Dodgers @ Padres August 28, 2019 – Maeda vs. Wingenter (?)

The Dodgers found their bats last night in a 9-0 win in Dodger Stadium South. Kenta Maeda starts the rubber game of this series against someone called Trey Wingenter.

 
Dodgers
   
Padres
 
6:10 p.m.
   
San Diego
CF
Pollock  
2B
Garcia
2B
Muncy  
LF
Naylor
3B
Turner  
3B
Machado
1B
Bellinger  
1B
Hosmer
LF
Taylor  
RF
Renfroe
SS
Seager  
CF
Margot
RF
Hernandez   SS Urias
C
Martin  
C
Hedges
P
Maeda (R)  
P
Wingenter (R)

Maeda is making his fifth start against San Diego this season. He owns a 4.70 ERA and the Dodgers are 2-2 in those games. One game was one of the 12 walk-offs this season — this one on Aug. 4 in an 11-10 win. He gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings. It was one of his worst starts of the season. Conversely, his best start of the campaign came against these Padres. He struck out 12 in 6 2/3 innings on May 15 in a 2-0 Dodger win. Here’s hoping for that version of him tonight.

Will Smith is getting the night off. Relief ace Russell Martin will catch in his spot in a bold move by Dave Roberts. Joc Pederson was a late scratch in right field. It seems Mr. Wingenten is an opener and the Padres intend on bringing in a left-hander for a good portion of the game. Enrique Hernandez draws the start in Joc’s place.

——

Onto some news, courtesy of Ken Gurnick’s Twitter feed.

Reinforcements! Ross Stripling coming back should help a pitching staff that definitely could have used him at some points over the last month.

Freese coming back should be a nice boost for the Dodgers vs. LHP. Jedd Gyroko hasn’t really gotten on track yet and Tyler White wasn’t exactly working out too well.

Getting Alex Verdugo back and healthy for the playoffs is a biggie. It’s not as pressing as it might have been since it appears Matt Beaty is legit, but Verdugo showed flashes of his potential early this season and played a pretty good center field.

——

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Gavin Lux came up in the same capacity Smith did last season. He learned on the job without the pressure of having to perform. I wonder if this could be a model for other teams to follow.

——

Ugh, I don’t get it. Why not just have Dustin May make the start? It really feels like a case of overthinking things.

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.