Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a series loss at the hands of the Angels, the Dodgers open up a four-game set even farther down the 5 in San Diego. The Dodgers are entering an extremely tough part of the schedule, as their next 11 series are against teams that currently have winning records. A four-game series win would be nice heading into that part of the schedule.
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Dodgers
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Padres
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7:10 PM
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San Diego
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LF
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Pederson |
CF
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Margot | |
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2B
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Muncy |
LF
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Myers | |
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3B
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Turner |
RF
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Renfroe | |
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1B
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Bellinger |
1B
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Hosmer | |
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RF
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Kemp |
3B
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Villanueva | |
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C
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Grandal |
2B
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Pirela | |
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SS
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Taylor | SS | Galvis | |
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CF
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Toles |
C
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Ellis | |
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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Perdomo (R)
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Clayton Kershaw starts for the fourth time since returning from the DL with back tightness. If Kershaw completes two innings today, he’ll become one of 11 current MLB pitchers with 2000 innings thrown and be the 13th in Dodger franchise history (H/T: Alanna Rizzo). He’s allowed at least one run in each of the 11 games he’s started this season, but despite his relative struggles he’s only allowed more than two runs twice this season. His last start against the Pirates was solid, as Kershaw needed 74 pitches to complete six innings while allowing two runs and four hits. His two strikeouts were his fewest of the season, but Kershaw’s velocity seemed close to normal throughout the game and he’s still healthy. Kershaw has yet to face the Padres this season, but this seems good.
.@ClaytonKersh22 is MONEY against the Padres.
In his last 12 starts vs SD, Kersh is 9-0 with a 0.96 ERA. pic.twitter.com/LcBcNHNPo0
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) July 9, 2018
Luis Perdomo starts for the sixth time today after being recalled on the fourth of July by the Padres. Perdomo began the year as the Padres’ number three starter, but was demoted after being roughed up by the Dodgers on April 18th. In that game, Perdomo faced 21 batters and only recorded nine outs. The Dodgers had 10 hits and two walks in three innings against Perdomo and scored nine runs, two of which were unearned. Perdomo also allowed the first home run of the season hit by Max Muncy, which will be a nice trivia answer when he’s named the NL MVP. Perdomo returned from the DL with a strong start against Oakland, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Andrew Toles makes his first start of the season for the Dodgers today. He starts in center and replaces Yasiel Puig on the roster. Puig left last night’s game after a swing in the fifth inning. They’re calling it a right oblique strain. In all likelihood, today will be the first time A.J. Ellis faces Clayton Kershaw in a game. So that’ll be fun.
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Muncy is not an All-Star (yet, as Chad wrote about this morning). However, he will partake in part of All-Star weekend.
Max Muncy said on the Dodgers’ radio station that he will be competing in next week’s Home Run Derby.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) July 9, 2018
Watch out D.C.
Breakout slugger Mad Max Muncy will participate in the @TMobile #HRDerby. pic.twitter.com/OVKhGlNSHO
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2018
This will mark four consecutive years that the Dodgers have sent a player to the derby. Last year, Cody Bellinger won his first round matchup before being eliminated in the second round by eventual-winner Aaron Judge. The year before, Corey Seager hit 15 home runs in the first round, but he was matched up against Mark Trumbo, who hit 16. In 2015, Joc Pederson made it to the final round before losing to Todd Frazier. R.I.P. Muncy’s swing.
https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/1016460433199251456
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Andrew Toles sounded happy to rejoin the Dodgers. He said he had been unable to keep up on the progress of the big-league outfielders because he could not access SportsNet LA.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) July 9, 2018
Same.
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Dear @Drake,
1) Sure, I guess I love you!
2) I’ve told you many times it’s Kike/Kiké (Kee-Kay), not Kiki!!Sincerely,
KIKÉ
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) July 9, 2018
This tweet is better than Scorpion was. @ me.
