Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (63-47) lost yet another game last night, this time by a score of 6-5, unable to mount a full comeback in the series opener against the Athletics (46-65). After a disappointing month of July in which they went 11-13 with a -33 run differential, they’ll look to newly acquired starter Jack Flaherty to lead them to their first win of the month. The 26 year-old righty Mitch Spence will be on the mound tonight for Oakland, while Flaherty makes his Dodgers’ debut.
Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith are swapped in the order tonight, with Smith moving down to cleanup and Hernández moving up to second in the order. Smith has been struggling as of late, so the move makes sense. Kevin Kiermaier will be on the bench and Andy Pages will start in center field. Amed Rosario had a pinch-hit double last night against the left-handed T.J. McFarland, but it seems like he will be used primarily as a pinch-hitter and as a platoon bat against lefties. He’s hitting .300, but I get it I guess.
——
Sam took a look at Flaherty and any sort of velocity concerns that had been the source of some discourse recently.
Flaherty had pitched like an ace over his last seven starts as a member of the Tigers, with a 2.08 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 39 innings. Long story short is that he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year, and the Dodgers will hope he maintains that form throughout October.
Spence is a rookie with a 4.47 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and a 1.30 WHIP with 78 strikeouts to 28 walks in 94.2 innings. He has an interesting pitch mix, relying on a cutter and slider as his primary pitches, infrequently adding in a low-90’s sinker.
——
Good news for Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
This would have Mookie Betts returning somewhere around August 12, with Tommy Edman and Max Muncy shortly thereafter.
Bullpen reinforcements look to be on their way soon as well.
——
First pitch is at 6:07 p.m. PT on SNLA.
