Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
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Braves
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Dodgers
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1:10 p.m. PT
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Los Angeles
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| CF | Smith | 2B | Utley | |
| SS | D’Arnaud | SS | Seager | |
| 1B | Freeman | 3B | Thompson | |
| LF | Francoeur | 1B | Gonzalez | |
| RF | Markakis | 3B | Kendrick | |
| 3B | Garcia | CF | Pederson | |
| C | Pierzynski | C | Grandal | |
| 2B | Johnson | LF | Hernandez | |
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P
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Wisler (R)
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P
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Kazmir (L)
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Today’s Carl Crawford news was big, but there’s still a baseball game to play. Following Austin Barnes‘ recall, he is… on the bench, in favor of Yasmani Grandal. I still don’t understand if Grandal is hurt or not, but his once-league-leading batted ball velocity has fallen off a cliff. It’s not like Barnes was too late to the game to start, but I guess I’m not a doctor. However, with the Dodgers carrying 13 pitchers, they can ill-afford to continue carrying an injured player if he’s not going to produce. It’s a situation to keep an eye on.
Scott Kazmir will start the game for the Dodgers today, and he’ll be looking to continue his recent run of success. In his last two starts against the Reds and Cubs, Kazmir pitched 12 innings, allowed one run, and struck out 19 while walking three. This run follows the seven-walk disaster he had in San Diego. Kazmir’s seasonal swinging strike rate has been creeping up towards normal of late (now above last year’s mark), thanks to restored velocity and, more importantly, restored command. That command is one reason why he’s been such a launching pad at the plate this year (12 home runs allowed is tied for third-highest in the NL) so it’ll be crucial for him to carry it forward, particularly with Alex Wood out for a while. His stuff has looked very good recently, so the possibility is there.
Trying to fend off the sweep for Atlanta is Matt Wisler, who has been a rare bright spot in their bleak season. Wisler has started ten games and appeared in 11, and his ERA is hovering near 3 (79 ERA-). Wisler’s peripherals do show the possibility for regression, but not to much below a number four starter. In his start against the Dodgers in Atlanta, Wisler allowed an unearned run in 6-2/3 innings, striking out six while walking two. Wisler features four-seam and two-seam fastballs in the mid-90s, along with a slider, curve, and change. Trayce Thompson will bat third against the young right-handed pitcher, with Howie Kendrick starting in Justin Turner‘s place at third.
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