Dodgers @ Padres May 4, 2019: Curveball Battle

If this start time seems weird to you, it seems weird to me too, which is why this game thread is super late. Five minutes to spare!

Dodgers
Padres
5:40 p.m.
San Diego
CF
Hernández
2B
Kinsler
3B
Turner
RF
Reyes
SS
Seager
SS
Machado
1B
Freese
LF
Renfroe
2B
Muncy
1B
Hosmer
C
Martin
3B
France
RF
Verdugo CF Margot
LF
Taylor
C
Hedges
P
Hill (L)
P
Lucchesi (L)

The Dodgers will face off against Joey Lucchesi, who throws one of the most unique pitches in the sport. His “churve” is a changeup-curve hybrid, which he throws almost 40% of the time. Lucchesi has struggled by ERA this season, but his peripherals have matched last season’s numbers and show a pitcher who is quite good if he can limit the home-run ball. That’s a tall task with 2019’s version of the baseball, but he’s in the right home park to do it.

Rich Hill opposes him, and of course he will be throwing a bunch of curves in return, albeit of the 12-to-6 variety. Hill started off quite poorly in his first outing of the season, but rebounded nicely in the final few innings. He’ll be looking to be more consistent today.

——

In terms of things that are “not big deals” this seems like it could be a pretty big deal:

Just a small dislocated shoulder for Cody Bellinger, no biggie.

There is also better news to share:

It’s tough to know what to expect from Tony Cingrani after so much missed time, but if he’s anything like what he was down the stretch in 2017, he would be a tremendous help to this shaky bullpen.

About Daniel Brim

Avatar photo
Daniel Brim grew up in the Los Angeles area but doesn't live there anymore. He still watches the Dodgers and writes about them sometimes.