Aug 22

Game 130, 2014

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

This is the only visit to Dodger Stadium the Mets will make this year. The Dodgers won two of three against the Orange and Blue at Citi Field earlier this summer.

The Dodgers’ Dan Haren (10-10, 4.59 ERA) tries again to recover the form he had earlier in the season. His last outing was awful, but the previous two had been pretty good. He’ll face LHP Jon Niese, who’s 7-8 with a 3.50 ERA. He went on the DL with a strained left shoulder and since coming off has gone 2-4 with a 4.97 ERA. His last time out he spaced seven hits over six innings, gave up three runs and beat the Cubs.

Lineup when available.

Aug 21

Game 129, 2014

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

Clayton Kershaw tries to shake off the loss he took in his last outing. He’s still 14-3 with a 1.86 ERA. He’ll face Tyson Ross, who is 11-11 with a 2.70 ERA and has worked into the sixth inning or later 20 of his last 24 starts.

Ryu has played catch on flat ground the last two days and continues to work toward pitching off a mound. Uribe took batting practice before yesterday’s game.

Aug 20

Game 128, 2014

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

ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball late game features Roberto Hernandez making his third start for the Dodgers and looking for his second win for the team. He’ll face Eric Stults, who is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA in three starts this month.

The Padres have averaged the most runs per game (4.57) in the National League since the All-Star break.

Gordon gets a night off tonight. Darwin Barney will start at 2nd base for him. Crawford had a huge night last night, so he gets tonight off as well (?). Van Slyke will take his place in LF.

Update: The Giants won their protest that last night’s game shouldn’t have been declared a complete game loss for them because the Cubs’ ground crew didn’t get the tarp on properly and thus rendered the field unplayable when the umps tried to restart the game. They claimed that not enough was done to dry the infield. It will be resumed in the fifth inning at 2:05PM PT Thursday before the regularly-scheduled game begins at 5:05PM PT.

Aug 19

Game 127, 2014

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

Kevin Correia gets the start for the Dodgers. He’s faced the Padres twice already this season, even though he pitched for the Twins of the AL before his acquisition. In May he went six innings against them, striking out six, walking one, and giving up three earned runs. In August he also went six innings, struck out three, walked one, and again gave up three earned runs. In his first start for the Dodgers last Monday he threw six innings of one-run ball with just four hits and one walk allowed with five strikeouts and beat the Braves. Correia is 6-13 on the season with a 4.79 ERA. He had a horrible April, ending the month with a 7.33 ERA. It’s been dropping every month thereafter.

Ian Kennedy will go for the Padres. He’s 9-10 with a 3.54 ERA. This will be his fourth start since missing a turn due to a minor oblique injury; the previous three he went five, six and six innings and gave up no more than three earned runs in any of those games.

Hanley Ramirez is expected to come off the DL on Sunday, the moment the 15 day period is up. We get to see Erisbel Arruebarrena at short tonight. He’s been in eight previous games at the big league level, getting five hits in sixteen ABs and playing error-free ball.

Aug 17

Game 126, 2014

Brewers at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

It’ll be Dan Haren for the Dodgers and Wily Peralta for the Brew Crew. Peralta is 14-7 with a 3.46 ERA. This will be his second try at win number fifteen. Haren is 10-9 with a 4.50 ERA, but has won his last two after a five-game losing streak.

In Uribe’s absence the Dodgers might try Hanley Ramirez there, leaving Rojas at shortstop. Of course they give Barney the start at short today. Ramirez took some grounders at third on Saturday.

Lineup:

Aug 16

Game 125, 2014

Brewers at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

Clayton Kershaw brings his 14-2, 1.78 ERA record to the hill to face Yovani Gallardo and his 7-6, 3.44 ERA record. Gallardo hasn’t pitched against the Dodgers this year. In his career he’s had seven starts and sports (?) a 5.98 ERA against them.

Hyun-Jin Ryu went on the DL with a Grade 1-2 strain in his hip. Kevin Correia will start in Ryu’s place on Tuesday against the Padres. Additionally, “the Dodgers acquired right-hander Justin Germano from the Rangers for future considerations on Friday. The Dodgers assigned German to Triple-A Albuquerque.”

Germano is a 31-year-old journeyman who’s pitched 7 innings in the big leagues in the last two years, spending most of his time in AAA Buffalo and Round Rock, where he was primarily a starter.

Update: Via ESPN: “Uribe is the seventh different Dodgers player to have gone on the DL this month, including Ramirez and pitchers Josh Beckett, Ryu, Paul Maholm, Chris Perez and Paco Rodriguez.”

Lineup when available.

Aug 15

Game 124, 2014

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

These two teams faced each other last weekend in Milwaukee and the home team won two of three, including one against Zack Greinke, tonight’s starter for the Dodgers. In that game he threw six innings, gave up four earned runs on eight hits, and continued a rather unhappy streak: In seven starts against his former teams (Brewers, Angels, Royals) he’s lost them all. However, he’s still 12-8 with a 2.84 ERA this season.

The Brewers send out Jimmy Nelson, who also pitched in last weekend’s series. He went six innings, giving up eight hits and two runs while losing to Kershaw on Sunday. Overall he’s 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA this year.

Hanley Ramirez isn’t swinging a bat yet, but he has done a little throwing. The Brewers’ Ryan Braun has a nerve problem in a hand, but he expects to play tonight. Another note: it’s hard to believe, but the Brewers’ K-Rod (Francisco Rodriguez) needs one save to tie Rollie Fingers at No. 11 on the all-time saves list with 341. Man, it seems like only a couple of years ago he was a 20-year-old kid pitching for the Angels in the 2002 World Series.

Lineup when available.

Aug 14

Game 123, 2014

Dodgers at Braves, 9:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Getaway day comes early for the Dodgers, as game time is noon in Atlanta. One wonders how many fans will show up for daytime baseball in mid-week.

The Dodgers will ask Roberto Hernandez (6-8, 3.83 ERA) to repeat what he did in his first start for the team after arriving via trade last week. In that game he pitched six innings and gave up just two runs, both in the first. He got a no-decision. His opponent will be former Dodger Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.31 ERA), who pitched seven strong innings himself last time out for the Braves. He too got no decision. He’s had a 2.55 ERA in his last nine starts, so he’s been pitching well.

Lineup when available.

Aug 13

Game 122, 2014

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

Hyun-Jin Ryu goes for the Dodgers. He’s 13-5 with a 3.21 ERA coming off a seven-inning two-hit performance against the Angels Thursday night. His opponent will be Ervin Santana, who’s 11-6 with a 3.69 ERA. His last outing wasn’t so scintillating: he was sailing along against the Nationals until the sixth inning when he gave up four runs, three on a dinger by Anthony Rendon (who?).

In off-the-field news, the Dodgers asked for waivers on Chone Figgins for purposes of giving him his unconditional release. They also announced that minor-league reliever Colt Hynes, who had been designated for assignment by the Dodgers, has been claimed by the Blue Jays. Lastly, the team announced that Stephen Fife will undergo Tommy John surgery today. It will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Lineup when available.

Aug 12

Game 121, 2014

Dodgers at Braves, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

The Dodgers send Dan Haren to the hill. Last time out he went 7 1/3 innings, holding the Angels to three hits and one run. Before that he’d been on a five-game losing streak. It’s a safe bet that Haren, the Dodgers and the fans all hope the good Haren shows up for tonight’s game.

Haren will face Mike Minor, who’s had a very odd history recently.

He entered this season having posted a 2.90 ERA in his previous 47 starts (going back to July 5, 2012). He produced a 3.07 ERA in his first seven starts this year, but he has a 7.33 ERA in the 10 starts that have followed.

You could say Minor and Haren have had roughly the same kind of season. Minor has had pretty good success against the Dodgers over his four-year career: he’s 1-1 with a 2.32 ERA in five previous starts against them.

Lineup when available.