Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers’ final leg of their road trip is a three-game series at AT&T Park beginning Monday night, their second trip to San Francisco this season.
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Dodgers
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Giants
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7:15 p.m.
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San Francisco
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CF
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Pederson
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CF
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Span | |
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SS
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Seager
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2B
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Panik | |
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C
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Grandal
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1B
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Belt | |
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LF
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Bellinger |
C
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Posey | |
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RF
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Puig |
SS
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Crawford | |
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1B
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Utley |
LF
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Nunez | |
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2B
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Taylor | 3B | Arroyo | |
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3B
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Hernandez |
RF
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Williamson | |
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P
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McCarthy(R)
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P
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Cain (R)
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Last month the NL rivals split a four-game set up north, but the Giants (15-24) have been struggling this season (in case you haven’t heard) and are one game out of last-place in the division. Even though they are scuffling, the Giants are bringing a three-game winning streak into the series against the Dodgers (22-16). We can always expect a tug-of-war type contest between the two teams whenever they are pitted against each other. In fact, three of the four games they played at AT&T Park in April were decided by one run.
Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 3.10 ERA, 3.55 FIP) was reinstated to make his first start for the Dodgers since April 29 before he dislocated his left shoulder in the weight room. McCarthy insisted he could pitch, but the Dodgers wisely DL’d him for some extra rest. McCarthy pitched a simulated game a few days ago, throwing 60 pitches in four innings hoping to stay sharp.
McCarthy’s injury was unfortunate since it derailed his momentum temporarily. BMac was coming in hot this season, and the the Dodgers won four of five starts behind him. Last time out against Philadelphia, the statuesque right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits. The Dodgers were able to pull off a 6-5 win over the Phillies despite McCarthy having his toughest outing of the season thanks to the back-to-back-to-back home runs in the epic “absolute madness” victory.
Overall, McCarthy is 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA against the Giants in five career games, and he is 1-1 with a 7.88 ERA at AT&T Park in two games (one start and one relief appearance).
Bruce Bochy sends Matt Cain (2-1, 4.54 ERA, 4.38 FIP) to the mound for the series opener for the Giants. The veteran right-hander faced the Dodgers on April 24, shutting them down over six innings and allowing but two hits. The Dodgers will try to take advantage of his recent struggles this month, a May that has seen Cain allow 11 earned runs on 14 hits in his last two starts against the Reds and Mets (8 1/3 innings).
Overall, Cain is 6-11 with a 3.42 ERA against the Dodgers in 33 career games. Chase Utley, who apparently is not dead just yet, is 11-for-30 with 11 career hits including four home runs against Cain. The Man makes his fifth straight start at first base against a right-hander on Monday night, batting sixth.
The lineup looks a bit different with Justin Turner getting the night off. Enrique Hernandez gets the start at third base for the second time this season and bats eighth. Yasmani Grandal, who is heating up and has improved his batting average by 67 points over the last five games (#OneSkill), is batting third for the first time with the Dodgers.
Brett Eibner was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for McCarthy on the roster. The Giants, whose bus is continually breaking down both literally and figuratively, placed Hunter Pence on the 10-day DL with a left hamstring strain. Mac Williamson was called up and starts in right field instead.
In rehab news:
Logan Forsythe and Adrian Gonzalez will start brief rehab assignments with @RCQuakes Tuesday. Gonzalez maybe just 2 games. Forsythe more
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 16, 2017
Updated rotation schedule:
#Dodgers upcoming pitching:
Tue — Hill
Wed – Kershaw
Thr – Ryu
Fri – Wood
Beyond that TBD— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 16, 2017
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The Dodgers have yet to win a series against a NL West opponent this season other than the two series wins they took from the Padres, and they lost the last series against the Giants at Dodger Stadium earlier this month. They are one game under .500 on the road and are 3-6 in one-run games. For comparison’s sake, the first-place Rockies are 9-0 in one-run games. A series win in ‘Frisco could help propel the Dodgers into first place and quiet the Rockies fans who have suddenly sprung up seemingly out of nowhere to troll me.
@StacieMWheeler @ColoradoSports8 Salty dodger fan who obviously doesn’t realize the dodgers play on the same field. Oldest excuse in the books lmao
— Jason (@kwajkid05) May 14, 2017
Will these Rockies fans still be around in June? Stay tuned.
