Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers returned home last night and somehow took game one of their four-game series with the Padres. The Joe Musgrove–Mitch White matchup seemed like a mismatch, but Justin Turner hit two homers off Musgrove and White and Co. held the Padres to one run for their 47th win of the season. The win put the Dodgers 2.5 ahead of the Padres, who still could leave LA in first place with wins in the remaining three games of the series. While the Padres seemed to have the upper-hand last night, the Dodgers figure to have the starting pitching advantage tonight.
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| 7:10 PM | Los Angeles | ||
| LF | Profar (S) | SS | T. Turner |
| 2B | Cronenworth (L) | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| DH | Voit | DH | Smith |
| RF | Mazara (L) | 3B | J. Turner |
| 1B | Hosmer (L) | 2B | Muncy (L) |
| C | Nola | LF | Taylor |
| CF | Grisham (L) | RF | Thompson |
| 3B | Kim | CF | Bellinger (L) |
| SS | Abrams (L) | C | Barnes |
| P | Snell (L) | P | Gonsolin (R) |
Tony Gonsolin looks to become the second 10-game winner in baseball this season. He’s 9-0 and the Dodgers are 11-3 in his 14 starts. Gonsolin has pitched five or more innings in each of his 10 starts since the beginning of May and had a stretch of six consecutive starts of six or more innings. He ran into trouble in the sixth inning of his last start and was pulled with two outs after allowing an RBI single. Gonsolin was dominant in June (and May tbh), as he allowed 14 hits and four runs in 29 innings over five starts. Opponents slashed .141/.213/.273 against him and he struck out 25 batters while walking seven. Gonsolin has allowed two runs in four of his 14 starts, and he’s allowed one or zero in each of his other 10 starts.
Blake Snell gets the start for the Padres. Snell was scheduled to start the fourth game of the season for the Padres, but was scratched with an adductor issue and missed a month. Since returning, the Padres are 0-7 when he starts and he has a 5.60 ERA. Snell made four starts in June and allowed 14 runs, which is one more than Gonsolin has allowed in 14 starts this season. He only allowed one home run in those four starts, but walked 11 in 20 1/3 innings and still allowed opponents to OPS .773 against him. Snell has that Johnny Cueto vibe about him, where no matter how badly they’re struggling I will always expect them to throw six shutout against the Dodgers. In six regular season starts against the Dodgers, Snell owns a 1.75 ERA and has allowed a .498 OPS to Dodger hitters.
Snell’s father starts behind the plate as Will Smith will serve as the DH. Trayce Thompson starts in right and Max Muncy starts at second, with Gavin Lux getting the night off. For the Padres, Manny Machado sits after DHing last night in his return from an ankle injury.
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The Dodgers swapped relievers.
Justin Bruihl got four outs last night and was optioned for the third time this season. Ian Gibaut was claimed from the Guardians yesterday and is active tonight.
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Mookie Betts continues to progress.
Mookie hit and ran today, which feel like important things to do before returning to play baseball. He could be reactivated in the next couple days and will likely DH or play at second when he returns.
Caleb Ferguson will likely be back next week.
Ferguson might throw live BP to Betts this weekend and could return in a few days.
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
