Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
We don’t need to go over last night’s game. The Dodgers lost and ended their 11 game winning streak, but didn’t lose ground in the West as the Giants also lost. Today they play an unexpected doubleheader, as Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hillary forced them to move tomorrow’s game up. Last night’s Tony Gonsolin blowup set the Dodgers into a tougher situation for this doubleheader, as they go with a bullpen game for the early game before a Julio Urias start tonight.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Los Angeles | ||
| DH | Soler | 2B | Betts |
| 2B | Arraez (L) | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| 1B | Bell (S) | DH | Smith |
| CF | Chisholm Jr. (L) | 3B | Muncy (L) |
| 3B | Burger | RF | Peralta (L) |
| LF | De La Cruz | LF | Taylor |
| RF | Sanchez (L) | CF | Outman (L) |
| C | Stallings | SS | Hernández |
| SS | Wendle (L) | C | Barnes |
| P | Perez (R) | P | Ferguson (L) |
Caleb Ferguson serves as the opener for the bullpen game. It might not be a traditional bullpen game, as Ryan Pepiot is off the IL and back in the Majors. He’s expected to be the bulk guy to get them through game one today. Pepiot was slated to be the fifth starter heading into the season, but an oblique injury opened the door for Gavin Stone. Pepiot made six starts at OKC and allowed 10 runs and 21 hits in 22 innings. He threw a gem last time out, as he took a no-hitter into the sixth and finished with only a hit allowed in 6 2/3 innings and 11 strikeouts. He pitched in nine games for the Dodgers last year and posted a 3.47 ERA/5.42 FIP. He struck out 42 batters in 36 1/3 innings, but also issued 27 walks. His longest start came against these Marlins, as he allowed two runs over six innings and struck out seven.
Eury Perez gets the ball for the Marlins. The 20-year-old rookie has impressed this season, with a 3.19 ERA in 13 starts. That ERA was 1.34 through his first nine starts, as he allowed six runs in his first three games and only one in his next six (including three straight shutouts to finish out June). His first July start was a mess, as he only recorded one out and allowed seven runs against Atlanta. He bounced back with a good start against St. Louis and was sent to the minors to help manage his innings. He returned on August 7 and has struggled since, allowing four runs in each of his last two starts. Perez has a traditional four-pitch mix and most commonly throws a fastball (44.8 percent of the time, averages 97.7 MPH). He’s thrown a slider 32.3 percent of the time and also mixes in a curveball and changeup, both of those pitches primarily to lefties.
J.D. Martinez is out of the lineup for the first game, but is expected to DH tonight. Instead, Will Smith will DH and Austin Barnes catches. Jason Heyward is also out of the lineup against a righty after having a hip thing in last night’s game and isn’t expected to play tonight either. David Peralta gets the start in right with Chris Taylor in left.
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Pepiot will serve as the 27th man on the roster for the doubleheader. He might stick around, as Gonsolin is being placed on the injured list.
#Dodgers are putting Tony Gonsolin on IL with elbow injury. He will get “a scan” in the next week. Dave Roberts said it’s “not likely” Gonsolin will pitch again this season
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 19, 2023
Gonsolin could be shut down for the rest of the year, giving Pepiot, Stone or Emmet Sheehan a chance to win a rotation spot. Ryan Yarbrough could also be moved into the rotation, but could also stick in the bullpen.
Gonsolin’s roster spot will be taken by Bryan Hudson, who’s appeared in three games this year.
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First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.
