Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Following last night’s late win, the Dodgers are over .500 for the first time this season. Walker Buehler made his first Major League appearance of the season, and while he was shaky to start he definitely showed the potential we’ve all been expecting. Kenley Jansen and Tony Cingrani were both unavailable as they both appeared in back-to-back games before last night, but Ross Stripling tossed two scoreless innings and Josh Fields locked down the ninth for a 2-1 victory. The Dodgers look for a fourth straight win and their third consecutive series victory with a win tonight.
|
Marlins
|
Dodgers
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7:10 PM
|
Los Angeles
|
|||
|
LF
|
Dietrich |
CF
|
Taylor | |
|
C
|
Realmuto |
SS
|
Seager | |
|
2B
|
Castro |
2B
|
Hernandez | |
|
1B
|
Bour |
1B
|
Bellinger | |
|
3B
|
Anderson |
LF
|
Kemp | |
|
RF
|
Maybin |
C
|
Barnes | |
|
SS
|
Rojas | RF | Puig | |
|
CF
|
Brinson |
3B
|
Farmer | |
|
P
|
Peters (L)
|
P
|
Maeda (R)
|
Kenta Maeda gets the ball for the Dodgers after a solid start in San Diego. The Dodgers gifted Maeda nine runs of support in the first three innings, but Maeda allowed a pair of runs in both the second and third innings. He settled down nicely and left the game with two runners on and two outs in the sixth inning. Maeda’s 106 pitches were the most he’s ever made in a Major League start, and his 10 strikeouts matched the second-most he’s had in three seasons as a Dodger.
Enrique Hernandez, who made a pair of stellar plays at shortstop last night, slides over to second base as Corey Seager returns to the lineup. Austin Barnes starts behind the plate as Yasmani Grandal gets the night off. Grandal has started the last seven games for the Dodgers, and while Barnes has managed to find his playing time at other positions, he’s only making his sixth start behind the plate this season.
For Miami, Dillon Peters makes his fifth start of the season. Peters started six games last September and allowed 18 runs in 31 1/3 innings. So far in 2018, Peters has allowed 15 runs in 19 1/3 innings. His 6.98 ERA is hardly a fluke, as it’s backed up by a 6.47 FIP and a 12:11 K:BB rate. Much of that damage came in one disastrous start in Philadelphia, when Peters allowed nine hits, nine runs and three walks in 2 2/3 innings in a 20-1 Marlin loss. In Peters’ last start in Milwaukee, he allowed four runs and walked five batters in 4.2 innings. Peters throws a fastball, curveball and change-up and averages 91.4 MPH on his fastball. In his limited action last season Peters posted a 63.3 percent ground ball rate, which was only topped by one starter that threw over 10 innings. So far this season, Peters has a 44.4 percent ground ball rate, which is much more middle-of-the-pack.
Justin Bour and Derek Dietrich return to the lineup for Miami tonight. They’re two of the more notable bats in the Marlin lineup, but combined to go hitless in three plate appearances last night as late-inning substitutes.
——
Buehler was apparently so bad last night that he’s been demoted to Single-A.
Daniel Hudson joins Dodgers. Walker Buehler optioned, technically to Class-A Rancho (but only for a few days)
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 24, 2018
When the Dodgers and Giants play two games on Saturday, each team will be afforded a 26th man. Buehler figures to be that 26th man and start one of the two games. Normally, a team would have to wait 10 days to recall a demoted player without putting someone on the Disabled List, but this doesn’t apply for a 26th man. Buehler was sent to Rancho Cucamonga instead of going back to Triple-A OKC, probably just to save him some travel. Daniel Hudson gives the Dodgers a ninth relief pitcher on the active roster. Hudson appeared in five Triple-A games this season and has walked four and struck out five in 4 2/3 shutout innings.
——
Rich Hill threw a simulated game today, and it seemingly went well.
Rich Hill said the simulated game went well. Threw 4 IP, 58 pitches. He’s anticipating being ready for a Monday start.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 24, 2018
Hill is eligible to return from the DL tomorrow, but with an off day on Thursday, the Dodgers can skip him in the rotation until next week. Hill will start Monday in Arizona.
The Dodgers’ rotation for the next week:
Tomorrow: Kershaw
Friday: Ryu
Saturday day: TBA, probably Buehler
Saturday night: Wood
Sunday: Maeda
Monday: Hill— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) April 24, 2018
——
Some future news to look forward to:
The #Dodgers are considered the favorites to sign the No. 1 ranked player on our new Top 30 International Prospects list, Venezuelan catcher Diego Cartaya, and No. 30, Dominican right-hander Jerming Rosario: https://t.co/z7JWW9hCwV pic.twitter.com/hnfchFkyo5
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 24, 2018
Once the new International Signing Period begins in July, the Dodgers will no longer be in the penalty as they have been since the 2015-16 signing period. In that signing period, the Dodgers signed Yadier Alvarez (5th on Dustin’s Top 100), Starling Heredia (13th on Dustin’s Top 100) and Ronny Brito (24th on Dustin’s Top 100), among others. They also nabbed Yordan Alvarez, who was traded to Houston for Fields.
It seems the Dodgers will go back to their international spending as they’re the favorites to sign the number one international prospect on MLB Pipeline, 16-year-old Venezuelan catching prospect Diego Cartaya. Pipeline gives Cartaya three 60-grade tools (Hit, Arm and Field), along with a 45-grade in Power and a 40-grade Speed.
——
While the Dodgers already have nine relievers, it seems like another will return in May.
Dave Roberts said that the plan for Yimi Garcia is to bring him up in May, leaving him enough innings to finish the season without restriction.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 24, 2018
Yimi Garcia hasn’t pitched in a major league game since April 22nd, 2016. He suffered bicep soreness, arthroscopic knee surgery and Tommy John surgery over the last two seasons. Garcia tossed 5 2/3 innings during Spring Training and allowed four runs, but he might have been a tad rusty having not pitched in nearly two years.
