Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers once again look to Clayton Kershaw to get them back on track. In his last start on Sunday against the Padres, Kershaw’s magnificent pitching and offensive contribution singlehandedly snapped their six-game losing streak. He only allowed 3 hits in the complete game shutout while striking out a season-high 14 batters and walking none on 101 pitches. He has collected double digit strikeouts in his last three consecutive starts.
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Dodgers
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Blue Jays
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10:07 a.m. PT
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Toronto
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2B
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Utley |
CF
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Pillar | |
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SS
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Seager |
3B
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Donaldson | |
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3B
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Turner |
RF
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Bautista | |
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1B
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Gonzalez |
DH
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Encarnacion | |
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RF
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Puig |
1B
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Smoak | |
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LF
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Kendrick |
SS
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Tulowitzki | |
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CF
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Pederson | LF | Saunders | |
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DH
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Crawford |
2B
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Barney | |
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C
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Ellis
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C
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Thole
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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Dickey (R)
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Kershaw (3-1, 1.96) will be making his first career start against the Blue Jays. He has yet to face the Orioles, Twins or Red Sox as well. Even though he has never pitched at Rogers Centre, Kershaw hasn’t lost a game on the road this season (1-0, 1.17) and has only allowed three runs on the road through 23 innings. He is leading MLB in strikeouts (54), WHIP (0.72) and K/BB (18.00).
Troy Tulowitzki, who will be in the Toronto lineup on Saturday after a day off, has hit three home runs off Kershaw.
Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (1-3, 5.73) will be on the mound for Toronto and looking for his first win since April 4. The Blue Jays have lost each of his last 5 starts since. Last time out vs. Texas, Dickey allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks on 98 pitches through 6 1/3 innings, his longest and best start of the season so far.
Dickey is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four games (three starts) against the Dodgers in his career. Chase Utley and Carl Crawford have hit well against him in the past. Utley has five hits including two doubles in 16 at-bats, and Crawford has three hits including a home run and a double in seven at-bats.
Crawford, who batted ninth and started in left field in the series opener despite Dave Roberts‘ original plan to avoid playing him on artificial turf, is the designated hitter and hitting eighth on Saturday morning. The original lineup had Crawford starting again in left field, but Roberts changed it in order to give him a day off from playing on artificial turf. He went 2-for-4 with a single, RBI double and a run scored on Friday. Kendrick is in left field.
Mike Bolsinger will start for Triple-A Oklahoma City today to begin his rehab assignment.
.@MBolsinger is beginning his rehab assignment today. #Dodgers
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) May 7, 2016
There was also Julio Urias buzz this morning.
“We’re looking through options and (Julio) Urias is definitely at the top of the list,” Dave Roberts says of his bullpen.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 7, 2016
Can we get a win, eh?
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