D-backs @ Dodgers July 10, 2021: An All-Star starter for the Dodgers

The Dodgers lost to the Diamondbacks last night, which is not what you want. It was only Arizona’s 11th road win of the season and their first win against the Dodgers in eight tries. I take the blame for this, as in my emergency thread last night I stated that David Price used Kid Cudi as his warmup music. I swear I heard him use “Day ‘N’ Night” at some point, but he was apparently using Nas and Wale this season. I regret my errors.

	7:10 PM		Los Angeles
2B	Rojas (L)	RF	Betts
CF	Smith (L)	SS	Taylor
3B	Escobar (S)	3B	Turner
1B	Walker	2B	Muncy (L)
RF	Calhoun (L)	1B	Pujols
LF	Peralta (L)	CF	Bellinger (L)
SS	Ahmed	LF	Pollock
C	Varsho (L)	C	Barnes
P	Smith (L)	P	Buehler (R)

Walker Buehler starts for the final time before the All-Star Break. Today, Buehler was named to the All-Star team in a flurry of injury replacements (more on that later). Buehler has been the Dodgers’ best starter this season and one of the best in the NL. He leads the Dodgers with a 2.49 ERA (10th among qualified starters), and thats up from where it was prior to his last start. Buehler turned in his worst start of the season last time out, snapping a string of 16 consecutive 6+ inning starts to begin the year. He needed 93 pitches to complete five innings last time out in Miami, where he allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits. This will be Buehler’s third look at the Diamondbacks, and he’s shoved in the two previous outings. He allowed one hit over seven shutout innings on May 17 (although he issued four walks) and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on June 19. His final line in that game didn’t show how dominant he was, as he allowed two singles in the eighth and was relieved. Mitch White allowed both runs to come across, giving Buehler two earned runs on his line.

Lefty Caleb Smith starts for Arizona today. Smith was a reliever for part of the season, but has been back in the rotation since the beginning of June. In 18 relief appearances (30 innings), Smith has allowed nine runs and 24 hits. In 40 1/3 innings as a starter, he’s allowed 18 runs on 30 hits. Seven of the nine homers allowed by Smith this season have come as a starter. He had a rough start last time out against the Giants, who scored five runs in six innings off him in Arizona. Smith is a lefty, so naturally he’s dominated the Dodgers this season. In three outings against the Dodgers (two relief outings and a start), Smith has thrown exactly nine innings. The Dodgers have yet to score off him, and they’ve only recorded three hits. Smith has issued seven walks in those nine innings, but that hasn’t come back to bite him yet.

With a lefty on the hill, Albert Pujols gets the start at first and Max Muncy slides over to second.

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All-Star updates!

Mookie Betts will not play in the All-Star game, citing injury.

Justin Turner and Walker Buehler have been added to the National League All-Star team as replacements.

The Dodgers have five total selections: Turner, Buehler, Betts, Chris Taylor, and Max Muncy.

— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 10, 2021

Mookie Betts will not play in the All-Star game due to injury, but he’s in the lineup today and just needs the rest after suffering nagging injuries for most of the first half. Justin Turner and Buehler were named injury replacements, giving the Dodgers five All-Stars in 2021. Yadier Molina was named the replacement for Buster Posey, and then backed out himself. Omar Navarez was named the replacement for the replacement, so still no Will Smith.

Dave Roberts is managing the NL and gets to choose the starter.

Dave Roberts said he is strongly considering Max Scherzer to start for NL All-Star team. Scherzer’s resume + Davey Martinez not having the opportunity to manage last year and name “his guy” is part of decision making process.

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 10, 2021

Is this tampering?

Roberts also mentioned Buehler and German Marquez as potential starters, allowing Marquez to start in at his home stadium. I am ready to yell when he pulls Marquez from a no-hitter in the second inning.

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Clayton Kershaw played catch.

Clayton Kershaw did play catch today, Dave Roberts said. They were confident the MRI wouldn’t have an issue yesterday but it’s still something they’ll be mindful of in the second half.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 10, 2021

Kershaw’s MRI showed inflammation, but it seems like it’s not gonna be a huge issue.

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The Dodgers and Diamondbacks play again tomorrow, and then the Dodgers open up the second half of the season in Colorado on Friday. The Dodgers only have like 2.5 starters right now.

Last pregame update from the first in-person pregame update of the season: Dave Roberts said Julio Urías and Walker Buehler will start the first two games after the all-star break in some order.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 10, 2021

Buehler and Julio Urias will start Friday and Saturday in Colorado, with the order TBD. It makes sense to think Tony Gonsolin would start Sunday, and then lord knows.

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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PDT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.