Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers go for the rare series win at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday evening after defeating New York with early offense in the opener. Julio Urias will make what could be his final start for the Dodgers this year before he’s moved to the bullpen. He’s approaching his innings limit and has 113 1/3 innings notched so far between Triple-A Oklahoma City and the Dodgers. Urías will come full circle after making his MLB debut in New York against the Mets on May 27, and potentially closing out his season in the Bronx.
The Dodgers-Yankees postseason rivalry is one of the most historic, with the two teams meeting 11 times in the World Series. Even though they have not met in the World Series since 1981, it’s always a treat when the Bronx Bombers and Dem Bums get to play against each other in interleague matchups. The current series is only the second time the Dodgers have visited Yankee Stadium since interleague play was implemented in 1997.
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Dodgers
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Yankees
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4:05 PM PST
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New York
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3B
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Kendrick |
CF
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Gardner | |
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DH
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Turner
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LF
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Refsnyder | |
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SS
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Seager
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DH
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Sanchez | |
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LF
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Puig
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2B
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Castro | |
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1B
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Gonzalez |
1B
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Teixeira | |
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C
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Ruiz |
C
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McCann | |
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CF
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Hernandez | 3B | Headley | |
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RF
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Segedin |
RF
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Judge | |
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2B
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Utley |
SS
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Torreyes
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P
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Urías (L)
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P
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Sabathia (L) |
Rookie lefty Urías (5-2, 3.69 ERA, 3.14 FIP) will take on the veteran lefty CC Sabathia (8-12, 4.27 ERA, 4.41 FIP) in the second game of the series. Last time out against the Padres, Urías allowed two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 5 1/3 innings pitched. He wasn’t involved in the decision, and the Dodgers fell to San Diego, 4-2.
Despite some bumps along the way, Urías has been an integral part of the Dodgers’ rotation this season; a season in which the Dodgers used 15 different starting pitchers, the most in baseball. It’s quite incredible what he’s done in his age-19 season so far.
2016 League Average: 4.16 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 0.296 BABIP, 21.2 K%, 8.4 BB%
Julio Urías: 3.69 ERA, 3.14 FIP, .368 BABIP, 25.5 K%, 8.7%
He also has five pickoffs and three base hits (.143).
You may see a lot of new faces on the Yankees, but 36-year old Sabathia remains. He’s in his final year of his contract, and he has all the motivation in the world to finish the season strong and healthy, not only because the Yankees are still technically in range of the AL East (five games back) and Wild Card (two games back), but because he can earn his $25 million vesting option and $5 million buyout for 2017 if he: 1) does not end 2016 on the disabled list with a left shoulder injury, 2) does not spend more than 45 days in 2016 on the disabled list with a left shoulder injury, or 3) does not make more than six relief appearances in 2016 because of a left shoulder injury.
CC did have a groin injury in May, but he’s been relatively healthy all things considered.
The southpaw’s velocity has declined since his ace years, but he’s changed his approach by throwing more changeups and cutters. He’s 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers, and I don’t need to remind you that the Dodgers are dead last in the majors in batting average vs. left-handed pitching (.215), slugging (.337), OPS (.633) and 29th in OBP (.294).
Chase Utley is hitting .400 vs. Sabathia with six hits, including three home runs (during the 2009 World Series), in 15 at-bats. Utley starts at second and bats ninth in Dave Roberts‘ lineup.
The lineup has some interesting twists. Howie Kendrick started at first base in the series opener, but he will play at third base and leadoff on Tuesday. Justin Turner is the designated hitter, batting second. Yasiel Puig, who hit a pinch-hit home run last night, is batting cleanup and is in left field. Enrique Hernandez and Rob Segedin will man center and right field, respectively, with the lefty on the mound. Carlos Ruiz is behind the plate and batting sixth.
In rehab news:
Roberts said Brett Anderson will start Game 3 of the playoffs …. for the OKC #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 13, 2016
Dave Roberts said Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood will throw in simulated-game settings in AZ this weekend. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 13, 2016
19 games, including Tuesday’s contest in the Big Apple, remain in the Dodgers’ regular season schedule. Urías’ shutdown has been persistently looming, and the inevitability of it makes me sad, but I understand why it will happen. Witnessing the talented left-hander mature and succeed since his debut at Citi Field four months ago has been a highlight of the season.
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