Jun 17

Game 66, 2015

Rangers at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN, FSSW

It’s a battle of lefties. Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.21 ERA) starts against the Rangers, the team he grew up following. The team from Texas counters with Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.03 ERA). This will be Kershaw’s first time pitching against the Rangers, while Rodriguez has a 5-5 record with a 2.64 ERA in 12 career starts against the Dodgers as an Astro and a Pirate.

The Dodgers activated Scott Van Slyke from the DL and placed Chris Hatcher on it with a shoulder strain.

Lineup:

Joc Pederson gets a rest, as does André Ethier.

Jun 12

Game 61,2015

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

Clayton Kershaw v. Odrisamer Despaigne. Kershaw is 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA and on a roll: in his last three starts he’s given up two runs over 22 innings. Despaigne is 3-4 with a 4.72 ERA and has been susceptible to the home run ball (8 in 12 starts); he’s also averaged over 13 hits allowed per nine innings in his last seven outings.

The Dodgers are 6-3 against the Padres this season, which is good. They’re 10-15 on the road this season, which is not.

We may get in-game reports (if Petco Park has Wi-Fi) from Bob_in_Vegas, who discovered his scheduled trip to San Diego coincided with the Dodgers’ games there.

Late news: Hector Olivera has been promoted to OKC. The Dodgers acquired Ronald Torreyes from Toronto for cash and DFA’d Darwin Barney to make room on the 40-man roster for him.

Lineup when available.

Jun 06

Game 56, 2015

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 01

Game 50, 2015

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 26

Game 45, 2015

Braves at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, SPSO, ESPN

Clayton Kershaw hasn’t yet found his Cy Young form this season. He’s posted a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 4.32, roughly two runs per game higher than his norm. On paper the Braves should be a team he’d be happy to face, as they’re collectively hitting a chilly .151 against him. He’ll face Julio Teheran, who’s got a 4-1 record and a 3.91 ERA.

Apparently there was a lot of discussion between the Dodgers and the Braves during which the Dodgers offered Juan Uribe for up to three minor leaguers, but it fell through when the Braves’ utility infielder Alberto Callaspo vetoed the deal for as-yet-unknown reasons. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement a player who signs a contract as a free agent can reject a trade if it’s before the calendar date June 15. There’s some speculation about his refusal to be sent to LA at the article behind that first link.

Offloading Uribe to a place where he could play regularly is a laudable goal, but for another reserve infielder? I suspect the Dodgers really wanted the three minor leaguers, several of whom were reportedly pitchers.

Lineup when available.

May 21

Game 40, 2015

Dodgers at Giants, 12:45PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN, CSN-BA

This is a marquee matchup on paper. The Dodgers send out their ace Clayton Kershaw, who is a three-time Cy Young winner, MVP and four-time ERA title winner. The Giants send out last year’s NCLS and World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner, who was the best pitcher in baseball for the last three weeks of last year. When they’ve faced one another Kershaw’s had the statistical edge but the Giants have gotten the win in three of four games (thanks to foultip in the comments to Game 39).

Kershaw’s off to a rocky start (for him) this season, with a 2-2 record and a 4.24 ERA. Bumgarner is 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA so far in 2015. In his career Kershaw is 8-2 with a 0.97 ERA at AT&T Park.

Ryu had surgery this morning. They found and fixed a partial labral tear in his left shoulder. He should be back next spring.

Lineup when available.

May 15

Game 35, 2015

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

Clayton Kershaw goes for victory number 100 for the fifth time. His last time out he was roughed up (or nibbled to death) by the Rockies for five runs in 5 1/3 innings. He didn’t figure in the decision as the Dodgers recovered to win 9-5 at Coors Field. His opponent will be Eddie Butler, who pitched and lost the rain-shortened game last week, also at Coors.

The Dodgers could activate Kenley Jansen as early as today. Whether he’s immediately thrown into the closer role is up in the air.

Sports Illustrated has a nice story about the Dodgers’ defense and how it’s improved, particularly with Joc Pederson in center field.

Lineup when available.

May 09

Game 30, 2015

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

Clayton Kershaw makes his fourth try to win career number 100 this evening, weather permitting. He’s won six straight against the Rockies and has a 1.62 ERA over those games. He’s 14-5 with a 3.11 ERA in his career against the Rockies and is 7-3 at Coors Field, posting a 4.58 ERA. His opponent will be Jorge De La Rosa, who has 45 lifetime wins at Coors, more than any other pitcher in the history of the stadium. De La Rosa started the year on the DL, however, and he’s 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA after coming off it.

In outfielder news, Yasiel Puig tweaked his hamstring in a rehab game with Rancho Cucamonga Friday night.

Lineup when available.

The weather is not looking good, unless you’re a skier/snowboarder.

Continued rain today will increase the possibility of flash flooding throughout the urban corridor and plains. Residents should be on alert for flooding in their vicinity after heavy rains pass over. The far eastern plains could see severe weather with increased heating. Chances for large hail and tornadoes increase by this afternoon. For the mountains, the snow level will be around 9000ft lowering to 7000ft by this evening. Areas above 9000ft could see 2 to 6 inches by this afternoon with another 4 to 10 inches overnight. Mountain roads will be slushy and snow packed by this evening.

Okay, lineup for today’s game:

The weather is forecast to be in the low 40s with a small chance of rain.

No explanation given for Ethier’s absence in right field, nor for Uribe’s absence at third base. It could just be that the Rockies’ pitcher De La Rosa is a lefty.

May 04

Game 25, 2015

Dodgers at Brewers, 4:20PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN (Free game)

This will be game one of the Brewers’ Craig Counsell era; they fired Ron Roenicke over the weekend.

Clayton Kershaw tries again to win career #100, this time against Kyle Lohse. Kershaw is 1-2 with a 3.73 ERA in five starts in 2015, while Lohse is 1-4 with a 7.28 ERA, also in five starts. The Brewers’ Ryan Braun and Gerardo Parra have both had pretty good success against Kershaw, while Adrian Gonzalez has been a thorn in Lohse’s side.

Lineup:

Apr 28

Game 20, 2015

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

Like yesterday’s, this game is a rematch of the starters in last week’s series. Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner squared off last Wednesday. Neither one got the decision in a game ultimately won by the Giants. Each gave up two runs; Kershaw gave up three hits, Bumgarner gave up six. Kershaw walked one and struck out nine, Bumgarner walked two and struck out six. Each pitcher has faced the other team a lot in his respective career: Kershaw is 14-5 against the Giants with a 1.48 ERA and four shutouts. Bumgarner is 11-5 against the Dodgers with a 2.56 ERA.

Lineup when available.

The reason Alex is in left field is that Carl Crawford was placed on the 15-day DL and IF/OF Kiké Hernandez was brought up from Oklahoma City. There’s been no Twitter explanation for Joc’s absence from the starting lineup.