Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (50-42) go for the series win against the Padres (40-55) on Thursday night at Petco Park. It’s a Ross-Ross matchup in San Diego when Dodgers ace and All-Star Ross Stripling faces Tyson Ross. The D-backs already lost to the Rockies earlier, so a Dodger win would mean sole possession of first place.
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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 |
RF
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Jankowski | |
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3B
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Muncy |
3B
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Asuaje | |
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1B
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Bellinger |
LF
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Myers | |
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C
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Grandal |
1B
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Hosmer | |
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SS
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Taylor |
2B
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Pirela | |
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CF
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Toles |
SS
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Galvis | |
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LF
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Hernandez | CF | Margot | |
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2B
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Utley |
C
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Hedges | |
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P
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Stripling (R)
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P
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Ross (R)
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Stripling (7-2, 2.22 ERA, 2.75 FIP) has been outstanding this season. He’s proven that he’s a front-line starter after beginning the year in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Before he takes the trip to Washington D.C., Stripling has one more start to make with the Dodgers before the break.
Chicken Strip has already pitched against the Padres in three games this year, starting two of them. He hasn’t allowed an earned run against San Diego this entire season and has struck out 17 Padres in 11 2/3 innings pitched. Overall in his career, the right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA in nine games (3 starts) against the Padres. Manuel Margot and Jose Pirela hit homers against Stripling in August of last year.
Last time out against the Angels, Stripling struck out seven batters for the second straight start. He only allowed one run on three hits in six innings and picked up the win in Anaheim.
Ross (5-7, 4.41 ERA, 4.46 FIP) looks to pitch San Diego to a series split when he takes the mound for the Padres. He already has three more walks on the year than he had the entire season with Texas last year. The right-hander hasn’t won a decision since June 3, and he’s coming off two straight disastrous losses to the Pirates and D-backs. Last time out against Arizona, he only lasted 2 innings after serving up eight runs on seven hits. In his last two starts, he’s allowed 15 runs on 14 hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 7 innings.
He hasn’t faced the Dodgers this year, but he’s historically struggled against LA. Ross is winless against the Dodgers with a 0-7 record and a 3.49 ERA in 11 games (9 starts). He has struck out 58 Dodgers in 59 1/3 innings, but he has also walked 21 in that span. He’s really struggled against left-handed batters this year who are hitting .303 against him. Chase Utley has four hits including two doubles against Ross, and Justin Turner has four hits including a double and a homer against him as well.
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Matt Kemp and Justin Turner get the night off, and Andrew Toles gets a start in center field with Joc Pederson in left and Enrique Hernandez in right field. Logan Forsythe is not in the lineup, but Chase Utley gets his once-a-week start at second base. Baseball Dad had a pinch-hit double in Wednesday’s game.
Some are calling it an ASG tuneup for Stripling tonight, but the All-Star Game doesn’t count for anything. I’ll take a win tonight against the Padres and some fun on Tuesday in D.C.
