Dodgers @ Padres July 10, 2018: Hill vs Lauer

(Via)

With their win last night, the Dodgers are now eight games over .500 for the second time this season. They sit half a game behind the Diamondbacks at 49-41, and a win tonight coupled with an Arizona loss in Colorado could put the Dodgers in first place for the first time in 2018.

Dodgers
Padres
7:10 PM
San Diego
SS
Taylor
CF
Margot
LF
Hernández
LF
Myers
3B
Turner
RF
Renfroe
1B
Muncy
1B
Hosmer
RF
Kemp
3B
Villanueva
CF
Bellinger
2B
Pirela
2B
Forsythe SS Galvis
C
Barnes
C
Hedges
P
Hill (L)
P
Lauer (L)

Rich Hill is healthy enough to make his scheduled start today. He left his start on the fourth of July after throwing only 73 pitches due to neck stiffness suffered during his magical trip around the bases. He pitched pretty decently in his five innings of work, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out five and walking only one. In four starts since returning from the DL, Hill has posted a 2.78 ERA, allowing seven runs and 18 hits in 22 2/3 innings. He’s also struck out 26 and walked only four batters. In his five starts before hitting the DL, Hill walked 13 and struck out 25. Like Kershaw prior to last night, Hill has yet to face the Padres this season.

Eric Lauer starts for the Padres today for the 15th time this season. The 23-year-old rookie has had a bit of a rough season, with a 4.84 ERA/4.73 FIP in 67 innings. He’s struck out 56 batters and walked 29 so far this season. He’s turned his season around a bit since the beginning of June. In six June starts, Lauer posted a 2.76 ERA and struck out 26 batters with 12 walks. In his only start in July so far, Lauer held the Diamondbacks to one run through five innings, but he did allow seven hits. Among pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched this season, Lauer has the third-highest BABIP (.367). Line drives typically have the highest BABIP among all batted ball types, and Lauer’s 27.6 line drive percentage is the fourth-highest in baseball.

With a lefty on the mound, Enrique Hernandez starts in left field. Austin Barnes starts behind the plate and Logan Forsythe gets the start at second. For the Padres, Austin Hedges starts behind the plate instead of A.J. Ellis.

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There is now a date for Walker Buehler‘s return to the rotation.

Buehler will start the opening game of the three-game series against the Angels on Friday. That’ll be the final series before the All-Star break, so the rotation should be able to reset the following week. Sunday’s starter will be decided based on how Hill looks tonight. Sunday would be regular rest for Hill, so I’m sure the Dodgers just want to make sure his neck is healthy.

——

The Dodgers will have one fewer reliever today.

Edward Paredes has been sent back to Triple A-OKC. Kenta Maeda was away from the team for three days following the birth of his child last week. Maeda starts tomorrow.

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Trade rumor season is upon us. There’s going to be a lot of smoke flying around, so take everything with a grain of salt.

Listen. I like Gavin Lux. I like Dustin May. The Dodgers don’t really need a shortstop? But if they don’t trade those two for literally Manny Machado I will be extremely mad online.

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An update on relief pitchers and their rehabs.

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.