Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (96-52) are going for their fifth consecutive win today, as well as a sweep of Nationals (89-59). It’ll be no small task, though, as Stephen Strasburg (2.64 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 2.83 DRA) is on the mound for Washington. Strasburg hasn’t allowed a run in his past four starts, and his scoreless streak is currently at 34 innings.
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Dodgers
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Nationals
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5:08 PM PT
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Washington D.C.
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CF
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Taylor |
SS
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Turner | |
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SS
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Seager |
RF
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Werth | |
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3B
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Turner |
3B
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Rendon | |
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1B
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Bellinger |
2B
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Murphy | |
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RF
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Puig |
1B
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Zimmerman | |
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LF
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Granderson |
LF
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Kendrick | |
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C
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Grandal | CF | Taylor | |
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2B
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Forsythe |
C
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Wieters | |
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P
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Ryu (L) |
P
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Strasburg (R) |
While the Dodgers are missing Max Scherzer this series, they’re not so lucky as to avoid the Nats’ co-ace (although getting a look at him ahead of the playoffs may be a good thing). Strasburg is having what looks like it may be, by a number of measures, a career year, posting his lowest marks for ERA, FIP and WHIP of any qualified season thus far. He’s doing well compared to the rest of the league, too, particularly in the area of home-run suppression. His HR/9 of 0.75 is the lowest of qualified National League starters.
Strasburg faced the Dodgers earlier this season in Los Angeles, in a pitchers’ duel with Clayton Kershaw. Although the Nats lost that one, Strasburg pitched well, allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings, striking out eight and walking just one.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (3.59 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 4.68 DRA) is starting for the Dodgers, after not having pitched since September 5 (12 days ago). Although L.A. lost that game, Ryu was very good, allowing just one run in six innings and striking out seven (albeit while walking five). This will be Ryu’s second time facing the Nats, both this season and in his career. He last saw them when they were at Dodger Stadium in June, and he allowed four runs in seven innings.
The Diamondbacks have just lost to the Giants, so the Dodgers’ magic number is down to 4.
A reminder that tonight’s game is an ESPN-exclusive broadcast.
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We’ll be seeing Austin Barnes in tomorrow’s lineup:
Austin Barnes will catch Clayton Kershaw tomorrow.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) September 17, 2017
This will be the fifth time Barnes has caught Kershaw, in 24 games started.
We should not, however, expect to see much of Adrián González for the remainder of the season:
Since that's role he would have if he makes #Dodgers postseason roster
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 17, 2017
Dave Roberts planned to start Adrian Gonzalez tonight, but Gonzalez told Roberts he would prefer to pinch-hit.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) September 17, 2017
I think we can all live with that.
