Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers won 6-2 last night, clinching their first series win in their last four attempts and giving themselves a chance to sweep heading into tomorrow’s off day/travel day. Landon Knack was much better than his disaster start in DC, allowing two runs and four hits over 4 1/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen that held Colorado scoreless. Will Smith delivered the big hit with a three-run homer in the third, and the Dodgers scored more than they had in a week despite leaving 12 runners on base. Today, they go for the sweep and welcome Bobby Miller back after a terrifying Spring injury.
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| 7:10 P.M. | Los Angeles | ||
| RF | Martini (L) | DH | Ohtani (L) |
| SS | Tovar | SS | Betts |
| 3B | McMahon (L) | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| 2B | Farmer | RF | T. Hernández |
| DH | Goodman | LF | Conforto (L) |
| 1B | Toglia (S) | CF | Edman (S) |
| CF | Moniak (L) | 3B | Muncy (L) |
| LF | Bouchard | CF | Pages |
| C | Fulford | C | Barnes |
| P | Marquez (R) | P | Miller (R) |
Miller had a rough 2024 all around, dealing with shoulder and adductor injuries around 13 Major League starts (and eight starts in the minors) with pretty bad results. Miller started the season about as strong as possible, with a six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts and two hits allowed in St. Louis. The wheels fell off real fast in Chicago, where he allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Cubs. Miller allowed four or more runs in seven of his 13 starts and finished with an 8.52 ERA. He didn’t fare much better in his minor league starts, with a 6.00 ERA and only 27 strikeouts and 20 walks in 33 innings. He entered Spring with something to prove and maybe had the worst innings possible. He came in in the third and walked the leadoff batter, then took a 105.5 MPH comebacker to the head (which to add insult to very serious injury, scored a run). He didn’t make another start in the Spring as he was in concussion protocol, but made his return to the mound on March 30 in AAA. Twitter search is a nightmare but I feel like I remember him having to dodge a comebacker in that game as well, but he got off to a strong start with 4 2/3 shutout innings. He made three starts in the Minors and allowed six hits and three runs over 12 innings, topping out at 91 pitches. He struggled a bit with his command, walking 11 batters while striking out 11. Miller’s never faced the Rockies in LA, but made two starts in Colorado. In 2023, Miller allowed two runs over seven innings and struck out nine with no walks. Last season, he allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings with more walks than strikeouts.
German Marquez makes his fourth start of the season after dealing with arm injuries for the last two years. Marquez had Tommy John in May 2023, and returned last July, making one start before being shut down with a stress reaction in his elbow. Marquez made his re-return on March 31 and allowed four hits in six shutout innings in Philly. His last two starts were much less successful, with three earned runs and six walks allowed in five innings against Oakland and five earned in 4 2/3 in San Diego last time out. The Dodgers haven’t seen Marquez since April 2023, where he allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. All the runs came off homers, with Smith hitting a two-run shot in the first and Jason Heyward and Max Muncy hitting solo homers.
Small recent sample sizes obviously, but Marquez has shown mostly a four-pitch mix for most of his career. This season, Marquez has thrown a four seamer (32.4 percent), sinker (29.1 percent), knuckle curve (20.9 percent) and slider (16 percent) (also he’s thrown four changeups). His 95.3 MPH average on the fastball is his lowest since 2021.
Teoscar Hernandez returns to the lineup after sitting the last two games with a stomach bug. He slides back over to right with Andy Pages in center. Austin Barnes starts behind the plate for Smith.
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Clayton Kershaw had his first rehab start today.
The ? is in the books for 2025.
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 16, 2025
3.0 IP / 2 H / 0 R / 0 BB / 2 K
30 pitches/22 strikes pic.twitter.com/heoAqSKtES
Kershaw allowed two hits over three scoreless innings in his first game action since August 30 of last year. That game was closed out by Evan Phillips, who allowed one hit but recorded the save in the ninth. Phillips pitched last night as well, so a back-to-back is probably a sign he’ll be back in the very near future.
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.
