Rockies @ Dodgers May 22, 2018: Stewart finally gets a start

Photo: Sarah Wexler

The Dodgers wasted another great Walker Buehler start last night, as the offense was shut down by German Marquez and the defense made three errors. The loss ended a four-game winning streak and allowed the Rockies to move into first place for the first time this season.

Rockies
Dodgers
7:10 PM
Los Angeles
CF
Blackmon
1B
Muncy
LF
Parra
3B
Turner
3B
Arenado
C
Grandal
SS
Story
LF
Kemp
RF
Gonzalez
CF
Bellinger
1B
Desmond
SS
Taylor
C
Iannetta RF Puig
2B
Castro
2B
Forsythe
P
Bettis (R)
P
Stewart (R)

After appearing in three games as a reliever, Brock Stewart finally makes his first start of the season. Stewart has allowed five hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings so far in the majors, but succeeded in five Triple-A starts. He owns a 2.08 ERA (five runs in 21 2/3 innings) and has struck out more than a batter per inning in the minors this season. Despite this, the Dodgers opted to use him in relief the two previous times he’s been called up and go with a bullpen game. Today is different, probably due to the fact that bullpen game starter Ross Stripling is now like their number three starter.

Yasiel Puig returns to the lineup after a night off yesterday. Max Muncy leads off for the second time this season.

Chad Bettis starts for the Rockies for the tenth time this season. Bettis owns a 3.27 ERA/4.36 FIP, and like many Rockie pitchers, he performs much better away from Coors Field. In three starts at home, Bettis owns a 6.89 ERA and opponents own a .882 OPS against him. In six road starts, Bettis has posted a 1.89 ERA and is limiting batters to a .610 OPS. Bettis seems like a completely unideal pitcher for Coors’, as his 15.8 K% is the ninth-worst among qualified starters. He leans on a low-90s fastball with some sink to it.

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#RichHillPissHandWatch enters day two.

It’ll be interesting to see if MLB allows him to pitch with a band-aid or other pad on his blistered finger.

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The Dodgers needed to make a roster move to get Stewart on the 25-man, so switch-pitcher Pat Venditte was optioned once again. Two of Venditte’s three outings this season were scoreless, but he allowed two runs and only recorded one out in the other outing.

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Tonight’s game will also be broadcast on ESPN with no blackouts, in addition to the usual Sportsnet LA telecast.

About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.