Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers reverted back to their rough ways last night, as the offense was mostly punchless against Jake Arrieta and Kenta Maeda allowed two runs in the second inning before being lifted with a hip injury. The bullpen was mostly passable until Daniel Hudson allowed a pair of runs in the ninth inning, but that didn’t really matter since they only managed to score one run. Today, the Dodgers look to return to the win column behind their surprisingly elite starter.
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Phillies
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Dodgers
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7:10 PM
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Los Angeles
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2B
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Hernandez |
LF
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Pederson | |
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CF
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Herrera |
1B
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Muncy | |
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1B
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Santana |
C
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Grandal | |
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RF
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Altherr |
RF
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Kemp | |
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LF
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Williams |
CF
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Bellinger | |
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SS
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Kingery |
SS
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Taylor | |
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3B
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Walding | 3B | Valera | |
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C
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Alfaro |
2B
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Forsythe | |
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P
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Eflin (R)
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P
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Stripling (R)
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Ross Stripling gets the start for the Dodgers. He started the season as a key piece of the bullpen, but was moved into the rotation due to a number of injuries. Rather than putting up with his role as a spot starter, Stripling has made it increasingly difficult to justify moving him out of the rotation. Stripling has started five games and thrown 26 innings as a starter. In these innings, Stripling has allowed a .287 wOBA and only seven runs, good for a 2.42 ERA. More impressively, Stripling has struck out 33 batters. If you add the 15.1 innings of relief, Stripling’s numbers get even better. Among the 131 pitchers with at least 40 innings thrown this season, Stripling has the 13th-highest strikeout percentage (29.6 percent), the fourth-lowest ERA (1.74) and the fifth-lowest SIERA (2.77) in baseball. Brim wrote about Stripling’s curveball for The Athletic prior to his last start, and instead of Brim’s usual jinx, Stripling responded with six innings of one-unearned-run ball against the Padres and a career-high 10 strikeouts.
Both Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig get the day off today. Matt Kemp starts in right with Joc Pederson leading off and manning left field. Breyvic Valera gets his first start as a Dodger today, starting at third.
Old friend Zach Eflin starts for the Phillies today. Eflin never appeared in a game for the Dodgers, but was acquired in the Kemp/Yasmani Grandal trade and shipped off a day later for Jimmy Rollins. He made 11 starts in each of the last two seasons and didn’t do so well, but has been much better in his four starts this season. In 22 innings, Eflin has allowed eight earned runs and 19 hits and boasts a 24:7 strikeout:walk rate. Eflin is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing nine hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. Brooks Baseball has Eflin averaging 95.55 MPH with his fastball this season, and he primarily relies on that and a slider.
Rhys Hoskins is still out of the lineup for the Phillies after fouling a ball off his face in Monday’s game.
Rhys Hoskins is a likely DL situation, Gabe Kapler said. A CAT scan revealed a fracture in the jaw. Hoskins will fly to Philly to see team physician for further evaluation. There are surgical and non-surgical options for recovery.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) May 30, 2018
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It was an exciting moment for prospect-watchers, as one of the top pitching prospects in the Dodgers’ system got the call today.
Phone rang at 2am. It’s Showtime! #LABound baby !!! 🛩 Thank you God, Thank you to my family. Will try and make you all proud #Blessed #LADetermined #GoBlue #callmyagent ⚾🧢⚾ pic.twitter.com/SZeh1I6kbj
— Dennis Santana (@DennisSantanaRD) May 30, 2018
Dennis Santana has been called up for the first time in his professional career. Santana was ranked the number nine prospect on Dustin’s Top 100, and got the call today after only two starts at Triple A-OKC. Dustin wrote about what fans can expect from Santana earlier today.
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Santana’s promotion meant at least one roster move had to be made.
Today, the Dodgers placed Kenta Maeda on the 10-day DL with a right hip strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana (#77).
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 30, 2018
Maeda’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious, and it seems like he could only miss one start with his strained hip. Santana will reportedly be available out of the bullpen today and tomorrow, and if he’s not used he will likely start Saturday in Colorado.
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There might be another move in the bullpen today.
#Dodgers have another roster move to come tonight. Possibly. It’s not Machado. Have at it.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 30, 2018
I assume Plunkett wasn’t referring to Danny Espinosa, who was released from the organization today after eight games at Triple A-OKC. If this transaction happens in the next hour, just act like you heard it here first.
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EDIT: There it is. Chase Utley to the DL with a thumb sprain. Pat Venditte is back up. Carry on.
