Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The middle game of this weekend’s series against the Reds starts with some very good news: Alex Wood has returned from the disabled list. Wood missed two starts with an inflamed AC joint (between collar bone and scapula) near his throwing shoulder. While it remains to be seen how it will impact him today, his return is welcomed with cautious optimism. The Reds lineup is a surprisingly difficult test to come back to (Wood did not pitch in any rehab games) so we’ll probably see any effects sooner rather than later.
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Reds
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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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Peraza |
2B
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Utley | |
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SS
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Cozart |
SS
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Seager | |
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1B
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Votto |
CF
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Taylor | |
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3B
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Suarez |
1B
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Gonzalez | |
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CF
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Schebler |
LF
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Bellinger | |
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C
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Mesoraco |
C
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Grandal | |
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LF
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Gennett | 3B | Forsythe | |
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RF
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Kivlehan |
RF
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Puig | |
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P
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Wojciechowski (R) |
P
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Wood (L) |
Brandon Morrow was optioned to make room for Wood. Morrow looked really good in his short window of time at the big-league level. The only other obvious candidate to be optioned in the short term was Grant Dayton, who has looked much more like 2016 Grant Dayton since his promotion, so optioning Morrow makes sense. Morrow agreed to be optioned, so he’ll be available to return soon if needed.
The Dodgers will attempt to clinch the series against Reds’ pitcher Asher Wojciechowski (whose name I totally didn’t just copy from Baseball Reference to make sure I spelled it correctly). Wojciechowski is a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher, who is enjoying his first regular major league playing time, other than a very brief stint with the Marlins two years ago. Thus far, he has not been very good, though this is just his third start of the season. Wojciechowski features three pitches, a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a change. His fastball averages around 93, but his offspeed stuff is slower than average (change at 84, slider at 81). Wojciechowski is an extreme fly ball pitcher (and was in the minors as well), and he has not shown much home run suppression ability yet. Given the power in the Dodger lineup, it could be something to watch. Justin Turner won’t get to enjoy that, at least at first, because he is getting a rest day after his return from the disabled list.
Other than the recall of Wood, there hasn’t been much injury or roster news to pass along today. Good for the team, bad for writing a game thread with much substance. Oh well.
