Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
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Dodgers
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Rockies
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5:40 p.m. PT
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Colorado
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LF
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Hernandez
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CF
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Blackmon | |
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2B
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Kendrick
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2B
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LeMahieu | |
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3B
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Turner
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3B
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Arenado | |
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1B
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Segedin
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RF
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Gonzalez | |
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C
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Ruiz |
C
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Hundley | |
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RF
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Reddick |
LF
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Dahl | |
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SS
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Culberson | 1B | Cardullo | |
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CF
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Toles |
SS
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Adames | |
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P
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Hill (L)
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P
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Anderson (L)
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For Rich Hill, the followup to his excellent Dodger debut will be something of a test. Hill relies heavily on two main pitches: a fastball and a curveball. However, Coors Field is notorious for making normally effective curveballs more likely to hang, so it will be worth keeping an eye on Hill’s pitch usage and seeing how he handles this potential issue.
Hill’s three career starts at Coors Field occurred in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. That was a long time ago, though, and Hill was a very different pitcher then. Thus, we probably shouldn’t consider those starts — nor Hill’s 8.80 ERA in them — particularly relevant today.
Rockies rookie Tyler Anderson faced the Dodgers earlier this month in Colorado, and he was very good, allowing just two runs in seven innings of work (6 H, 2 BB, 6 K). In 14 starts this season, Anderson has a 3.69 ERA (3.65 FIP) through 83 IP, and the Rockies are exactly .500 in those games.
Anderson’s 53.6% ground ball rate is well above league average (44.9%). He’s struck out batters at a rate of 22.6% (8.35 K/9) and walked batters at a rate of 5.9% (2.17 BB/9). The 26-year-old southpaw throws a five-pitch mix, featuring a plus changeup. His most-used pitch is his fourseam fastball, which averages 92 MPH and tops out around 95 MPH. He also throws a cutter, a sinker, and, on rare occasions, a curveball.
Anderson will face … a lineup. Hooo boy, that is some kind of lineup right there. It’s righty-heavy, sure, but that only explains so much. For instance, what’s up with starting Josh Reddick versus a lefty and not Joc Pederson (again), if only because of the defensive advantage Joc gives you?
Corey Seager, who was hit by pitches twice yesterday, is not in today’s lineup, though that was the plan all along. Rob Segedin, who made 31 starts at first base in the minors this year, will make his first start there for the big club (and is batting cleanup!). And Carlos Ruiz, noted good-OPS-against-lefties haver, will make his second Dodgers start.
In other Dodger news, here’s a sight for sore eyes:
Meanwhile in Los Angeles. 👀 pic.twitter.com/w2j2MhWMcY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 30, 2016
It’s so beautiful.
What’s next for Clayton Kershaw, though?
Kershaw could, conceivably, throw four or five innings in the majors in his next outing, Roberts said. Team is still deciding.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 30, 2016
Hm. Got anything to add, Andrew Friedman?
Andrew Friedman: "My guess would be next step would be a rehab start." #Kershaw
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 30, 2016
Yeah, that’d probably make a lot more sense.
Oh, and these guys threw sim games, too.
Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson and Scott Kazmir all threw sim games today too. Kazmir is the closest of the three, Roberts said.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 30, 2016
Casey “This Is” Fien is back, and Pedro Baez is off to Tulsa (but he’ll likely be back when the minor-league season ends).
The Dodgers have recalled RHP Casey Fien and optioned RHP Pedro Baez to Double-A Tulsa.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2016
A couple of notes on Julio Urías.
Julio Urías starts Friday.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 30, 2016
Friedman said Urías' innings limit makes it unlikely he'll start through postseason. If/when he goes to 'pen, plan is to keep him there.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 30, 2016
Finally, there was this tidbit from Jon Heyman, that should come as a shock to no one:
sources: puig has been claimed on waivers. dodgers can try to work out a deal with that team, if they can.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 30, 2016
We still don’t know who the #mysteryteam is at this point (though this guy says it’s the Red Sox), and we may never know, since nothing may come of it. But it isn’t at all surprising that some team out there is interested in Yasiel Puig, considering his talent, his potential, and the fact that the Dodgers’ asking price has to have taken something of a hit with the various recent dramas surrounding the outfielder.
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