The only thing worse than playing one game in a day at Coors Field is playing two games in a day at Coors Field. The Dodgers will do that today. Thankfully, it’s the final two games they’ll play in this awful baseball stadium in 2016.
Dodgers
|
Rockies
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
12:10 p.m. PT
|
Colorado
|
|||
LF
|
Kendrick
|
CF
|
Blackmon | |
SS
|
Seager
|
2B
|
LeMahieu | |
3B
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Turner
|
3B
|
Arenado | |
1B
|
Gonzalez
|
RF
|
Gonzalez | |
RF
|
Segedin |
LF
|
Dahl | |
CF
|
Hernandez |
1B
|
Parra | |
C
|
Ruiz | SS | Adames | |
2B
|
Culberson |
C
|
Wolters | |
P
|
Stripling (R)
|
P
|
Anderson (L)
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The Rockies are sticking with lefty Tyler Anderson, while the Dodgers are calling on Ross Stripling to throw the first game. Rich Hill, who was scheduled to start last night, will start the second game.
Stripling has been a bright spot for the Dodger pitching staff this season. After being thrust into the rotation to open the season because of injury, he has done about as well as one could expect from a rookie. His 3.88 FIP is encouraging, as is his 50.8 percent ground ball rate. He’s not going to be a big strikeout guy, but he is showing that, perhaps, he can be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter for years to come.
The lineup is different than the one Dave Roberts put out for yesterday’s scheduled game. The biggest difference: Corey Seager is starting instead of Charlie Culberson. The only reason Culberson was starting at shortstop was because Seager got hit on the hand with a pitch in Monday night’s game and was getting a day off to make sure the hand was OK. But Roberts’ odd and inexplicable fascination with Culberson continues, as he starts at second base. Adrian Gonzalez, also scheduled to get the night off on Tuesday, is in there for Game 1 today. At least Enrique Hernandez isn’t leading off anymore. And like most doubleheaders, both catchers will play. In this case, Carlos Ruiz gets the start against the left-handed pitcher.
Just a little bit of news…
Seager, Gonzalez and Turner will play both games today.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 31, 2016
Makes sense, especially since tomorrow is an off-day.
No decision on Kershaw's next assignment.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 31, 2016
Clayton Kershaw threw to live hitters yesterday at Dodger Stadium. Logic would dictate he gets out to Oklahoma City or Rancho Cucamonga (both made the playoffs) sometime in the next week or so for a rehab start.
The callups tomorrow: Barnes, Coleman, Avilan and Ravin. Still no decision on Yasiel Puig.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 31, 2016
All no-brainers. Austin Barnes will be the third catcher, while the bullpen will be bolstered by Louis Coleman, Luis Avilan (also the 26th man for today) and Josh Ravin. Also, Pedro Baez will be back at some point (unfortunately).
This is disconcerting…
The Dodgers have some concern about Rich Hill, who threw 40 pitches warming up last night. Still tentatively slated to pitch Game 2.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 31, 2016
/HeavySigh
Take this with a ‘Ralph’-sized grain of salt, but…
Dodgers will not be trading Puig after being claimed on trade waivers at least until the off-season. The… https://t.co/hnQCm66pYc
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) August 31, 2016
It doesn’t exactly take a rocket scientist to know that the Dodgers weren’t going to trade Yasiel Puig before today’s waiver trade deadline.
Also, since there’s time before first pitch, this article is well worth your time.
[table id=5/]New from THT: Clayton Kershaw and Cross-Era Comparisons https://t.co/dH2qDQ6BJ4
— The Hardball Times (@Hardball_Times) August 31, 2016