Pirates @ Dodgers Aug. 13, 2016: Gerrit Cole vs. Brandon McCarthy

The Dodgers dropped the first game of the series to the Pirates on Friday night in pathetic fashion. Here’s hoping today goes a lot better.

Pirates
Dodgers
1:05 p.m. PT
Los Angeles
2B  Frazier 2B Utley
LF Marte RF Reddick
CF McCutchen SS Seager
RF Polanco 1B Gonzalez
3B Kang CF Pederson
1B Jaso LF Kendrick
C Cervelli 3B Segedin
SS Mercer C  Ellis
P
Cole (R)
P
McCarthy (R)

There has been a bit of a lineup shuffle, as Josh Reddick moves up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup, while Corey Seager drops to No. 3. That’s because A.J. Ellis and Rob Segedin are playing in place of Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner today. Joc Pederson (who has looked really good at the plate recently) and Howie Kendrick each move up to compensate for Grandal and Turner’s absences.

Just for a certain poster in the comments section:

Good news everyone:

Please don’t play with our emotions, Clayton Kershaw. Please be able to come back and be the guy you were before your back started to hurt. Same goes for you, Brett Anderson. Ross Stripling, who gave the Dodgers seven innings on Friday night, will (likely) be optioned to Triple-A to make room for Anderson.

The final step before Rich Hill makes his Dodger debut. You know, provided he doesn’t aggravate the blister issue he has been dealing with for a couple months.

Looks like the bullpen could get even stronger soon. I assume Bud Norris ends up in the ‘pen because of the potential glut of starting pitchers. The unsung Adam Liberatore has been missed since he has been out. Alex Wood has been missed in the rotation, as he was dealing before his elbow started barking.

[table id=5/]

About Dustin Nosler

Avatar photo
Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.