Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers rode a five-run fourth inning to even up their series in Miami last night. Enrique Hernandez, Will Smith and Tommy Edman all homered as Landon Knack and most of the bullpen were dominant. Unfortunately, Zach Logue‘s Dodger debut left him with an ERA of infinity as he allowed three hits and two runs in his three batters without recording an out (and then got a third earned run on a sac fly off Blake Treinen). A fourth Marlin scored in the ninth, but the Dodgers held on for an 8-4 win and their 90th of the season. The Padres blanked the Astros to remain 3.5 games back in the West, making today an important gave with the Padres off before opening a weekend series with the White Sox. Tonight, the Dodgers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or losses by Atlanta (unlikely, they’re up 11-2 right now) and the Mets.
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| 1:40 PM | Miami | ||
| DH | Ohtani (L) | SS | Edwards (S) |
| RF | Betts | 3B | Norby |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | LF | Sánchez (L) |
| C | Smith | 1B | Burger |
| SS | Edman (S) | DH | Bride |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | CF | Stowers (L) |
| 2B | Lux (L) | 2B | Lopez |
| CF | Pages | RF | Conine (L) |
| LF | Taylor | C | Fortes |
| P | Flaherty (R) | P | Cabrera (R) |
Jack Flaherty gets the start looking to bounce back from his worst start as a Dodger last time out. Atlanta tagged him for four runs, four walks and five hits in only three innings, the first time he failed to complete five innings in 2024. His four walks were a season-high and his four strikeouts were a season-low. He needed 45 pitches to get through the first two innings and only allowed a one run, but the wheels fell off in the third. Flaherty allowed two doubles, issued three walks and threw a wild pitch and needed 38 pitches to get out of that inning allowing three runs and putting the Dodgers down 4-1 early. The offense couldn’t really figure out Chris Sale anyways, but it was a rough time for Flaherty to have his worst start of the season. He looks to bounce back tonight in a place where he’s been dominant in his career. He’s pitched in Miami twice and has yet to allow a run in 12 2/3 innings. In 2021, Flaherty only allowed one hit (and four walks) in six shutout innings. Last season, he worked around nine hits and two walks to throw 6 2/3 shutout after Miami went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Edward Cabrera gets his 19th start of the season for Miami. His 4.55 ERA/4.61 FIP are his worst numbers since his seven-start cup of coffee in 2021, but he’s been much better of late. In his last three starts, Cabrera’s allowed a total of 10 hits and one earned run (along with three unearned) over 18 1/3 with 18 strikeouts and only four walks. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in September, but took the loss last time out despite allowing only one hit and one walk over six innings. Both baserunners came in the first, and both scored after Cabrera failed to catch a feed from Jake Burger while covering first. Big brain shit, commit an error to make the runs you allow unearned. He allowed two more baserunners over the next five innings on a hit-by-pitch and another Cabrera error, but kept the Nationals to the two runs. Anthony Veneziano came on in the seventh and immediate allowed the other two runs in a 4-1 Miami loss.
The Dodgers broke Cabrera back in May. He allowed four runs on one hit and four walks over two innings in Los Angeles before leaving the game. An MRI would reveal a shoulder issue and he missed two months, which has been the issue for the talented pitcher. He hasn’t thrown 100 innings in a season yet (just missed last season with 99 2/3), but could do so with two more starts in 2024. That May start was his third time seeing the Dodgers in his career. In 2022, Cabrera went into his start against the Dodgers with a 1.41 ERA in 38 1/3 innings. He left with a 2.45 after allowing six runs in five 2/3 innings. He came in in relief against the Dodgers in 2023 and allowed one hit over four shutout innings with eight strikeouts.
Cabrera’s primary pitch is a “changeup”. That’s in quotes because it still averages 92.9 MPH. He throws it 33.8 percent of the time and throws it against both lefties and righties. He throws a four-seamer 27.2 percent and a curve 21 percent of the time. He also mixes in a sinker and slider, throwing both of those pitches nine percent of the time.
Miguel Rojas remains out of the lineup today, with Edman starting at short again and Andy Pages getting the start in center. Rojas is expected to be available off the bench and should start tomorrow. Teoscar Hernandez gets the day off with Chris Taylor starting in left.
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The Dodgers are starting TBA in the opener against Colorado tomorrow. It could be a bullpen game, but considering the recent bullpen usage that feels like a bad idea.
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First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.
