Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers managed to come out on the right side of last night’s 13-inning game, avoiding what would have been one of the most deflating losses of the year. Tonight, Rich Hill (2.77 ERA, 5.42 FIP, 1.385 WHIP) will try to help them secure the series win against the Cardinals.
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Cardinals
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Dodgers
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7:10 p.m.
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Los Angeles
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CF
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Fowler |
3B
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Forsythe | |
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RF
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Piscotty |
SS
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Seager | |
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1B
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Carpenter |
C
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Grandal | |
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3B
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Gyorko |
LF
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Bellinger | |
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C
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Molina |
1B
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González | |
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SS
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Díaz |
CF
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Taylor | |
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LF
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Grichuk | 2B | Utley | |
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2B
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Wong |
RF
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Puig | |
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P
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Leake (R)
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P
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Hill (L) |
Hill will be making his second start since his most recent blister-related DL stint. On May 16, Hill pitched five innings of run-run ball against the Giants in San Francisco. He threw 82 pitches, allowed six hits (one home run), struck out six batters and didn’t walk anybody. Overall, it was an encouraging performance from a guy who hadn’t pitched in a major league game in a month.
On the mound for the Cardinals is Mike Leake (2.03 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 0.994 WHIP), who is having a very good season thus far. Prior to yesterday, he was actually the National League ERA leader (although Kershaw lowered his ERA to 2.01 last night, giving him the current lead). Leake’s never been a big strikeout guy, and that’s no different this year (6.24 K/9, 17.5 K%). However, he’s posted some nice walk numbers (1.69 BB/9, 4.7 BB%), and his 53.7% ground ball rate is fourth highest in the National League.
Leake, now in his second year as a Cardinal, faced the Dodgers twice last season: once in Los Angeles (6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K), and once in St. Louis (6 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 12 H, 4 K). He’s made eight starts this season, four of which the Cardinals have won and four of which they have lost.
Joc Pederson, who had an ugly outfield collision with Yasiel Puig last night, is out of the lineup, though he is available “in an emergency,” despite still being monitored for a concussion, which … doesn’t sound great, to be honest. Chris Taylor will instead be starting in center field for the first time in his major league career. Taylor’s 28 Spring Training innings in center and 24 Triple-A innings earlier this season are the extent of his professional experience in the outfield, but Dave Roberts says “the comfort level … is there” for Chris.
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A look ahead at the Dodgers’ rotation in their upcoming series against the Cubs:
Wood, McCarthy and Kershaw will start this weekend against the Cubs.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) May 24, 2017
We may be seeing Alex Wood, Brandon McCarthy and Kershaw this weekend, but it doesn’t seem we’ll be seeing Hyun-Jin Ryu any time soon:
There is no date right now for when @HyunJinRyu99 will start again. Bullpen role is in the conversation.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) May 24, 2017
Meanwhile, Julio Urías has his first start set for his return to the Oklahoma City Dodgers:
Julio Urias officially added to the @okc_dodgers roster today. He’s scheduled to start Saturday in New Orleans. #Dodgers
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) May 24, 2017
