Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Ross Stripling is making his home debut, and I wrote earlier about the high expectations he has set for himself. Don’t be upset when he allows a hit or two.
D-backs | Dodgers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
7:10 p.m. PT | Los Angeles | |||
2B | Segura | LF | Hernandez | |
CF | Brito | RF | Puig | |
1B | Goldschmidt | 1B | Gonzalez | |
RF | Peralta | 3B | Kendrick | |
LF | Drury | SS | Seager | |
3B | Lamb | CF | Thompson | |
C | Hermann | C | Ellis | |
P | Ray (L) | 2B | Barnes | |
SS | Ahmed | P | Stripling (R) |
He’s facing a Diamondback offense that was stifled by Alex Wood on Wednesday night. Of course, it looks a little different with David Peralta and Socrates Brito back in the starting lineup. And of course, there’s that Paul Goldschmidt guy…
Like clockwork, most of the lefties sit against a left-handed pitcher. Again, Joc Pederson is out of the lineup, as is Chase Utley. One makes more sense than the other. I really hope this “Pederson sitting against left-handed pitching” doesn’t become a thing … but it has happened at every opportunity thus far.
I’m all for getting Trayce Thompson some playing time, but not at the expense of Pederson’s development. I know Enrique Hernandez absolutely must play against lefties, but how is Pederson going to get any better against left-handed pitchers if he isn’t playing against them? At least Corey Seager is playing against them. Guess Pederson will get back in the lineup tomorrow night against Madison Bumgar … sigh (ht/ Mike … who?).
Justin Turner is getting the night off because he took a slider off the hand last night. It shouldn’t be a lingering injury. Yasmani Grandal isn’t playing because the Dodgers are, likely, easing him back into the lineup. I missed it, but apparently he was keeping his forearms warm or icing them … either way, it’s smart to ease a guy like him back into the lineup. He has a premium bat and the Dodgers need him to be healthy.
Roster move!
Chris Hatcher is on paternity leave, the Dodgers announce. Adam Liberatore takes his place on the roster.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) April 14, 2016
This should be a short stay for Adam Liberatore, who joins J.P. Howell as a second lefty out of the bullpen. Chris Hatcher will probably be back within the next three days.
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