Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers pulled away late in last night’s game for their 96th win of the season. They still hold a four-game lead over the Braves for home field in the National League, and still have a couple weeks to fine-tune things before games begin to really matter again. First, the middle game against the Mets, who saw a four-game winning streak snap last night. Today’s game features some extra narrative, as a Dodger who seemed like the runaway Cy Young winner battles a guy that has quietly gotten himself back in the conversation.
|
Dodgers |
Mets
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4:10 p.m.
|
New York
|
|||
|
RF
|
Pederson |
SS
|
Rosario | |
|
1B
|
Muncy |
LF
|
Davis | |
|
3B
|
Beaty |
RF
|
McNeil | |
|
CF
|
Bellinger |
1B
|
Alonso | |
|
SS
|
Seager |
C
|
Ramos | |
|
LF
|
Pollock |
2B
|
Cano | |
|
2B
|
Lux |
3B
|
Frazier | |
|
C
|
Martin | CF | Lagares | |
|
P
|
Ryu (L) |
P
|
deGrom (R) |
Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his 27th start of the season tonight. A month ago, Ryu was running away with the Cy Young and in the conversation for one of the greatest pitching seasons in recent baseball history. Now, Ryu is coming off four consecutive sub-par outings that have jumped his ERA up from 1.45 to 2.45 (still leads the majors). In his last four starts, Ryu has allowed only three fewer runs (21) than he had in his first 22 starts (23). He’s only completed five innings in one of those four starts after doing so in 21 of his first 22 starts (one injury-shortened start). In Ryu’s last outing, he allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Rockies. He labored throughout, needing 93 pitches to record those 13 outs. His four walks issued were the most he’s had in a game since his first start last season. It was an uncharacteristic night for Ryu, who is now second among qualified starters in walk rate behind Mike Leake. Ryu saw the Mets in May in LA, and threw 7 2/3 shutout innings.
Opposing Ryu is Jacob deGrom, who has quietly put together a wonderful season in New York. He’s got a 9-8 record, which is a very Mets thing. His 2.70 ERA is the sixth-best among all qualified starters. However, the Mets are 11-18 in his 29 starts and are averaging only 3.80 runs in those games. deGrom has thrown exactly seven innings in 10 of his last 12 starts (with two five-inning outings sprinkled in) and has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his last 12 starts, but the Mets are 6-6 in that time. deGrom got over the .500 mark with a win in his last start, as he allowed three hits and a run over seven innings against the Diamondbacks while striking out 12.
deGrom wasn’t dominant when he saw the Dodgers in LA on May 27. He allowed only two runs in five innings, but threw 105 pitches in only five innings and struck out a season-low two batters. After deGrom was removed, Tyler Bashlor and Daniel Zamora came in and allowed six runs (three earned each) while recording two outs. Bashlor got a groundout to start the inning, then allowed a homer and two singles before being removed. Zamora allowed a homer to the first batter he saw (Enrique Hernandez), loaded the bases with a single/double/intentional walk, then brought a run in on a hit by pitch and a third run on a sac fly. I wouldn’t hate that strategy again today.
The Dodgers roll out mostly the same lineup as last night. Russell Martin catches Ryu instead of Will Smith.
——
Rich Hill is playing catch.
An annual tradition. Hill will reportedly undergo an MRI on Monday and is hoping to pitch again this season.
——
A reminder that tonight’s game will be viewable on channel 5 in the LA area.
