Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers had a rough weekend, as they dropped two of three in San Francisco. They got walked off on Friday and then Tyler Glasnow got roughed up on Saturday and only lasted three innings. The offense picked him up and they used all eight relievers to get to the 11th inning, where the Dodgers exploded for seven runs in a 14-7 win. The bullpen usage meant they needed a long outing out of James Paxton on Sunday, and he did not oblige. Paxton was forced to wear it just to get through four innings, as he allowed 12 hits and nine runs in a 10-4 Dodger loss to end the road trip.
The Dodgers remain 7.5 up on the Padres in the NL West and are still only 3.5 games back of the Phillies for the top record in the NL (and in baseball). Today, they take on a Diamondback team that has struggled to capture last season’s magic. The reigning NL Champs sit in third place in the NL West at 41-43, 2.5 games behind the Cardinals for the third and final Wild Card spot. Arizona had lost four of six going into the weekend, but took two of three from Oakland and only allowed one run over the final two games of the series. The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have split six games so far in 2024, with each team taking two of three on the road.
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| 7:10 P.M. | Los Angeles | ||
| RF | Carroll (L) | DH | Ohtani (L) |
| 2B | Marte (S) | C | Smith |
| DH | Pederson (L) | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| 1B | Walker | LF | T. Hernández |
| LF | Gurriel Jr. | CF | Pages |
| C | Moreno | SS | Rojas |
| 3B | Suarez | RF | Heyward (L) |
| CF | Thomas (L) | 3B | Taylor |
| SS | Perdomo (S) | 2B | Lux (L) |
| P | Mantiply (L) | P | Miller (R) |
Bobby Miller gets his third start since returning from the IL in mid-June. His first start was impressive enough, as he shook off a rough first inning and pitched into the seventh at Coors. Last time out was much worse, as he needed 60 pitches to get through two innings. Miller allowed a walk, homer, single and double to the first four batters of the game before getting the next three in order in the first. He threw a scoreless second, but allowed another single (which was erased on a double play) and then walked two batters before getting future Dodger Luis Robert Jr. to ground out to end his night. Only 33 of Miller’s 60 pitches were for strikes and it was his third consecutive game where he issued three walks (starting with his final start before his injury). He’s only struck out three batters since returning and struck out more in his first start of the season (11) than he has in his other four starts. Miller saw Arizona twice in the regular season last season. He went six innings in both starts, the first was a scoreless outing and the second was a four-run outing. He started Game 2 of the NLDS and it probably goes without saying that it didn’t go well. Miller loaded the bases to start the first inning and allowed a lineout, groundout and single that each drove in a run. He allowed two baserunners in the second before getting pulled after recording only five outs.
Joe Mantiply starts for Arizona tonight and will open for Ryne Nelson. Nelson is also coming off a rough start against the Twins, where he allowed six runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings. It’s been a rough season for Nelson, who has a 5.69 ERA/4.45 FIP and 1.574 WHIP in 68 innings over 14 appearances (13 starts and one bulk boy appearance). Opponents are slashing .315/.358/.519 off Nelson (that .878 OPS off him would be the 16th-highest OPS among qualified hitters, just ahead of teammate Ketel Marte). His other bulk boy appearance came against the Dodgers on May 22, and naturally it was his only non-injury-shortened scoreless outing of the season. Brandon Hughes started the game and allowed a single to Shohei Ohtani before giving way to Nelson, who allowed five hits and three walks over six scoreless frames. Nelson’s gone six innings in each of his three outings against the Dodgers in his short career. His second career start came against the Dodgers and he allowed only two hits and two walks over six shutout. Last season, Nelson allowed three runs in the first three innings against the Dodgers but didn’t allow a baserunner for the rest of his outing.
Nelson is not much of a strikeout guy. Last season, his 15.5 percent strikeout rate was the third lowest among pitchers with >140 innings pitched. It’s even lower this season, as his 15 percent strikeout rate is also the third lowest (this time among pitchers with 60+ innings pitched). He’s only walked 5.9 percent of batters this season (down from 7.5 percent last season). Nelson throws a four-seamer 50 percent of the time and 32 of his 46 strikeouts have come off it. Opponents are still hitting .313 with a .484 slugging off the pitch, but those are his best numbers off his four most used pitches. He’s thrown a cutter 21.9 percent of the time, slider 10.5 percent of the time and change 10.2 percent. He’s also mixed in a curve 7.4 percent of the time and opponents are only hitting .130 with a .217 slugging off it. It was his worst pitch last season (only used 5.2 percent of the time but opponents hit .429 with a .714 slugging off it.)
Chris Taylor gets the start at third over Cavan Biggio against what at that point will probably be the righty Nelson. Other than that, not much notable in the Dodger lineup.
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A busy day for updates on pitching injuries, as there’s news on Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol and Clayton Kershaw.
Dave Roberts said Joe Kelly would probably need 3-4 rehab games before returning to the Dodgers
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) July 2, 2024
“I don’t see him back before the (All-Star) break, but he could surprise me,” Roberts said
Kelly is beginning his rehab assignment tonight as the starter for Rancho. He’s expected to need 3-4 outings but isn’t expected back until after the All-Star break which is somehow in only two weeks.
Dave Roberts said Brusdar Graterol, who’s been out all year with shoulder inflammation, is at Camelback Ranch, and will throw a simulated game soon
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) July 2, 2024
This seems like the first positive update since Graterol’s injury. He’ll throw a sim game soon in the first step to his hopeful return.
Clayton Kershaw is throwing his bullpen tomorrow, Dave Roberts said. Overall positive news that shouldn’t impact his overall timeline too much, Roberts added. https://t.co/72v7BGudUa
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 2, 2024
There was some bad news on the Kershaw front last week as he was shut down from his rehab after experiencing some shoulder soreness after his first start. He played catch today and will throw a bullpen tomorrow as he looks to restart his rehab assignment.
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The Dodgers made a signing today that might have little impact on the Major League team, as they signed Alan Trejo to a minor league deal.
The Dodgers signed infielder Alan Trejo to a minor league contract, and he's with Triple-A OKC
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) July 2, 2024
Rockies designated Trejo for assignment over the weekend, then he refused an outright assignment. Trejo was 9 for 63 with the Rockies this season, .228/.274/.336, 61 OPS+ in 4 years
The LA native has struggled in the Majors and opted to be released from the Rockies rather than sent to the Minors. He joined OKC tonight and should serve as solid minor league depth in case some infielder-related roster moves happen (free Andre Lipcius).
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.
