Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The opener strategy didn’t quite work for the Pirates last night, as the Dodgers put up five in the first en route to a 10-2 victory. It was the Dodgers’ 33rd win of the season, only trailing the Minnesota Twins (wait, what?) in that category. Today, the Dodgers look for their fifth win in five games against the Pirates this season, and they have their ace on the mound.
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Dodgers |
Pirates
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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4:15 p.m.
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Pittsburgh
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LF
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Pederson |
2B
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Frazier | |
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3B
|
Muncy |
LF
|
Reynolds | |
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SS
|
Seager |
CF
|
Marte | |
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RF
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Bellinger |
1B
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Bell | |
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1B
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Beaty |
RF
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Cabrera | |
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C
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Martin |
3B
|
Newman | |
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CF
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Verdugo | C | Cervelli | |
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2B
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Taylor |
SS
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Tucker | |
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P
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Ryu (L) |
P
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Musgrove (R) |
Hyun-Jin Ryu has, arguably, been the best pitcher in baseball this year. Among qualified pitchers, Ryu has the lowest ERA (1.52), third-lowest FIP (2.62) and second-lowest WHIP (0.74) in the Majors. He’s the only pitcher with a sub-3 percent walk rate, and his is at only 1.9 percent. Ryu allowed exactly two runs in four of his five starts in March/April. In four May starts, Ryu has allowed exactly one run in 32 innings. That run came in his first May inning, meaning Ryu is currently riding a 31-inning scoreless streak.
Ryu saw these Pirates at the end of April and allowed two runs and eight hits over seven innings. He struck out 10 Pirates, which was his highest strikeout total since July 2014. Josh Bell‘s homer off Ryu in the fourth inning on April 26 was the last dong surrendered by Ryu.
Joe Musgrove starts for the Pirates and he’s had a pretty solid season so far. His first outing of the season came in relief, but he’s made nine starts since. Musgrove owns a 3.67 ERA/3.05 FIP in 54 innings, with most of his damage coming in his first two May starts. On May 3 and May 9, Musgrove combined to throw 5 2/3 innings and allowed 12 hits and 13 earned runs (15 runs total). In his other 48 1/3 innings, Musgrove has allowed nine earned runs. Musgrove will make his third consecutive start against an NL West opponent today. On May 14th, Musgrove allowed one hit and two walks over seven innings against Arizona. Last time out, Musgrove allowed three runs on four hits in San Diego.
Musgrove saw the Dodgers in LA and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, over 6 2/3 innings. He shut the Dodgers down through six, but allowed back to back singles and a sac fly for his earned run. After a Josh Bell error, Musgrove got a strikeout that should have ended the inning. It didn’t, and Joc Pederson tripled home two runs to put the Dodgers up 3-1, which ended up being the final score. I still don’t know why the Pirates didn’t bring in Francisco Liriano to face Joc?
Without an opener, the Dodgers roll out a more normal lineup. Justin Turner came out of yesterday’s game and Dave Roberts said he’d probably have today off, and he does. Max Muncy slides over to third and Matt Beaty gets another start, this time at first. Turner should be back in the lineup tomorrow.
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Pedro Baez is still progressing, but Roberts is hoping to avoid going to him tonight.
Score 10 again, IMO.
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A reminder that tonight’s game will be exclusively on FOX.
