Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After another tough loss last night, the Dodgers look to right the ship Saturday night. Last night’s game started off poorly, as the Dodgers fell behind 5-1 and looked like they were on their way to another loss without a fight. However, the Dodgers put up six runs between the sixth and eighth innings, actually showing life offensively and instead being let down by two usually-dependable relievers. Progress?
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Diamondbacks
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Dodgers
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6:10 PM
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Los Angeles
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LF
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Peralta |
CF
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Taylor | |
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2B
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Marte |
SS
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Seager | |
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1B
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Goldschmidt |
C
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Grandal | |
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CF
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Pollock |
1B
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Bellinger | |
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RF
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Owings |
RF
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Puig | |
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SS
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Ahmed |
LF
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Pederson | |
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C
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Avila | 3B | Forsythe | |
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3B
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Marrero |
2B
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Utley | |
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P
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Walker (R)
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P
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Hill (L)
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For the first time this season, Rich Hill will start against a team other than the San Francisco Giants. Hill’s first two starts of the season felt similar but ended with different results. In his first start at Dodger Stadium, Hill allowed eight baserunners in six innings, but kept the Giants off the board. In his second start at AT&T Park, Hill allowed seven baserunners in four innings and the Giants scored three times off him. His four-inning outing hurt the Dodgers as they eventually fell in the 14th inning.
Last season, Hill faced the Diamondbacks four times. His overall numbers were ugly, as he posted an 0-3 record and 5.03 ERA in 19 2/3 innings. However, those numbers are a bit skewed by one really poor start on August 29, when Hill allowed eight hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Hill left his April 16 start against Arizona after the third inning as his blister issues resurfaced. In his other two starts against Arizona, Hill allowed only three runs in 13 innings. The Dodgers could use a deep outing tonight, as despite avoiding extra innings last night, the Dodgers had to use six relief pitchers as Kenta Maeda failed to make it out of the third inning.
Matt Kemp said he’s fine. “It ain’t even nothing to write about. I’ll be in there tomorrow.”
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) April 14, 2018
It is a little worth writing about, as Matt Kemp is not in the lineup today. Ken Gurnick tweeted that Kemp is fine, just getting a day off with games on seven consecutive days. Joc Pederson gets the start in left, and Yasmani Grandal hits third for the first time this season. Chase Utley starts at second. Last time this happened when I had the thread, I complained and Allan called me out as Utley hit a double and a home run. So if it helps the offense, I’ll complain and look stupid again.
Taijuan Walker starts against the Dodgers for the second time this year. In his first start, Walker allowed three runs in the first inning, including a home run by Grandal. The Dodgers had 10 baserunners in five innings against Walker, but failed to score off him after the first.
The Dodgers have had Walker’s number in the past, as current Dodgers hold a .310/.373/.500 combined triple slash line in 110 plate appearances against Walker. Walker has a 2-1 record in five starts regular season starts against the Dodgers, but has allowed 29 hits and 14 runs in only 25 2/3 innings. In 15 innings at Dodger Stadium, Walker has a 4.20 ERA, but most of that damage came in one 2015 start. He started twice at Dodger Stadium last season and allowed two runs in 11 innings.
Arizona has taken some mercy on the struggling Dodgers, as Daniel Descalso isn’t in the lineup today. He’s hitting at least .800/.900/.1200 with 17 home runs and 80 RBIs against the Dodgers this season. He’s really hitting .333/.308/.833 with two home runs and five RBIs, but you know you believed me for a second. Instead, Deven Marrero gets the start at third with Jake Lamb still on the DL. A.J. Pollock returns to the starting lineup after coming into last the game in the seventh inning last night. Alex Avila starts behind the plate instead of Jeff Mathis, who started
last night.
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Andrew Toles is very much a #TrueDodger, as he hurt his hamstring last night.
Andrew Toles is going to need 10 days off to heal his hamstring, Dave Roberts said.
Roberts indicated he was aware of the #FreeToles movement on social media.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) April 14, 2018
Toles has been tearing it up at Triple A-OKC, with 12 hits in 26 at-bats. While I’m sure most of us would love to see him back up in the Majors sooner rather than later, the guy playing his position has been one of the only good Dodger bats so far this season.
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In actual positive news:
#Dodgers Dave Roberts said Justin Turner has started taking dry swings with a bat. Another small step in return from fractured wrist
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 14, 2018
Justin Turner‘s presence in the lineup is surely missed. While dry swings don’t make his return eminent, any Turner-related update that doesn’t include the word “setback” is welcome news.
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At least if the Dodgers lose today, there’s probably going to be pictures of good dogs at the stadium.
First #PupsAtThePark tonight at #DodgerStadium. Aka, My heaven. ❤️🐶
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 14, 2018
