Pirates @ Dodgers July 2, 2018: The Kingham arrives in LA

Photo: Sarah Wexler

Get it? Like Lebron James.

Pirates
Dodgers
7:10 PM
Los Angeles
CF
Meadows
CF
Pederson
2B
Harrison
2B
Muncy
RF
Polanco
3B
Turner
C
Diaz
1B
Bellinger
3B
Moran
LF
Kemp
1B
Freese
C
Grandal
LF
Dickerson SS Taylor
SS
Mercer
RF
Puig
P
Kingham (R)
P
Wood (L)

Alex Wood will make his 17th start of the season tonight. He’s been better of late, as he’s coming off a seven-inning two-run outing against the Cubs. Wood’s first start of June was a disastrous two-inning start in Colorado, but in 23 1/3 innings since then he’s allowed only seven runs and struck out 21 batters while issuing only three walks. Wood’s last outing against the Cubs was his longest outing since March 30th. While his overall numbers on the season aren’t the best (4.00 ERA/3.33 FIP, 1.163 WHIP), he’s been better of late. He might have to be to keep his spot in the rotation while injured starters return. According to Baseball Savant, Wood currently has the lowest fastball percentage of his career (44.3) and the highest changeup percentage of his career (27.5).

Nick Kingham starts for the Pirates.

The rookie right-hander was recalled today to make this start against the Dodgers. He’ll be making his seventh career start and only his second against an opponent outside of the NL Central. He’s the 11th-ranked prospect in the Pirates system on MLB Pipeline and has fared pretty well in his short time in the Majors. In his debut on April 29 against the Cardinals, Kingham took a perfect game into the seventh inning before a two-out Paul DeJong single spoiled the fun. Kingham finished off the seventh for a one-hit, nine strikeout shutout performance in his debut. He hasn’t been as dominant since, as he’s allowed three or four runs in four of his five other starts. He’s pitched into the sixth inning in every start this season.

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July 2 marks the start of the new international signing period. Dustin wrote about the early signings for the Dodgers, who nabbed the 1st and 30th-ranked prospects by MLB Pipeline. The Dodgers also added a legacy.

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Walker Buehler has his first totally-not-rehab rehab assignment tomorrow.

Buehler will start tomorrow at High-A Rancho Cucomonga.

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This is a Dodger site, but I think I’m contractually obligated to write about Bron.

That WojBomb was fun. Signing Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee was funny. But now I have to root for Rajon Rondo???

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This … might be something worth keeping an eye on.

I’m not going to pretend that I know what half the words in this article mean. Chad and Dustin had thoughts.

About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.