Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After last night’s lackluster effort (seriously, one run against Eric Stults?!), the Dodgers turn to that Clayton Kershaw guy to get back on track. It was just six days ago, the Dodgers were on the verge of going up a season-high 7.5 games on the Giants.
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Padres
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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3B
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Solarte
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2B
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Gordon
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LF
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Almonte
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CF
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Puig
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2B
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Gyorko
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1B
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Gonzalez
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1B
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Medica
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RF
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Kemp
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C
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Rivera
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LF
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Crawford
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RF
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Liriano
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3B
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Turner
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CF
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Maybin
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C
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Ellis
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SS
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Amarista
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SS
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Rojas
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P
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Ross (R)
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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That was the night the Dodgers turned to Jamey Wright in the eighth inning and he (and Brandon League) subsequently gave up five runs. The Dodgers ultimately lost 6-3. Since that time, the Dodgers’ NL West lead is down to three games. They are dealing with a lot of injuries and injury concerns, and they’re struggling to score (17th in baseball the last 30 days). Not the most comfortable of times, that’s for sure.
The Giants are supposed to complete Tuesday’s suspended game, as well as play their regularly scheduled game with the Cubs. The first game was held up, naturally, by rain. If the Dodgers win and ‘Frisco loses both games, the Dodgers will gain 1.5 games. If the Dodgers lose and ‘Frisco wins, the Dodger lead in the division would be down to 1.5 games. That’s not something the Dodgers or their fans want to see. Thankfully, the game’s best pitcher is on the mound tonight because Zack Greinke‘s elbow isn’t quite 100 percent.
Last time out for Kershaw, he saw his personal 11-game winning streak come to an end after allowing a whole three runs in a complete-game effort against Milwaukee. Here’s this nugget from the ESPN Stats and Info Twitter account.
Clayton Kershaw starts tonight vs Padres. He’s gone 49 straight starts without losing consecutively, the longest active streak in majors
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 21, 2014
The odds are definitely not in San Diego’s favor tonight. Kershaw’s last appearance against the Friars saw his consecutive scoreless innings streak come to an end, thanks to now-Yankee Chase Headley. Despite that, Kershaw fired a complete-game, 11-strikeout gem. Of course, the Padres are throwing Tyson Ross, who is their unquestioned ace and one of the better up-and-coming young pitchers in the game — 2.70 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 7.5 H/9, 8.7 K/9. Expect a low-scoring affair tonight.
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Hyun-Jin Ryu threw off the bullpen mound at Dodger Stadium. He is eligible to return from the disabled list in 10 days, and the Dodgers really need him back. But, most of all, they need him healthy.
Erisbel Arruebarrena is getting the night off at shortstop. Miguel Rojas starts in his stead. I love Hanley Ramirez, but it’s so refreshing to have plus-plus/borderline elite defense at short.
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