Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodger dongs were flying out of Marlins Park on Tuesday night. Now the Dodgers (80-41) go for their fourth straight victory and the series win against the Marlins (44-74) Wednesday in game two of three in Miami. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 games.
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Dodgers
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Marlins
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4:10 p.m.
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Miami
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RF
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Pederson |
SS
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Berti | |
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2B
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Muncy |
2B
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Diaz | |
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3B
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Turner |
RF
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Anderson | |
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CF
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Bellinger |
1B
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Cooper | |
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SS
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Seager |
3B
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Castro | |
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LF
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Beaty |
LF
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Ramirez | |
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1B
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Rios | C | Alfaro | |
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C
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Martin |
CF
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Brinson | |
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P
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Kershaw (L) |
P
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Hernandez (R) |
Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 2.77 ERA, 3.37 FIP) just missed out on pitching on International Lefthanders Day Tuesday, but a dominant Kershaw start is reason for celebration any day of the year.
Contrary to the washed-up Kershaw narratives, the veteran has the second-best ERA on the team among Dodger starters with at least 120 IP, and he’s third in WHIP (1.04) just behind Walker Buehler. His strikeout rate (25.4%) is up from last season (23.9%), but his walk rate (5.4%) and HR/9 (1.0) are also slightly up. Kersh has been excellent in the second half, going 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 11.6 K/9 in five starts (31 IP). In his career, he’s 5-5 with a 2.55 ERA in 12 starts against the Marlins. He’s 2-2 with a 1.85 ERA in four career starts at Marlins Park.
For some reason, old friend Miguel Rojas hits well against Kershaw. He’s 3-for-9 with a homer against the All-Star pitcher, but he’s currently on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.
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Elieser Hernandez (2-4, 4.94 ERA, 5.67 FIP) is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA and 1.765 WHIP in two career games (5.2 IP) against the Dodgers. The 24-year old right-hander was pegged with a loss on July 20 at Dodger Stadium after a disastrous relief appearance. He allowed four runs on four hits including a three-run bomb to Matt Beaty in the eighth inning of the 4-1 Dodger win.
Hernandez struggled mightily against the Dodgers out of the Miami bullpen the last time he faced LA, but he’s coming off of one of his best starts of his young career. Last time out, he hurled six innings of shutout ball, allowing only two hits and striking out seven on 98 pitches for the win vs. the Braves. He’s fared much better at home this season (2-1, 3.29 ERA) than on the road (0-3, 7.20 ERA).
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Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor are working their way back.
Dave Roberts said Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor will begin rehab assignments this weekend. Probably in Arizona before going to an affiliate.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) August 14, 2019
The Jedd Gyorko era is almost upon us as well.
Jedd Gyorko has gone 8 for 19 (.421) with 2 HRs and 7 RBI in 7 games on his rehab assignment, last 5 with OKC #Dodgers. Before he went out, Dave Roberts estimated it would take 30-40 at-bats for Gyorko to be ready.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 14, 2019
Another six-dong day sounds good to me. I almost feel bad for Don Mattingly. Almost.
