Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (36-25) and Reds (29-30), both third place in their respective divisions, open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium Friday night. The Dodgers squeaked out a win on Wednesday to avoid a sweep against the Nationals before an off day. The Reds are riding a four-game winning streak and bring one-time top Dodgers prospect and NL home run leader Scott Schebler back to LA.
|
Reds
|
Dodgers
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7:10 p.m.
|
Los Angeles
|
|||
|
CF
|
Hamilton |
CF
|
Taylor | |
|
SS
|
Cozart |
SS
|
Seager | |
|
1B
|
Votto |
3B
|
Turner | |
|
3B
|
Suarez |
LF
|
Gutierrez | |
|
RF
|
Schebler |
2B
|
Forsythe | |
|
LF
|
Kivlehan |
C
|
Grandal | |
|
2B
|
Peraza | 1B | Bellinger | |
|
C
|
Barnhart |
RF
|
Hernandez | |
|
P
|
Garrett (L) |
P
|
Hill (L) |
Rich Hill (2-2, 4.15 ERA, 5.37 FIP) has yet to last more than five innings in any of his first six starts for the Dodgers this season. He came out after four frames his last time out against the Brewers, allowing three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks. He’s walked 13 batters in his last 13 innings (15.9 percent walk rate on the year). Overall, Hill is 3-2 with a 4.05 ERA against the Reds in nine career games (seven starts), but the only current Cincinnati players he has faced are Joey Votto and Bronson Arroyo.
Amir Garrett (3-4, 7.17 ERA, 7.15 FIP) will make his 10th MLB start and first career start against the Dodgers. Manager Bryan Price hopes his rookie left-hander will bounce back after a disastrous start last time out against the Braves when he allowed seven runs on seven hits with one strikeout and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. He’s really struggled over his last three starts, serving up 22 runs and 9 home runs in 11 2/3 innings. Sounds like a great opportunity for the Dodgers’ offense to take advantage.
The Dodgers will not only have to face a left-hander they’ve never seen but also old friend Schebler, who’s been flexing his power with 25 extra-base hits including 17 home runs (.554 slugging percentage) in 193 at-bats with Cincinnati this year. Drafted in the 26th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft out of Des Moines Area Community College by the Dodgers, Schebler was a solid outfield prospect and Minor League Player Of The Year in 2013.
Unfortunately there wasn’t a spot available to him in the Dodgers’ outfield at the time. In December 2015, he was traded as part of a three-team deal with Brandon Dixon and Jose Peraza to the Reds. The White Sox sent Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson to the Dodgers, and the Reds sent Todd Frazier to Chicago. Johnson and Montas are no longer in the Dodgers’ organization, and Trayce Thompson has struggled in Triple-A Oklahoma City (.183/.253/.308) after suffering a serious back injury last year.
@Dodgers not too Schabby
— Stacie Wheeler (@StacieMWheeler) October 4, 2015
Joc Pederson had earned his starting spot in center field. Yasiel Puig was slotted to start in right field and was yet to be demoted. Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier still existed and were on the roster, along with Scott Van Slyke. Schebler was expendable. The inclusion of Montas in the deal made it look good at the time. In hindsight, maybe it wasn’t so good. Although Hill, acquired by the Dodgers along with Josh Reddick from the Athletics for Montas, was phenomenal for the Dodgers down the stretch and into the postseason, pitching one of the more memorable starts on short rest in the 2016 NLDS clincher vs. the Nationals.
——
Justin Turner is finally back in the Dodgers’ lineup tonight, batting third. Brett Eibner was optioned to Triple-A OKC to make room on the roster. Turner has been out since May 19 with a strained right hamstring.
Luis Avilan is also back. Sergio Romo was placed on the 10-day DL with a left ankle sprain.
Today, the #Dodgers reinstated Luis Avilán from the 10-day DL and placed Sergio Romo on the 10-day DL with a left ankle sprain.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 10, 2017
Pederson is in OKC to start his rehab assignment. He suffered a concussion on May 23.
Joc Pederson is in the house to start his rehab assignment. Scheduled to play 5 innings in CF tonight and will bat second. #Dodgers
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) June 9, 2017
Joc Pederson, Scott Van Slyke and Willie Calhoun hit back-to-back-to-back homers!!
— OKC Dodgers (@okc_dodgers) June 10, 2017
Well, that was fast.
