Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers lost last night in a game that seemed eerily 2018-ish. They got an impressive five-inning outing out of Julio Urias, who shut the Giants offense out and threw a few ridiculous pitches. However, the offense managed only two runs, both solo dongs, while the Giants beat up on Joe Kelly and Pedro Baez for a 4-2 victory. Those four runs were one fewer than they scored in four games in San Diego to begin the season. Today’s a new day, and each team has their Opening Day starter on the hill on game two of the series.
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Giants
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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CF
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Duggar |
2B
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Hernández | |
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1B
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Belt |
3B
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Turner | |
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3B
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Longoria |
SS
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Seager | |
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C
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Posey |
CF
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Pollock | |
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SS
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Crawford |
RF
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Bellinger | |
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2B
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Solarte |
LF
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Taylor | |
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LF
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Joe | 1B | Muncy | |
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RF
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Parra |
C
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Martin | |
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P
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Bumgarner (L) |
P
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Ryu (L) |
Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his second start of the season today after a solid outing last Thursday. Ryu allowed one run over six innings and struck out eight while not walking a batter in his first start of the season. The Diamondbacks struck on a solo home run in the sixth inning, which was the only time a batter got past second base against Ryu. Ryu saw the Giants three times in 2018. The first time, he allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, with both runs being scored on solo home runs in the third. Ryu’s next start against the Giants came in his return from a torn groin, and he allowed three hits over six shutout innings. In his final start of the regular season, Ryu allowed a run and four hits over six innings. His three strikeouts in that game was one of his fewest totals of the season, and his two walks in that game were the first two walks he allowed to Giants in 2018.
Madison Bumgarner starts for the Giants today following a very good Opening Day outing. Bumgarner allowed five hits and struck out nine Padres in seven innings. However, he allowed a home run and an RBI single to Wil Myers. Those two runs were two more than the Giants’ offense could score off Eric Lauer. Bumgarner also lined out in the third inning with an exit velocity of 106.1 MPH, which was the hardest-hit ball of the game by a Giant and their second-hardest-hit ball of the series. Bumgarner tossed six innings in each of his three outings against the Dodgers last season and allowed eight runs in 18 total innings. He only struck out 14 Dodgers in those three games, and the Dodgers won each of the three contests.
Max Muncy starts against a lefty for the first time in 2019. He starts at first with David Freese getting the night off. Enrique Hernandez leads off against Bumgarner, and his utter ownage of MadBum is one of my favorite baseball things. In 40 plate appearances, Hernandez owns a .487/.500/.923 triple slash against Bumgarner with four dongs and five doubles. The Giants run out a similar lineup to last night, except Joe Panik sits and Yangervis Solarte moves to second.
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The Giants made a move today.
Kevin Pillar will be active today and is listed among the Giants reserves on the lineup card. He easily becomes their best outfielder, and while his bat isn’t great he’s known as a great defender. MLB Pipeline had Juan De Paula as the Giants’ 19th-ranked prospect. Alen Hanson and Derek Law had each been DFA’d recently.
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Lots of pitcher-related news for the Dodgers. Rich Hill will throw a bullpen Saturday. Clayton Kershaw will start an Opening Day, as he’ll start the first game of the OKC Dodgers season. When one of the two is ready to return, Urias will be out of the rotation. It makes sense to ease him back after a shoulder injury cost him more than a full year, despite how promising he looked as a starter last night.
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The Dodgers announced their annual LGBT night.
Billie Jean King will throw out the first pitch before the Dodgers get their first look at Bryce Harper and the Phillies.
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Tonight’s game will be on KTLA. This is one of 10 scheduled games that will be broadcast on TV for us non-Sportsnet-havers.
