Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Coming off of their series victory against the Cardinals, the Dodgers will now face another NL Central team. Alex Wood (1.88 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 1.023 WHIP) is set to make his second start of the season against the reigning World Champion Chicago Cubs, resurgent and currently in first place in their division.
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Cubs
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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LF
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Zobrist |
3B
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Forsythe | |
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3B
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Bryant |
SS
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Seager | |
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1B
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Rizzo |
C
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Grandal | |
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CF
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Happ |
1B
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González | |
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C
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Contreras |
CF
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Taylor | |
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RF
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Heyward |
LF
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Bellinger | |
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2B
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Báez | 2B | Utley | |
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SS
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Russell |
RF
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Puig | |
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P
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Arrieta (R)
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P
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Wood (L) |
Wood’s first start of the season came at Wrigley Field on April 10. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and five walks while striking out four in a game the Dodgers lost, 3-2. As Wood has gotten more and more stretched out, he’s looked better and better. In four May starts, he’s pitched 23.1 innings, and allowed just five runs (four earned). He’s also struck out 33 batters, versus just five walks issued.
We likely all remember what happened last time Jake Arrieta (4.80 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.401 WHIP) pitched at Dodger Stadium in the regular season. For those of you who have blocked it out, on August 30, 2015, Arrieta no-hit the Dodgers (although Enrique Hernandez reached on an error that was totally actually a hit, what no I’m not bitter). Arrieta was in the midst of an incredible run to close out the season, a run which ultimately earned him that year’s Cy Young Award over Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw.
Arrieta has since appeared at Dodger Stadium again, during the 2016 postseason. In Game 3 of last year’s National League Championship Series, Arrieta allowed four runs through five innings, giving up home runs to Yasmani Grandal (batting third tonight) and Justin Turner (sadly on the DL). The Dodgers ultimately won that game, 6-0.
Something changed for Arrieta at some point last season, and he has not been the same pitcher as he was during his remarkable 2015, or even at the start of 2016. As explained by Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, Arrieta’s ground ball rate is way down, and his fly ball rate is way up. This has resulted in him giving up considerably more home runs than in the past few seasons. He gave up a total of 16 home runs in 2016; through just two months of 2017, he’s already allowed eight. It should be noted, however, that Arrieta’s last start was one of his best of the season so far, as he allowed just one unearned run through six innings pitched.
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We got updates on a whole bunch of injured Dodgers today. JT could be back very soon:
Roberts said he's hopeful Justin Turner can return from hamstring in minimum 10 days.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 26, 2017
Earliest Justin Turner could return from DL is Monday. Whether he needs a rehab assignment first is up to Turner, Dave Roberts said
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) May 27, 2017
It could be a while until we see Rob Segedin again, though, who developed a new ailment in addition to the one that originally sidelined him:
Rob Segedin is having surgery Wednesday on his right wrist, injured batting while rehabbing turf toe. Out 4-6 weeks.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 26, 2017
Scott Kazmir‘s future remains uncertain:
Dave Roberts said Scott Kazmir's velocity has ticked up to 90-92 mph. Still no timetable.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) May 26, 2017
Meanwhile, Brock Stewart‘s rehab appears to be coming along:
Brock Stewart will pitch 2 innings in a rehab appearance this weekend for @RCQuakes, then 3 IP w/OKC next week
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) May 26, 2017
The Dodgers also made a couple of minor moves today:
Dodgers claim INF Mike Freeman and RHP Chris Heston off waivers from Seattle, option to OKC.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 26, 2017
Mike Freeman is a 29-year-old utility player who was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the 2010 draft. He didn’t make his major league debut until 2016, and, through 58 career plate appearances for Arizona and Seattle, is batting a paltry .135/.224/.212. Per Minor League Ball:
A left-handed hitter listed at 6-1, 190, Freeman has been groomed as a utility man, seeing substantial playing time at second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions during his career. Second base is the best fit but he is competent everywhere. Despite the three strikeouts in his first MLB game his reputation is as a contact hitter; he lacks over-the-fence power but has shown some gap pop at times. He runs well and is very adept at using his speed on the bases and in the field.
29-year-old righty Chris Heston was a Giants 12th-round draft pick in 2009, and he made his MLB debut for them in 2014. He pitched a full season for the Giants in 2015, and, on June 29, recorded a no hitter against the Mets in which he struck out 11 batters. Heston spent most of 2016 either in the minors or on the disabled list, and was traded to the Mariners that offseason. Despite putting up decent numbers in Triple-A (3.41 ERA in 31.2 IP, 28 K, 11 BB), the Mariners DFA’d him following a disastrous start. He is now going to Oklahoma City as additional pitching depth for the Dodgers.
