Nationals @ Dodgers June 20, 2016: Strasburg scratched, Kershaw still a go

Stephen Strasburg was set to face off against Clayton Kershaw in what was set to be the best pitching matchup to date. But then this happened:

Nationals
Dodgers
7:10 p.m. PT
Los Angeles
CF
Taylor
2B Utley
LF
Werth
SS Seager
RF
Harper
3B
Turner
2B
Murphy
1B
Gonzalez
1B
Zimmerman
RF
Thompson
C
Ramos
CF
Pederson
3B
Rnedon LF Kendrick
SS
Espinosa
C
Grandal
P
Petit (R)
P
Kershaw (L)

Strasburg can’t handle the LA heat! But seriously, Washington has to do what’s in its best interest, and this is the obvious play. It would have been fun to see Strasburg v. Kershaw, though.

Instead, the Dodgers will see a familiar face in Yusmeiro Petit, who was formerly with the Giants. He hasn’t started a game all season and has just one in the last two seasons. He’s pitched to a 2.81 ERA and a 4.25 FIP in 32 relief innings. The Dodger offense should fare better against him than Strasburg. Then again, everything looks better on paper.

No Yasiel Puig tonight. But fear not…

Hopefully this means less “Howie Kendrick in left field” business. It’d also be great if Puig figured things out and went back to being a productive hitter again.

Also, this is not exactly great news.

I’m not overly concerned, but like Andy said, the timing is rough for Frankie Montas. He was on the verge of joining the rotation. Maybe this means Julio Urias gets more than one more start. Would be a shame to shut him down when he’s pitching so well. But this also means more Carlos Frias, starting pitcher, which, sigh.

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About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.