Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers escaped the Bay with a win in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon against the Giants. They return to LA and open a lengthy 10-game homestand on Thursday, kicking it off with a four-game set against the Miami Marlins.
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Marlins
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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2B
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Gordon |
2B
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Utley | |
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CF
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Yelich |
SS
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Seager | |
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LF
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Ozuna |
3B
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Turner | |
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RF
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Stanton |
LF
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Bellinger | |
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1B
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Bour |
C
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Grandal | |
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C
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Realmuto |
1B
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Gonzalez | |
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3B
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Colon | CF | Pederson | |
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SS
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Riddle |
RF
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Puig | |
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P
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Volquez (R)
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P
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Ryu (L) |
Although Don Mattingly‘s Marlins (14-25) are currently last place in the NL East, they did fare well against the Dodgers and swept the four-game series at Dodger Stadium last season. The Dodgers’ pitching staff will of course have to battle the slugging behemoth Giancarlo Stanton, who hit three monstrous home runs at Chavez Ravine during last year’s series in LA, including an impressive homer to center field off Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers hope that Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-5, 4.99 ERA, 5.09 FIP) will follow Kershaw’s scoreless gem on Wednesday with an improved start over his last rough outing. Albeit it was at malevolent Coors Field, and half the runs allowed were unearned, but Ryu’s 10-run, six-walk, four-inning digression was difficult to watch. Before landing on the 10-day DL, Ryu had two promising starts against the Giants and Phillies, allowing only one run in each start. Ryu has made two starts in his career against Miami (1-1, 2.57 ERA), but he hasn’t faced them since 2013.
Donnie Baseball sends old friend Edinson Volquez (0-5, 4.41 ERA, 4.57 FIP) to the mound for his second start since coming off the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his right thumb. Volquez has yet to notch a win since signing with the Marlins in the off-season. Volquez is still Volquez’ing this season, and he’s allowed 24 walks in 34 2/3 innings (6.2 BB/9), the highest percentage of walks per nine innings since his rookie year in 2005 with Texas. He’s walking a lot of batters, but he’s also striking out a fair amount as well (9.6 K/9).
Overall, the right-hander is 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA against the Dodgers in nine starts. He hasn’t faced the Dodgers since he was with Pittsburgh in July 2014. The Dodgers scored five runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings against him during that matchup. Keep an eye on Justin Turner, who is 6-for-12 against Volquez with two doubles and a home run.
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Welcome back, Adrian Gonzalez. So long, Scott Van Slyke.
Today, the #Dodgers reinstated Adrián González from the 10-day DL and optioned Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 18, 2017
Gonzalez returns to the Dodgers’ lineup at first base after missing 12 games, batting sixth.
Brock Stewart was back in action, but it will be awhile before he’s ready.
Brock Stewart pitched 2 innings today in Arizona. Will build up much like spring. Dave Roberts didn’t rule out long relief role if needed
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) May 18, 2017
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The Dodgers will have to face old friends aplenty. Not only will Mattingly be on hand to bunt his way through the series (unpleasant memory alert), but Dee Gordon and A.J. Ellis will also be in town. The former Dodger catcher and Kershaw’s long-time pal will be back at Dodger Stadium for the first time since being traded to the Phillies last year. A.J. is hitting .121/.216/.121 with four hits in 33 at-bats this year.
Having just snapped a losing streak, the Dodgers need to take advantage of the slumping Marlins who only won one game of seven during their recent homestand and have lost three straight. The first-place Houston Astros absolutely clobbered them, outscoring the Marlins 22-4 in their three games at Marlins Park. As long as Ryu can keep the Stanton homers to a minimum and the Dodgers’ offense can do their thing against Volquez, the Dodgers should be able to start the homestand on a winning note.
