Dodgers @ Giants September 4, 2021: Dodgers face a bullpen game for a change

Photo by: Stacie Wheeler

The Dodgers got another quality effort in a bullpen game yesterday, as 11 pitchers combined to hold the Giants to eight hits and three runs (only one earned) over 10 2/3 innings. However, that didn’t end up mattering once again as the Dodger bats only mustered two runs in 11 innings and didn’t score a run until there were two outs in the ninth inning.

The wins are good, but it’s a bit troubling to see the offense look so unthreatening for much of the game. Couple that with a rotation being held together by three pitchers and some bubble gum, and it’s not exactly a recipe for success over the final month of the season. The loss sent the Dodgers back to second place, but now they’ll face a pair of bullpen games as they look to leave San Francisco back in first place.

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6:05 PM San Francisco
2B T. Turner LF Ruf
1B Muncy (L) RF Bryant
RF Betts CF Slater
3B J. Turner 3B Longoria
SS Seager (L) C Posey
LF Pollock 1B Belt (L)
CF Taylor 2B Estrada
C Smith SS Dubón
P Urias (L) P Jackson (R)

Julio Urias makes his 27th start of the season tonight for the Dodgers. He’s been excellent of late, allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven starts. Last time out against the Braves, Urias allowed a pair of solo homers over six innings en route to his league-leading 15th win of the season. The Dodgers are 20-6 when Urias starts, but are only 1-3 in his four starts against the Giants. Urias has had back-to-back starts against the Giants twice this season. In May, Urias held the Giants to two runs and three hits over six innings up in San Francisco. He followed that up with his worst start of the season, as he allowed six earned runs (seven total runs) and 11 hits over five innings in LA. Urias fared better against the Giants in July, posting back-to-back one-run outings, the first of which was over seven innings and the latter over 5 2/3. However, the Dodgers lost both of those games.

The Giants are starting Jay Jackson today. Jackson has appeared in the Majors in 2015, 2019 and now 2021 for a combined 51 1/3 innings. He’s made 18 appearances for the Giants this season, allowing 11 hits and six runs in 16 2/3 innings. He pitched in relief against the Dodgers twice in July and threw two combined perfect innings, striking out four of the six batters he’s faced. Jackson has topped out at 27 pitches this season. I haven’t seen any definitive bulk guy for the Giants today, but they have two left-handed bulk options in Shed Long and the newly acquired Jose Quintana.

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David Price was scratched from pitching yesterday, but was not placed in the IL.

Aren’t we all, Dave.

The Dodgers are fortunately not down to two healthy starters.

Max Scherzer came out of his last start early with a hamstring issue, but is on track to start Monday in St. Louis.

Clayton Kershaw is taking the next step.

Kershaw came out of his sim game healthy and will have his first rehab start Tuesday for Triple A OKC. He’s scheduled to throw three innings.

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First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM PDT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.

About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.