Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Following last night’s exciting extra-innings walkoff, the Dodgers have the chance to sweep the Pirates, and they’ll send Kenta Maeda (5.81 ERA, 4.56 FIP, 1.323 WHIP) to the mound to try to get the job done. He’ll face 24-year-old right-hander Chad Kuhl (5.54 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.615 WHIP).
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Pirates
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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3B
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Harrison |
CF
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Pederson | |
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C
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Cervelli |
SS
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Seager | |
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CF
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McCutchen |
3B
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Turner | |
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RF
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Polanco |
LF
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Bellinger | |
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1B
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Bell |
C
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Grandal | |
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LF
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Osuna |
2B
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Taylor | |
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2B
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Moroff | 1B | Utley | |
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SS
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Mercer |
RF
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Puig | |
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P
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Kuhl (R)
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P
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Maeda (R) |
Maeda has struggled this season, although his last two starts have been considerably more promising than his first four. The difference, as we’ve discussed on here, is that he’s been toying around with a cutter that, so far, seems to be pretty effective. After striking out no more than five batters in his first four starts, he struck out eight batters each in his subsequent two starts. In a combined 12 innings pitched in those games, he’s allowed just four runs (three earned). We’ll continue to keep an eye on that tonight.
Kuhl made his major league debut last season against the Dodgers, and he fared pretty well, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five in five innings pitched. The Pirates won that game, 4-3. Kuhl faced the Dodgers again later in the season in Los Angeles, this time going six innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five. The Pirates also won that game, 11-3. After three solid starts to open the season, Kuhl got lit up by the Cubs on April 24, giving up nine runs in just 1.2 IP. On April 30, he exited his start against the Marlins in the fifth inning after taking a line drive off the knee. On May 5, he pitched three shutout innings against the Brewers before a rain delay forced him out of that game early.
As reported yesterday, Chase Utley is in tonight’s lineup. However, he’s at first base instead of second, with the absurdly hot Chris Taylor starting there once again. The injury to Andrew Toles — more on that in a second — has made it necessary for Cody Bellinger to return to left field.
Utley has played one inning at first this year. This will be his 26th career start there, with his last one coming in 2015 (with the Dodgers, actually — and if you remember that, your memory is much better than mine).
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Well, we akso have an update on Toles, and it is decidedly not good:
Andrew Toles tore his right ACL. He will undergo surgery in two weeks. A sizable loss for the Dodgers.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) May 10, 2017
It’s obviously a big blow to the Dodgers — Toles has an .824 OPS in 217 plate appearances these past two seasons. But beyond that, Toles’s story has been both fun and inspiring to follow, and it’s an absolute shame that he’ll be losing the rest of this season.
#Tolesy: "I'm pretty much healthy … besides my knee." Gonna miss this. pic.twitter.com/rljwoiMkDy
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 11, 2017
Here’s to an easy recovery, Tolesy.
The corresponding move to get him on the DL:
Scott Van Slyke also recalled, technically for Toles. Adam Liberatore (groin) goes on the 10-day DL for Eibner. Will be official soon.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 10, 2017
Welcome back, Scott Van Slyke and Brett Eibner. Bye, Adam Liberatore, nice having you around for all of two days.
As for what the defensive alignments might look like until Logan Forsythe and Adrián González return:
Roberts said Bellinger will play LF. Van Slyke can play 1B. Pederson bats leadoff until Forsythe returns.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 10, 2017
When exactly will those two return, though? Well:
Roberts said Toles injury will trigger Gonzalez to "ramp up" his rehab. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 10, 2017
Logan Forsythe (broken toe) taking soft-toss batting practice on the field.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 10, 2017
Forsythe testing his hamstring running sprints in outfield.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 10, 2017
Yesterday Dave Roberts said Forsythe wouldn't return until next homestand. He looks closer than that today.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 10, 2017
Shrug.
Finally, a rotation update:
Wood & Urias pitch Saturday/Sunday in Colorado. Brandon McCarthy lines up for Monday in SF
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) May 10, 2017
Brandon McCarthy threw a simulated game earlier today.
