Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After taking two of three in Milwaukee, the Dodgers (55-44) continue their road trip with a three-game series in Philadelphia. There will also be some special baseball moments as Chase Utley plays in front of Phillies fans for what could be the final time before he retires at the conclusion of this season.
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Dodgers
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Phillies
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4:05 PM
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Philadelphia
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LF
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Pederson |
1B
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Santana | |
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3B
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Machado |
LF
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Hoskins | |
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1B
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Muncy |
CF
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Herrera | |
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C
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Grandal |
RF
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Williams | |
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RF
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Kemp |
3B
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Franco | |
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CF
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Bellinger |
SS
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Kingery | |
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SS
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Taylor | 2B | Plouffe | |
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2B
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Utley |
C
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Alfaro | |
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P
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Stripling
(R)
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P
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Eflin
(R)
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The first-place Phillies (55-43) have one less loss than the first-place Dodgers on the season. There’s a chance the Dodgers and Phillies could match up in the postseason should both teams continue to play well. That would give Utley, The Man, an extension to his retirement tour. Standing ovations and honorary in-game recognition will be given to Utley to celebrate his 13-year career in Philly. Hopefully all the hullabaloo around Utley annoys Keith Olbermann.
In Game No. 100 for the Dodgers, Ross Stripling (8-2, 2.08 ERA, 2.73) makes his first start in the second half and first pitching appearance since his tumultuous 1 2/3 innings in the All-Star Game. Stripling was pegged with the loss for the NL after he allowed three runs on four hits including two home runs to Alex Bregman and George Springer giving us all World Series flashbacks.
Annoying as it was, the All-Star Break thankfully doesn’t count for anything anymore. Stripling closed out the first half on a strong note, pitching six shutout innings in San Diego July 12. It capped off an impressive first half for Chicken Strip, a surprise ace this year for the Dodgers who have been hammered by starting rotation injuries.
Overall against the Phillies, Stripling is 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA in four career games (two starts). Chicken Strip got a win against the Phillies at Dodger Stadium back on May 30, allowing only one run over seven innings of work. He has a 8.44 ERA with six earned runs and three home runs in 5 1/3 innings in two games (one start) at Citizens Bank Park.
The big right-hander and old friend Zach Eflin (7-2, 3.15 ERA, 3.04 FIP) returns to the mound for the Phillies to face Stripling for the second matchup between the two this season. He missed his last start before the All-Star break with Rich Hill syndrome (blister). He’s been great for Philly this season with a career-best 8.8 K/9 and 67 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings pitched. Eflin hasn’t lost a game since May, but he’s struggled in his three career starts against the Dodgers going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 14 innings. He’s allowed seven home runs to LA, the most he’s allowed to any opponent he’s faced in his career.
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Justin Turner was placed on the 10-day DL with a right groin strain, and Alex Verdugo was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Not only is Andrew Toles dealing with a hamstring cramp, Verdugo has been tearing it up in OKC. He’s slashing .349/.396/.506/.902 with 17 doubles and eight home runs in 261 at-bats. If he was in another organization that didn’t have as much outfield depth as the Dodgers, he’d be on a major-league roster. Verdugo hit .265 in nine games with the Dodgers in his first stint with the big club from April 28-May 8.
Manny Machado will start at third base while Turner is out. Chris Taylor is at shortstop tonight, and Utley gets the start at second base.
With Justin Turner on the disabled list, Manny Machado will be the everyday third baseman, Dave Roberts said. Roberts was unsure if Turner will require more than 10 days off.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) July 23, 2018
The Dodgers and Phillies split a four-game series at Dodger Stadium at the end of May, but that was during a time when the Dodgers were hit by injuries and well before the addition of Manny Machado. Brock Stewart started the series opener, Clayton Kershaw was on the DL, Pedro Baez, Josh Fields, Pat Venditte, and Tony Cingrani were in the bullpen, and future Oriole Breyvic Valera started at second base. So yeah, I’d say the team has improved since then.
