Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (45-23) left Anaheim with two more games in the loss column then they arrived there with. It’s always annoying to lose to the Angels, but the Dodgers still have the best record in the NL. After a day off and a night of dancing to Bruno Mars, the Cubs (37-29) come to town for a four-game series to kick off a 11-game homestand for the Dodgers. The Cubbies took two of three from the Dodgers at Wrigley Field in Chicago back in late April.
|
Cubs
|
Dodgers
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7:10 p.m.
|
Los Angeles
|
|||
|
LF
|
Schwarber |
LF
|
Hernandez | |
|
RF
|
Bryant |
3B
|
Turner | |
|
1B
|
Rizzo |
1B
|
Freese | |
|
SS
|
Baez |
RF
|
Bellinger | |
|
C
|
Contreras |
SS
|
Taylor | |
|
CF
|
Almora |
2B
|
Muncy | |
|
2B
|
Russell | CF | Verdugo | |
|
P
|
Lester (L) |
C
|
Barnes | |
|
3B
|
Bote |
P
|
Kershaw (L) |
Although the Dodgers dropped both games in Orange County, the biggest loss was of shortstop Corey Seager. Seager injured his hamstring while running the bases in the ninth inning Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. Seager’s hamstring strain comes at the most inopportune time. He’s been red hot at the plate, slashing .409/.447/.705/1.151 with seven doubles and two home runs in the last two weeks.
Today the Dodgers placed Seager on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and activated Matt Beaty from the IL. They’ll have to go on without Seager for now. He’ll be out at least a month, but there’s no specific timetable for his return.
Dodgers confirm that Wednesday's MRI on Seager revealed between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 strain, less severe than the Tuesday night preliminary exam indicated. Still, the best guess is that Seager is likely to miss a month.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 13, 2019
Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor will likely play shortstop while Seager’s out. Taylor gets the start at short tonight, batting behind Bellinger. I don’t expect Bellinger to see many good pitches from Jon Lester.
——
Clayton Kershaw (5-1, 3.00 ERA, 3.39 FIP) was tagged with a loss in his last start in San Francisco, but it wasn’t all because of his pitching. Oracle Park’s death zone of a bullpen tripped Taylor who dropped a foul ball in the sixth inning. The Giants scored in typical fashion with a walk, a wild pitch, and a couple of singles to capture the lead.
That was all the Giants needed to edge the Dodgers out, but Kershaw didn’t give up another run thereafter and overall pitched seven solid innings. Of course all six Giants hits were singles. It was the first game the Dodgers lost this season in a Kershaw start.
Overall, against the Cubs, Kershaw’s 5-3 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.159 WHIP in 10 career starts. He’ll need to try to keep the ball in the park and pitch carefully to Anthony Rizzo and Carlos Gonzalez who both have hit three home runs off Kersh. Wilson Contreras is also hitting .462 with two homers against him. Kershaw’s 1.1 HR/9 is still high compared to his career average (0.6), but he hasn’t allowed a long ball since May 27 (14 innings).
The Cubs have four more home runs on the year (108) than the Dodgers (104).
——
The Cubs send fellow veteran left-hander Lester (5-4, 3.56 ERA, 3.91 FIP) to the mound for the series opener. He’s struggled in his five road starts this season (4.97 ERA, 1.345 WHIP), but he held the Dodgers to one run on four hits in five innings with five strikeouts on April 25 at Wrigley Field.
Lester’s 4-4 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.074 WHIP in 10 career starts against the Dodgers. At Dodger Stadium, he’s 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA and 1.229 WHIP in five starts. David Freese has had the most success vs. Lester in his career and is 11-for-38 (.289) against him. Freese is third in Dave Roberts‘ batting order for the series opener, one of three right-handers at the top of the order, and will start at first base. Cody Bellinger is 5-for-9 (.556) with two doubles and a home run against the lefty. Lester hasn’t allowed a home run to a left-handed batter this season.
The Cubs are currently 1/2 game back of the Brewers in the NL Central. They’re coming off a tense season finale vs. the Rockies in which four players, including Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant, were hit by pitches.
——
The Dodgers signed an old friend yesterday.
#Dodgers signed old friend Zac Rosscup as a minor league free agent. He’ll be officially added to OKC’s roster tonight. Made 17 appearances for LAD last season. Has been with the Mariners and Blue Jays this season.
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) June 12, 2019
——
I also have another couple of very important notes. Tonight is game No. 69 for the Dodgers as well as Joe Kelly bobblehead night. Nice?
