Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers try to even up the series in Arizona on Tuesday night. They are on the verge of losing four straight games after losing three consecutive one-run games. If they lose the series to the D-backs, it will be their third straight series loss as well. Not to mention that they find themselves six back of the Giants in the N.L. West. The wait for a winning streak to gain some ground in the standings seems to be one that has extended longer than desired.
Losing to former Dodger Zack Greinke was frustrating, but the offense hasn’t performed well against anyone really. Tyler Chatwood, anyone? While the bullpen has blown a save here or there, the underperforming offense has been the biggest factor in the team’s inability to win close one-run games.
|
Dodgers
|
D-backs
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6:40 p.m. PT
|
Arizona
|
|||
|
2B
|
Utley
|
2B | Segura | |
|
SS
|
Seager
|
3B | Lamb | |
|
3B
|
Turner
|
1B
|
Goldschmidt | |
|
1B
|
Gonzalez
|
RF
|
Peralta | |
|
RF
|
Thompson
|
LF
|
O’Brien | |
|
CF
|
Pederson |
C
|
Herrmann | |
|
C
|
Grandal | SS | Ahmed | |
|
LF
|
Kendrick |
P
|
Bradley (R) | |
|
P
|
Maeda (R)
|
CF
|
Bourn
|
Kenta Maeda (5-4, 2.70) will pitch at Chase Field for the first time in his career. On April 12, the right-hander with the infectious smile pitched six scoreless innings against the Snakes. He allowed five hits in the no-decision at Dodger Stadium. Jake Lamb hit two doubles against Maeda in the game. Last time out against Colorado Maeda was pegged for a loss, but he only allowed one run on five hits through 6 2/3 innings.
Maeda has pitched well on the road so far this year and is 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA in 5 starts. He has the second-best ERA amongst L.A. starting pitchers behind Clayton Kershaw, third in innings pitched (70), third-most strikeouts (65), second-lowest opponent batting average (.211), second-best WHIP (1.06) and third-lowest BB/9 (2.57). Maeda has been a solid addition to the top of the rotation for the Dodgers, and he has adjusted to MLB quite nicely.
Archie Bradley (2-2, 5.22) is toeing the rubber for the D-backs. Bradley is the 23-year old who defeated the Dodgers in his Major League debut on April 11, 2015. The Dodgers only managed to get one hit against him through six innings. In typical Dodger fashion, a rookie pitcher one-hit them.
The right-hander has lost his last two starts against the Rays and Cubs, but he did strike out 15 batters in 11 2/3 innings of work in those games. Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley are the only current Dodgers that have a hit against him. Kendrick is starting in left field and batting eighth.
Regardless of his early season struggles, Paul Goldschmidt remains to be a incessant thorn in the Dodgers’ side. Coming into Tuesday’s matchup, Goldy has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games. He hit a home run in the first inning off Mike Bolsinger in the series opener, and he has collected 102 hits including 23 home runs against the Dodgers over his career. He also leads the Majors with 56 walks and a .428 OBP. Perhaps Dave Roberts‘ intentional walk fetish could be used in this series to combat Goldschmidt’s predictable offensive success against the Dodgers.
Yasiel Puig continues his rehab assignment with Rancho Cucamonga and will play in five innings on Tuesday and seven innings Thursday-Sunday in San Jose. Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-jin Ryu both felt good after their latest rehab appearances. McCarthy will pitch again on Thursday, and Ryu will pitch on Friday.
In order to address their need at least temporarily for a left-handed hitting bench player, the Dodgers signed Will Venable on Tuesday. Austin Barnes was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 33-year old outfielder attended San Rafael High School and was drafted in 2005 by the Padres out of Princeton University. He played his entire career in San Diego until he was traded to Texas last August. Venable opted out of his minor league deal with the Phillies before signing a 1-year contract with the Dodgers. He hit .205/.304/.307 in 41 games with the Triple-A IronPigs this year.
Also, Enrique Hernandez is bald.
OMG, @kikehndez. pic.twitter.com/LhHvRhIYRd
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) June 14, 2016
The Dodgers’ offense waved a white flag after going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the first game of the series. Now win one for America on Flag Day.
[table id=5/]