Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
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Dodgers
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Angels
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7:05 p.m. PT
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Anaheim
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2B
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Utley
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3B
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Escobar
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3B
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Turner
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RF
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Calhoun
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SS
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Seager
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CF
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Trout
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1B
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Kendrick
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DH
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Pujols
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CF
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Pederson
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1B
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Cron
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LF
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Thompson
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2B
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Giavotella
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C
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Grandal
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LF |
Ortega
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RF
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Puig
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C
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Perez
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DH
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Crawford
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SS
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Petit
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P
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Stripling (R)
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P
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Chacin (R)
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Tonight’s final game against the Angels brings about mixed news about Adrian Gonzalez, who is again not in the lineup. Gonzalez has been out since Monday with lower back tightness, though apparently he is available to pinch hit tonight (which doesn’t do much good because the Dodgers have the DH). The team has already stated that it will be the same story tomorrow as well, but at least the pinch-hit availability will be more beneficial. With the team carrying 13 pitchers, Gonzalez’ injury will severely limit flexibility until he can start again.
Facing the Dodger lineup (the same as yesterday’s) is Jhoulys Chacin. Chacin was traded to the Angels after all of the Angels starting pitchers were injured. He’s having a strange year so far. His xFIP- is the best in his career by a lot (he’s currently sporting a career-best K%-BB%), but his FIP is lagging behind due to a high home run rate. His ERA is even worse, not because of bad BABIP luck but bad sequencing luck. His velocity is up this year, though he still features the same six-pitch mix as before. He’ll throw a fourseam, twoseam, and cutter about 75% of the time in total, then mixes in curves, changes, and sliders with the remainder.
Mike Bolsinger was sent down to AAA after his spot start. The Dodgers have elected to maintain the expanded pitching staff for the time being, since they don’t have an off day for another week. Chin-hui Tsao has been called up to take Bolsinger’s place on the roster. You may recall Tsao from last year (he got blown up in the Zach Lee game), and you may also recall that Tsao is famous for having been banned from the Taiwanese league for alleged match fixing. He has also been banned from the Australian league. So far in AAA, Tsao has pitched 16-1/3 innings with a 3.31 ERA and 2.89 FIP. He’s struck out 14, walked 5, and has not allowed a home run. He’s more of another warm body than the cavalry.
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