Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (92-49) are now breaking records in the wrong direction. The Rockies (76-65) will go for the series win on Saturday evening in the third game of the four game set. Should the Dodgers drop Saturday’s matchup, they’ll take on their ninth straight loss and fifth straight series loss. Their eight-game losing streak is the longest since May 2013, and they have still yet to win a series or more than one game in September.
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Rockies
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Dodgers
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6:10 PM PT
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Los Angeles
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CF
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Blackmon |
CF
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Taylor | |
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2B
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LeMahieu |
SS
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Seager | |
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3B
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Arenado |
3B
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Turner | |
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1B
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Reynolds |
1B
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Bellinger | |
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LF
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Parra |
RF
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Puig | |
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SS
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Story |
C
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Grandal | |
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LF
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Desmond | 2B | Forsythe | |
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C
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Lucroy |
LF
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Pederson | |
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P
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Bettis (R) |
P
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Wood (L) |
The drastic turn in the Dodgers’ season is quite remarkable if you think about it.
MLB teams to lose 13 of 14 games in 2017:
Phillies 53-88, last
White Sox 54-86, last
Reds 61-81, last
Dodgers 92-49, best record in MLB— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) September 9, 2017
I feel like I say this in every game thread, but the Dodgers really need a quality start from their starting pitcher. Dodgers starters have a combined 4.50 ERA in September. Alex Wood (14-2, 2.57 ERA, 3.13 FIP) makes his second start since coming off the disabled list with arm fatigue. In his last start, against the Padres, Wood allowed four runs on seven hits including two home runs in six innings.
Although Wood hasn’t put together as dominant of a second half to the season as his excellent first half, the left-hander has shut down the Rockies in two starts already this year. He is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings vs. Colorado in 2017. Overall in his career, Wood is 4-2 with a 5.02 ERA in eight starts against the Rox. Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado have hit two homers each off Wood.
Chad Bettis will make his sixth start since returning from his battle with testicular cancer. After two solid starts to open his season, Bettis is 0-2 with a 7.63 ERA over his last three outings.
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The Fab Four — Chris Taylor, Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger — are back together in the starting lineup. If everything goes right, they’ll be able to right the ship and get back to winning. Joc Pederson is starting in left field for the first time at the major-league level. Joc did play 10 games in left field for the OKC Dodgers while he was with them last month.
Taylor mans center field. I’m actually okay with a Joc-Taylor-Puig outfield if Joc is able to do something offensively. This lineup is probably my favorite, but I’d like to see Austin Barnes and Chase Utley being substitutions for Grandal and Forsythe more often than not.
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Rotation update:
Kershaw likely to go Tuesday in SF then get extra day before pitching following Monday in Philly, missing Washington. Ryu back in DC on Sun
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 9, 2017
Kyle Farmer was recalled today as well.
The #Dodgers recalled catcher/infielder Kyle Farmer from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) September 9, 2017
And prepare yourself for Postseason Pedro:
Baez update, from Dave Roberts: “Pedro will be pitching in high-leverage situations. My confidence in him hasn’t wavered, and it won’t.”
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) September 9, 2017
Play good baseball, please.
