games and 21 innings. He’s struck out 28 and walked 11 in those appearances, all in relief. His longest stint has been 3 inning on May 2. He’ll face Jorge De La Rosa, who’s 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA and no appearances since May 21 due to a cut finger.

Lineup:

Game 2, Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Zack Greinke is 5-1 with a 1.48 ERA.

Over his previous five starts — a stretch that’s covered 34 1/3 innings — Greinke owns a 1.05 ERA and has yielded just five runs (four earned). He’s struck out 31, walked only seven and hasn’t given up more than one run in a start since April 29.

His opponent will be David Hale, who’s 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his only game in the big leagues this year. He went 6 2/3 innings.

Lineup:

Jun 01

Game 50, 2015

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

Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in hopes of continuing his ERA’s downward trend while getting his fourth win. He’s 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA. Kershaw is 7-3 lifetime at Coors Field in 16 starts with a 4.78 ERA and he’s given up 12 home runs there, more than in any park except Dodger Stadium. His opponent is Kyle Kendrick, who started the year off horridly but who has been improving in his last four starts. He’s 2-6 with a 6.38 ERA, which looks awful but is markedly better than the 8.73 it was on May 3. He’s gone at least seven innings in three of those last four games.

Lineup:

May 31

Game 49, 2015

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Dodgers at Cardinals, 11:15AM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN, FS-M

Brett Anderson brings his 2-2 record and his 3.47 ERA to the hill in the rubber game of the three-game series. He’ll face Carlos Martinez, who’s 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA. Sunday is Oscar Taveras Day at Busch Stadium, honoring the Cardinal rookie who died in a car crash in October of last year; Martinez and Taveras were good friends.

Little-known fact: Anderson has yet to allow more than four runs in a start this season; this will be his 10th. Good sign: only two of the Cards’ players have even faced him before, and Peralta and Bourjos are a combined .150 in 20 lifetime ABs. On the other side, five Dodgers have faced Martinez, and they’re hitting a whopping .167 against him.

Lineup when available.

The only change from yesterday is Callaspo at third.