Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The first-place Washington Nationals (35-20) come into town for the first time since the 2016 NLDS when the Dodgers (35-23) open a six-game homestand on Monday night.
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Nationals
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Dodgers
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7:10 PM
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Los Angeles
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SS
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Turner
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3B
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Forsythe | |
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LF
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Raburn
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SS
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Seager | |
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RF
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Harper
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2B
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Taylor | |
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1B
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Zimmerman |
LF
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Gutierrez | |
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2B
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Murphy |
1B
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Hernandez | |
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3B
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Rendon |
C
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Barnes | |
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C
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Wieters | RF | Puig | |
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CF
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Taylor |
CF
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Eibner | |
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P
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Gonzalez (L) |
P
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Ryu (L) |
The last time the Dodgers and Nats faced each other, it was in the 2016 National League Division Series. It was the second postseason meeting between the two clubs, but the first since the Expos-turned Nationals moved to D.C. There was no shortage of dramatic moments in the best-of-five series culminating when the Dodgers defeated the Nats in Game 5 at Nationals Park behind a rare Clayton Kershaw save. In true Dodgers fashion, the series finale lasted four hours and 32 minutes, setting the record for the longest nine-inning postseason game in Major League history. The Dodgers hope to beat the Nats in a more timely fashion on Monday night.
In a southpaw showdown, Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-5, 3.91 ERA, 4.85 FIP) takes the mound for the Dodgers in his second start in place of Alex Wood. Wood remains on the 10-day disabled list with SC joint inflammation. Ryu was not healthy enough to pitch in the NLDS last year, and this will be his first career start against the Nationals.
Last time out against the Cardinals, Ryu was effective. He went six innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four and walking one on 77 pitches. Unfortunately, an eighth-inning homer by Dexter Fowler off Ross Stripling spoiled the otherwise solid start by Ryu.
The Nationals beat the Dodgers 8-3 in Game 3 of the NLDS last October behind Gio Gonzalez (4-1, 3.03 ERA, 4.77 FIP). Gonzalez wasn’t involved in the decision, allowing three runs on four hits, including a two-run pinch-hit Carlos Ruiz homer. The Nats’ bullpen bested the Dodgers’ pen, including a rough ninth-inning by closer Kenley Jansen that began with the leadoff home run by Jayson Werth (10-day DL with a left foot contusion).
Gonzalez has had an up and down season, and his walk rate has skyrocketed. He’s tied with Tyler Chatwood for the most walks in the Majors this year (35) and has walked 4.61 batters per nine innings (4.4 percent more than last season). His strikeout percentage (20.7%) is also down from last year (22.4%). Interestingly enough, the Dodgers have the most walks in the Majors this year (226). Corey Seager leads the team with 36 walks. Yasiel “Patient” Puig and Chris Taylor both have 21 bases on balls.
Gio finally picked up his first win since April 27 in his last start against the Giants, allowing three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. Overall, he is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers in the regular season, three of those starts (2-1, 2.25 ERA) at Dodger Stadium.
Bryce Harper was back in the Nationals’ lineup on Sunday after serving a three-game suspension for charging the mound against the Giants’ Hunter Strickland (#TeamBryce). Harper wanted to complete the appeal process quickly in order to be able to play against the Dodgers this week, the team who eliminated the Nats from the playoffs last year. Harper is hitting .328/.438/.655/1.093 with 15 home runs this season and is hitting .349 against left-handed pitching.
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The Dodgers’ lineup looks, well, different. Enrique Hernandez starts at first base, batting fifth. The super utility player has never played first base in the majors. Franklin Gutierrez bats cleanup and starts in left field giving Cody Bellinger some rest.
Justin Turner begins a rehab assignment with Rancho Cucamonga tonight.
Better hair? @8Peters or @redturn2?
Turner is here tonight with the Quakes for a rehab appearance! Tix available at https://t.co/O7fXHzyvwn pic.twitter.com/94DojgsrL2
— RC Quakes Baseball (@RCQuakes) June 5, 2017
Joc Pederson is still not ready.
Dave Roberts said if everything goes well Joc Pederson will start rehab assignment Friday
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) June 5, 2017
