Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
As the Dodgers face the Rockies in a rubber game of a series behind the left arm of Clayton Kershaw, normally you can be be confident in the Dodgers’ chances. However, yesterday’s series of injuries has produced… this. Not exactly a stellar offensive lineup, is it?
Miguel Rojas gets his first major league start this afternoon (Chone Figgins starts in place of the injured Dee Gordon at second base, Justin Turner gets the day off). Rojas bobbled his first major league defensive chance on Friday, but that’s counter to what scouts have said about him as long as he’s been in the minors. Ignoring the fact that if Hanley Ramirez and Rojas switched defensive positions the defensive alignment would be superior, it will be fun to see Rojas get a few more shots to field the ball.
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Dodgers
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Rockies
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1:10pm PT
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Denver, CO
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2B
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Figgins
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LF
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Blackmon
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SS
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Ramirez
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RF
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Barnes
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1B
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Gonzalez
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SS
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Tulowitzki
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LF
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Kemp
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C
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Rosario
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CF
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Van Slyke
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CF
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Stubbs
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RF
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Romak
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2B
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Rutledge
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3B
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Rojas
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1B
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Wheeler
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C
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Butera
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3B
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LeMahieu
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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De La Rosa (L)
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Jamie Romak is getting his first start in the majors as well, after nearly twelve years in the minors. He’s starting in right field in place of the injured Yasiel Puig. Romak has had five plate appearances with the Dodgers so far, but he’s still looking for his first hit (he has walked once).
So, why Jamie Romak in place of Joc Pederson? So far, the Dodgers are treating Puig’s injury as minor (Don Mattingly stated before the game that both Puig and Gordon might be available to pinch hit today), so the “window” for Pederson to start might only be open for a day or two. All indications are that Carl Crawford will be ready to return from the disabled list as soon as he is eligible to do so, which is on Wednesday. If Pederson is called up, it needs to be a long-term move and he needs to play every day, otherwise the Dodgers will be harming his development. With Puig and Crawford only out for a few more days (at least if you take what the Dodgers are saying about injuries at face value, which can be dangerous), that cannot happen yet. The team could be back to their five outfielder problem/rotation in a few days, so adding a sixth outfielder to the mix is not the solution.
Speaking of outfielder injuries, Andre Ethier is dealing with a sore back. He’d be out against lefty starter Jorge De La Rosa regardless, but it’ll be something to keep an eye on moving forward. Coors Field, everybody.
Oh, and it’s currently raining in Denver (and hailed earlier), just to add some more fun to the Coors Field Experience. As of now, the game is still expected to start on time.
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