Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers lost in 14 innings last night after using every player on the active roster not named Alex Wood. Two of their starting pitchers appeared as pinch hitters, and despite taking a lead in the top of the 14th inning, Wilmer Font was unable to convert the save and the Dodgers dropped their fourth straight game. Their 2-6 start is the worst since the 1976 Dodgers started the season 1-7. That team did finish 92-70, so not all is lost. However, a combination of bad offense and a potentially broken closer means there’s some reason for concern.
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Dodgers
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Giants
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1:05 PM
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San Francisco
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CF
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Taylor |
CF
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Jackson | |
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SS
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Seager |
2B
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Panik | |
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RF
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Puig |
RF
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McCutchen | |
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1B
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Hernández |
C
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Hundley | |
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C
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Grandal |
3B
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Longoria | |
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LF
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Kemp |
1B
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Sandoval | |
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3B
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Forsythe | LF | Pence | |
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2B
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Barnes |
SS
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Tomlinson | |
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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Blach (L)
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The Dodgers roll with the two catcher lineup, as Austin Barnes gets his first start of the season at second base. Enrique Hernandez starts at first to give Cody Bellinger a day off. Yasmani Grandal starts behind the plate after entering yesterday’s game in the sixth inning.
The Giants come out with a much different lineup than we’ve seen so far. Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford all sit this one out. Nick Hundley draws the start behind the plate, Pablo Sandoval starts at first and Kelby Tomlinson starts at short. Posey gets a much-deserved night off after catching all 14 innings last night.
Clayton Kershaw gets the start for the third time this season after being tagged with the loss in the first two. Kershaw’s allowed three runs in his first two starts, but has received one run of support so far this season. Some of Kershaw’s numbers still look normal. He’s struck out more than a batter per inning (13 strikeouts, 12 innings), but has already walked three batters. Last season, Kershaw’s third walk came in his fifth start.
On Opening Day against these Giants, Kershaw allowed 10 baserunners in six innings, but only one came around to score. That run came on a Joe Panik home run with two outs in the fifth inning. Kershaw’s been strangely inefficient this season, needing 91 and 97 pitches to get through six innings in each of his outings. As Daniel wrote in his recap of Kershaw’s loss in Arizona, his velocity looked more normal in his second outing compared to his first. However, Kershaw has struggled with putting hitters away.
Ty Blach will also be making his third start of the season. On Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, Blach tossed five innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out three Dodgers. Blach’s second start didn’t go as well, as he was tagged for six runs and 10 hits during the Giants’ home opener against the Seattle Mariners. This seems to be a common theme during Blach’s three-year career. In 190 career innings, Blach owns a 4.50 ERA. However, in 41 1/3 career innings against the Dodgers, Blach owns a 1.96 ERA.
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The Dodgers reshuffled their rotation a bit for their upcoming series against Oakland.
Wood gets extra day because of illness. Now Ryu starts Tuesday, Wood Wednesday. Wood said he thinks he had food poisoning.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 8, 2018
Wood, who reportedly wasn’t in the dugout last night with an illness, will be bumped back to Wednesday. Hyun-Jin Ryu was supposed to start on Wednesday, but he’ll be moved up to Tuesday.
Wood and Bellinger must have grabbed dinner together.
Cody Bellinger is dealing with food poisoning, which is part of the reason he has the day off.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) April 8, 2018
Corey Seager was also reportedly feeling a bit ill last night. After this ESPN story ran on Seager last March, accusing him of eating a mini chicken-bacon-ranch pizza, clam chowder and two Mountain Dews, I can’t say I’m surprised by him ever being ill.
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In tragic news:
Scott Alexander #StacheUpdate he has shaved the push broom mustache because it was becoming difficult to eat and drink shakes. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/QKWcZ0NeTh
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 8, 2018
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Just win, please.
