Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Following a much-needed day off, the Dodgers are returning to Arizona to start a three game series. The Dodgers have won seven of eight games against the Diamondbacks so far this year. Against teams other than the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers are 15-19. Against teams other than the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks are 15-20. Baseball is weird.
Tonight’s Dodger starter is Zack Greinke. In his last start, Greinke went 7 innings while striking out eight batters and walking three, allowing two runs yet again. Even more impressively, he induced 22 swings and misses during the start, tied for the fifth-highest during a single start so far this season. His previous high this season was 15, and 22 swings and misses is the highest number in any Greinke start since the beginning of the Pitch FX era (2007). For more facts on Zack Greinke, check out this month’s ESPN magazine, which includes an infographic from Mike.
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Dodgers
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D’Backs
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6:40pm PT
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Phoenix, AZ
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2B
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Gordon
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RF
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Parra
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RF
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Puig
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3B
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Prado
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SS
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Ramirez
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1B
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Goldschmidt
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1B
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Gonzalez
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C
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Montero
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CF
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Kemp
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2B
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Hill
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LF
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Van Slyke
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CF
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Pollock
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3B
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Uribe
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SS
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Owings
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C
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Ellis
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LF
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Inciarte
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P
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Greinke (R)
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P
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Miley (L)
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Wade Miley gets the ball for Arizona, which is good news for Scott Van Slyke, who has crushed him so far this year. Both Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford are sitting, as per usual against a left-handed starter. The second base platoon looks like it’s over, with Dee Gordon at the top of the lineup without a corresponding infield injury. Dee has earned a shot to try to hit left-handed pitchers again, but the lead-off spot is not a good place for this experiment to happen. Juan Uribe also makes his return to the starting lineup for the first time in a week, though he doubled in a pinch-hit role on Wednesday.
Hyun-jin Ryu threw a simulated game today. It sounds like he’s on track to return from the disabled list in New York next week. Hopefully they’re not rushing his shoulder, and hopefully this means the end of Paul Maholm in a Dodger uniform.
In very minor news, the Dodgers have signed Jeff Bennett to a minor league deal and assigned him to Albuquerque. Bennett debuted in the Braves’ bullpen in 2004 and last appeared in the majors in 2009. Since then, he’s been floating around the upper minors and independent leagues. Most recently, he was starting games for the Reynosa Broncos of the Mexican League. He’s just depth, though, Albuquerque needs starters after Henry Sosa‘s contract was purchased by the Nexen Heroes of KBO. The odds of seeing him in LA are extremely slim.
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