Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers are struggling a bit, as last night marked their fifth loss in the last seven games and their third straight loss of the walkoff variety. The Dodgers ended their series with the Nationals with a loss, but were still a half game up in the NL West. Today, they’re 2.5 behind the Diamondbacks, who have won three straight and eight of their last 10. Today, the Dodgers look to right the ship and send out the guy that’s been their best pitcher for the last three weeks.
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| 1:05 PM | Philadelphia | |||
| 2B | Betts | LF | Schwarber (L) | |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | RF | Castellanos | |
| C | Smith | DH | Harper (L) | |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | SS | Turner | |
| DH | Martinez | C | Realmuto | |
| LF | Peralta (L) | 2B | Stott (L) | |
| RF | Heyward (L) | CF | Marsh (L) | |
| SS | Taylor | 1B | Clemens (L) | |
| CF | Outman (L) | 3B | Sosa | |
| P | Miller (R) | P | Nola (R) |
Bobby Miller gets the start today. Miller announced his arrival on the national stage last week, as he held the Yankees to a hit and two walks in six shutout innings last Sunday on ESPN. Both walks came in the first inning, and he allowed a baserunner on an error in the third and a single in the fifth. He got 14 swinging strikes and struck out seven, but took the no decision as the bullpen gave up four runs in the last three innings and the Dodgers could only muster one run. Miller has yet to allow a homer in any of his three starts and has struck out 16 to only four walks, which is impressive for a young arm. Miller has had success against two intimidating lineups in his three starts (and the Nats, who have the sixth-best team average but 23rd-best team slugging). The Phillies have had a surprisingly middle-of-the-pack lineup this season (12th in OPS), but the top of the order is as dangerous as any.
Aaron Nola goes for the Phillies today. The longtime ace has struggled a bit this season, with a 4.30 ERA/4.27 FIP in 81 2/3 innings. His FIP would be the highest in his nine-year career, and can probably be attributed to his worst strikeout rate since 2015 (23.6 percent). He looked like the Nola of old in his last start against the Tigers. He struck out five of the first six batters he faced and 12 overall in seven innings. He faced the minimum through six innings, issuing two walks but got a caught stealing and a double play to keep it at the minimum. He allowed three unearned runs in the seventh after an Edmundo Sosa error extended the inning and Nick Maton hit a three run homer. Nola had given up nine runs in his previous two games and 21 runs in six May starts, so June was a much better start for him. One of those May starts came in LA, and the Dodgers got him for four runs in 6 1/3 innings, including a Miguel Vargas homer.
Vargas is out of the lineup today, with Mookie Betts starting at second and the lefties in the outfield. Chris Taylor starts at short. Shoutout the Phillies for having the exact same lineup as yesterday.
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The Dodgers made a roster move, likely in preparation for tomorrow’s bullpen game.
Shelby Miller threw two innings yesterday and was placed on the bereavement list today. Andre Jackson is up and will likely pitch a bulk role tomorrow. Reports indicate tomorrow’s starter will be a lefty, but Jackson makes sense as the bulk role. He’s thrown 75 pitches in a game this season at AAA, so he could be in line for 3-4 innings tomorrow.
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Some Austin Barnes updates.
Barnes seemed to have avoided serious injury and will take BP today. The schedule worked out pretty nicely for his injury with 4 and 1 o clock local start times preventing any early games after a night game. Will Smith is slated to start tomorrow as well.
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First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.
