Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The last time we saw Justin Turner, it was July 26 in New York, the day Zack Greinke‘s scoreless inning streak ended in a 3-2 loss to Jacob deGrom and the Mets. Soon after, we learned about his ingrown hair turned infection turned scary MRSA bout, and he’s been sidelined ever since. Today, he returns to the active roster, with Jose Peraza getting a trip back to Triple-A. He’s not, however, in the starting lineup, although he is expected to start tomorrow. Yasmani Grandal isn’t in either due to a sore left shoulder; A.J. Ellis catches Mat Latos.
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Reds
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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2B
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Phillips
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SS
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Rollins
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SS
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Suarez
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2B
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Hernandez
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1B
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Votto
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1B
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Gonzalez
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3B
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Frazier
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LF
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Ethier
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RF
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Bruce
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RF
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Puig
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LF
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Byrd
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3B
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Callaspo
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C
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Barnhart
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CF
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Pederson
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Sampson (R)
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C
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Ellis
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CF
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Hamilton
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P
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Latos (R)
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Last year, Latos was on the Reds, who we see for the first time this season tonight. The Reds could have been good this year, but a whole lot of things would have had to go right. Some of those things did go right, anyway. Jay Bruce bounced back. Todd Frazier had a huge coming out party at the All-Star game in Cincinnati. Joey Votto is still a stud, and Johnny Cueto & Aroldis Chapman were again elite. You could argue that no team in baseball had a better starter/reliever/hitter trio than the Reds, with Cueto/Chapman/Votto.
Except, too many things didn’t go right. Devin Mesoraco‘s year was ruined by injury. Homer Bailey‘s year never got started due to injury. Billy Hamilton has taken a step back on offense. Rookie Michael Lorenzen has had a tough time in the rotation, and now Cueto & Mike Leake are gone. They’re 50-62 and facing a very uncertain future; rookie righty Keyvius Sampson makes the third start of his big league career tonight.
For the record, though, Votto is still crazy awesome. I actually had to write over the winter that no one should underestimate him — they did anyway — and all he’s done is put up a .304/.434/.526 line. But he only has 54 RBI, so I guess he’s actually not that good at all.
Oh, and here’s a thing, if this matters to you:
Zack Greinke's Cy Young chances just improved without throwing a pitch. He got an earned run knocked off based on a scoring chance in Philly
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) August 13, 2015
