Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
This might be one of the best pitching matchups of the season. Clayton Kershaw takes on Gerrit Cole, so there shouldn’t be a ton of scoring.
Cole, 24, has been pretty good in his first two seasons, but the former No. 1 overall pick is having a breakout campaign. He’s sixth in the National League in pitching WAR (3.4), FIP (2.65), third in ERA (2.29) and has an impressive 4.76 K/BB ratio. He’s still behind the likes of Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke, but the future is incredibly bright for Cole and the Pirates.
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Dodgers
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Pirates
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4:05 p.m. PT
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Pittsburgh, Pa.
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SS
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Rollins
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RF
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Polanco
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2B
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Kendrick
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LF
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Marte
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1B
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Gonzalez
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CF
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McCutchen
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LF
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Ethier
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3B
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Ramirez
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C
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Grandal
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SS |
Kang
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RF
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Puig
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1B
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Morse
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3B
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Callaspo
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2B
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Rodriguez
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| CF |
Pederson
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C
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Stewart
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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Cole (R)
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Not only is it a great matchup between starting pitchers, it’s also a matchup between two really good teams. The Pirates have two fewer losses than the Dodgers, and both teams are eyeing the postseason.
This should be an interesting, competitive series. Both teams are matched almost evenly, but the Dodgers have the edge offensively and a slight edge pitching wise. Also, despite being a below-average offensive team (by wRC+, the Pirates have the best position player on the field in Andrew McCutchen.
The Dodgers made a roster move today.
Chris Heisey has been officially released from the Dodgers, the team has announced.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 7, 2015
This seemed like an inevitability. He has toiled in the minors for most of the season and is good enough to be at least a fifth outfielder on an MLB team. And before you say, “the Dodgers lost the trade,” realize that Matt Magill had Tommy John surgery in May. Besides, there’s not really a way to lose a trade like this.
Heisey’s release will also open up center field in Oklahoma City for the combination of Jose Peraza and Darnell Sweeney.
I’ll be off to see the Quakes tonight after I catch a few innings of this game. Pablo Fernandez (Cuban $8 million minor-league signee) is on the hill for the Quakes tonight. That should be fun.
