Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers begin a 4-game series in Pittsburgh tonight against the struggling Pirates, a team that I picked to be in the postseason before the season started.
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Dodgers
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Pirates
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4:05 p.m.
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Pittsburgh
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CF
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Taylor
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LF
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Marte | |
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SS
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Seager
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2B
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Harrison | |
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3B
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Turner
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CF
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McCutchen | |
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LF
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Granderson |
3B
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Freese | |
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C
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Grandal |
1B
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Osuna | |
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RF
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Puig | RF | Rodriguez | |
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1B
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Gonzalez |
SS
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Mercer | |
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2B
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Utley |
C
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Stewart | |
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P
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Wood (L)
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P
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Cole (R) |
It looked like the Pirates might be surging a few weeks ago, but baseball is a game of attrition and it’s catching up to them. That said, they’re still a talented team and the Dodgers can’t overlook them.
Alex Wood gets the nod tonight. He seems to be back on track — kinda — after a couple poor outings to close July against the Twins and Giants. In August, Wood owns a 1.89 ERA and a 3.72 FIP, but he also has just a 15.6 K% and a 42.6 GB% — both season-lows for him (in terms of a month). His fastball velocity is also trending in the wrong direction, as he averaged a season-low 91.35 MPH on his sinker last time out against the White Sox. His other pitches haven’t been impacted nearly as much as his fastball. That’s something to keep an eye on going forward. I know he has admitted being a bit fatigued and the Dodgers don’t plan on skipping any starts, but maybe they should. You know, once Clayton Kershaw comes back (more on that shortly).
Gerrit Cole gets the call for the Buccos. He hasn’t been good this season (4.04 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 16.8 HR/FB%), but looked more like his old self in July (2.98 FIP, 26.2 K%) … but July was so long ago. He has a 5.19 FIP in August because of five home runs allowed in 20 innings, but he is still striking hitters out (25.3 percent) at an almost season-high rate. Could be a boom or bust kind of game for the Blue.
The lineup looks solid. This might be the lineup for the next day or two as Cody Bellinger recovers from his midly sprained ankle. Once he’s back, expect Logan Forsythe and Chase Utley to lose playing time against right-handed pitching (Bellinger to center field, Chris Taylor to second base). Curtis Granderson, fresh off his first home run yesterday, is hitting cleanup for the Dodgers tonight. Makes sense.
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Kershaw threw a simulated game today in Pittsburgh.
Kershaw threw 4 inn. in sim game. Said they have the next step figured out. Wouldn't specify sim or rehab but said he's healthy & ready.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 21, 2017
Kershaw said he hadn't lost much to any arm strength. Has been healthy for long time. Team wants to make sure pitch count is there.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 21, 2017
That led to this from Andy McCullough:
Yeah, buy tickets. https://t.co/o4qnQozZ8b
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 21, 2017
Kershaw was only to throw three innings, but he talked the coaching staff into a fourth. Andy seemed convinced Kershaw will throw Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Then Rick Honeycutt and Ken Gurnick ruined that dream.
Rick Honeycutt said Kershaw is scheduled to pitch a minor league rehab start over the weekend.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
Sigh. Oh well, he’ll be back soon enough.
Clayton Kershaw will make his rehab start for OKC on Saturday
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 21, 2017
Kershaw is in his age-29 season. This will be his first appearance in Triple-A.
Yu Darvish threw a bullpen today.
Darvish will throw another bullpen session Thursday, no issues in today's bullpen session of 32 pitches. No rehab start planned for Darvish.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
He’s tentatively scheduled to start Sunday at Dodger Stadium against Milwaukee. Gonna be great once the band gets back together.
Cody Bellinger won't start tomorrow, Dave Roberts said. The team will re-evaluate on Wednesday. His ankle is still swollen.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 21, 2017
His ankle is swole. Here’s hoping the swole goes away soon.
Brock Stewart starts tomorrow.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 21, 2017
Brock Brock is coming back! This had been reported over the weekend, but it is now confirmed.
