Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Scott Kazmir returns to Tampa Bay for the first time since last May in an attempt to keep the Dodgers’ winning “streak” alive.
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Dodgers
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Rays
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4:10 p.m. PT
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Tampa Bay
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DH
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Hernandez
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2B
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Forsythe
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RF
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Puig
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DH
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Guyer
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1B
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Gonzalez
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3B
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Longoria
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3B
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Turner
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1B
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Pearce
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2B
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Kendrick
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RF
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Souza, Jr.
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LF
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Thompson
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LF
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Jennings
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C
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Ellis
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SS |
Beckham
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CF
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Pederson
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CF
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Kiermaier
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SS
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Culberson
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C
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Casali
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P
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Kazmir (L)
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P
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Moore (L)
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He was decent his last time out (6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K), and the Rays are far from an offensive juggernaut. Here’s hoping he can build on his return to Tampa Bay.
He’s taking on Matt Moore, who is pitching in his first full season since Tommy John surgery. With a lefty on the hill, one would assume platoon player Joc Pederson would be out of the lineup. But that isn’t the case. He’s starting in center field and batting eighth. Other platoon player Yasmani Grandal is out of the lineup, though. Fun.
Howie Kendrick and his -15 wRC+ are in the fifth spot in the lineup. He’s been pretty bad this season, but he’s definitely not this poor a hitter. Perhaps an American League road trip will help snap him out of his funk.
Some notes on how Dave Roberts plans to use his players in the next five games (at Tampa Bay and Toronto).
Dave Roberts said Carl Crawford will not start in Tampa Bay this week. All 5 games this week on turf.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 3, 2016
Dave Roberts: Justin Turner to DH tomorrow for #Dodgers, Yasmani Grandal to C tomorrow. Adrian Gonzalez to DH 1 game in Toronto.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 3, 2016
Roberts said that Corey Seager starts tomorrow. Carl Crawford will not.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 3, 2016
And news on the minor-league front.
Jose De Leon is in the house. Scheduled to make Triple-A debut tomorrow night. #Dodgers
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) May 2, 2016
Here’s hoping a month off is all Jose De Leon will need this season.
And finally…
Another day, another veteran reliever opts out. Dodgers release Dale Thayer https://t.co/NlhaAgrpeR
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) May 3, 2016
Dale Thayer‘s opt-out comes on the heels of Sean Burnett opting out of his deal and signing with the Braves. There wasn’t much chance either of them were going to help the big-league club much (had slim hopes for Burnett), so they’re onto other ventures.
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