Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers won thanks to a grand slam from Cody Bellinger yesterday. Things won’t be as easy today as they’re facing one of the two best pitchers in baseball in Jacob deGrom.
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Dodgers
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Mets
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4:15 PM
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Queens
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LF
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Pederson |
LF
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Nimmo | |
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1B
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Muncy |
3B
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Frazier | |
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3B
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Turner |
2B
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Cabrera | |
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CF
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Bellinger |
1B
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Flores | |
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RF
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Puig |
CF
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Conforto | |
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C
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Grandal |
RF
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Bautista | |
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SS
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Hernández | C | Mesoraco | |
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2B
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Utley |
SS
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Rosario | |
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P
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Kershaw (L)
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P
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deGrom (R)
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But the Dodgers are countering with the best pitcher of the generation in Clayton Kershaw, even if he hasn’t been the pitcher we’ve been accustomed to for nearly the last decade.
When Kershaw was running in the outfield at Citi Field yesterday, it was pretty obvious he was going to get the ball today. Well, to most folks.
This aged well. pic.twitter.com/aRaKQK5VCb
— Dustin Nosler (@DustinNosler) June 22, 2018
I’m such a trouble maker.
Inclement weather was part of the reason Kershaw is getting the start in New York today. It wouldn’t have made any sense for him to fly all the way from New York to Omaha just to not pitch. Also, if he were truly going to pitch for OKC today, he probably would have gone straight from Chicago instead of going to New York first. There’s a chance it could rain at Citi Field tonight, but (according to the forecast), Kershaw will probably out of the game by that time.
Kershaw is returning from the same back injury he had last season. In 2017, he missed five weeks. He’ll have missed just 22 days this time. I hope the Dodgers aren’t being hasty in rushing Kershaw back. The worst thing would be for him to come back early, hurt his back again (or even more severely) and miss the rest of the season.
This might be a rehab-type start for Kershaw because…
#Dodgers plan to limit Kershaw’s start tomorrow vs #Mets and will have Caleb Ferguson ready behind him.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) June 22, 2018
And that makes a lot of sense. If he can get through four innings in relatively good shape, I’m sure the Dodgers would take that. Caleb Ferguson might only need to pitch 2-3 innings in that case.
To make room for him on the active roster, the Dodgers sent Adam Liberatore back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
In non-Kershaw news…
#Dodgers Chris Taylor says his injured left hamstring feels “a lot better today.” He did some “movement stuff,” ran on the field to test it today. Available to hit. Doesn’t think it’ll extend into DL territory
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 23, 2018
Chris Taylor is out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Enrique Hernandez gets the call at shortstop again (he’s the better defender, anyway). Cody Bellinger shifts to center field with Max Muncy at first base and Mets’ fan favorite Chase Utley getting the nod at second base.
Ross Stripling throwing a bullpen session, is lined up to start Tuesday night.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 23, 2018
Nice to see Ross Stripling, the ace, is lined up for his next start.
The Dodgers signed LHP Kyle Lobstein to a minor league deal, and he'll start Saturday for Double-A Tulsa. Lobstein, 28, pitched parts of 2014-16 in the majors, putting up a 5.06 ERA in 128 innings with Tigers & Pirates
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) June 23, 2018
Yay org depth! Kyle Lobstein, a 2008 2nd-rounder, will (hopefully) help the Drillers in the second half.
First I want to say thank you to the Dodgers. It has been an honor playing for such a great organization these past three years. Thank you to all the coaches and teammates that have… https://t.co/GKVmfo9rrL
— Mitchell Hansen (@MHansen_16) June 23, 2018
The Dodgers released 2015 2nd-round pick Mitchell Hansen on Thursday (and he was the topic of my most recent article at True Blue LA). He has signed with the Yankees.
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Big start today for Kershaw and the Dodgers. If he survives and looks more like the guy of 2017 and earlier, great. If he’s the 2018 version without the biceps and back issue, that’s … fine. If he’s less than that, then that’s not great. It could also help determine what the Dodgers may or may not do at the trade deadline.
Today’s game is on FOX and won’t be blacked out, so enjoy!
