Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Trayce Thompson was the hero last night, as an eighth-inning double and ninth-inning extra base hit robbery helped lead the Dodgers to a 2-1 win to open up the homestand. The win, coupled with another Josh Hader implosion in San Diego, put the Dodgers 18 up in the NL West and lowered the NL West magic number to 25. Tonight, the Dodgers get a major rotation reinforcement back after over a year on the IL.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 6:10 PM | Los Angeles | ||
| 3B | Wendle (L) | RF | Betts |
| 2B | Berti | SS | T. Turner |
| DH | Aguilar | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| RF | Bleday (L) | DH | Smith |
| RF | Anderson | 3B | J. Turner |
| C | Fortes | 2B | Muncy (L) |
| 1B | Diaz (L) | LF | Thompson |
| SS | Rojas | CF | Bellinger (L) |
| LF | Encarnacion | C | Barnes |
| P | Hoeing (R) | P | May (R) |
Dustin May makes his first Major League start since May 1, 2021 tonight. With two outs in the second inning, May tore his UCL and needed to undergo Tommy John surgery. He returned to action with a Rookie ball start on July 16, and made five other rehab starts at Triple A-OKC. He allowed four runs and 14 hits in 19 innings over those four starts, and topped out at 70 pitches in his most recent start on Sunday. He struck out 10 on Sunday and threw an immaculate inning, while OKC put up 20 runs in support of May. The Dodgers should to that tonight, IMO.
May’s return has given the Dodgers a six-man rotation for now, as Ryan Pepiot is still up and is the scheduled starter tomorrow. It stands to reason that Pepiot will be back down at some point, whether that be after his next start with the Dodger shifting back to a five-man rotation or when Clayton Kershaw returns. May is expected to go five innings/75 pitches tonight.
Opposing May will be former first round pick Braxton Garrett. Garrett was picked seventh overall in the 2016 draft and debuted in 2020. He made a couple starts that season and eight starts in 2021, but has been in the rotation since June 5 and will be making his 14th start of the season tonight. He’s been mostly solid this season, with a 3.67 ERA/3.47 FIP in 68 2/3 Major League innings this season. He’s had a couple rough starts with two outings where he allowed five earned runs, but is coming off a six-inning shutout against Atlanta. Garrett has struck out 11 in a game twice this season and has struck out 71 batters with only 17 walks issued in those 68 2/3 innings.
Garrett throws a slider more than any other pitch (32.7 percent of the time) and has a 42.8 percent whiff rate with that pitch. Baseball Savant has him also throwing a four-seamer and sinker over 20 percent of the time (26.3 percent and 21.1 percent, respectively) and he mixes in a changeup and curveball.
You try to be responsible and write the thread early so you can enjoy the rest of your day, and then Don Mattingly ruins your plans. Bryan Hoeing will start in place of Garrett. It’s probably for the best that I don’t have time to write too much about a guy with that last name. Hoeing will make his Major League debut tonight after three minor league seasons. He’s posted a 4.25 ERA in 110 innings between Double A and Triple A this season.
Cody Bellinger returns to the lineup, hitting eighth and starting in center. Thompson starts in left and Will Smith will serve as the DH with Austin Barnes behind the plate.
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There was a roster move to get May on the active roster and 40-man.
Reyes Moronta was designated for assignment to make room. Moronta had a rough season, allowing 11 runs and 17 hits in 23 1/3 innings. Seems like we’ll be seeing him Lessonta, imo.
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Some injury updates.
Danny Duffy‘s season might not be over, as he pitched today for the ACL Dodgers. Blake Treinen continues to rehab at OKC and will pitch tonight, while Victor Gonzalez will join him there soon. Tommy Kahnle is also nearing a rehab assignment.
Kershaw also survived his bullpen yesterday and feels normal other than some back soreness, which any 30+ year old can attest to the “normalcy” of.
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First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
