Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Kenley Jansen returned last night, which is a good thing. In the most predictable plot twist of the century, last night was Jansen’s turn to give up the deciding runs in the ninth inning, as two solo home runs gave the Cardinals a 5-3 win in the series opener.
The Dodgers' last 6 losses have come in their opponents' final AB.
According to @EliasSports, It’s the longest streak of its kind since the Padres had 7 straight losses like that from June 21-July 5, 1992. pic.twitter.com/MZzhgt2vV2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 21, 2018
Knew this team would set records.
|
Cardinals
|
Dodgers
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7:10 PM
|
Los Angeles
|
|||
|
1B
|
Martinez |
LF
|
Pederson | |
|
C
|
Molina |
3B
|
Turner | |
|
RF
|
O’Neill |
SS
|
Machado | |
|
LF
|
Ozuna |
CF
|
Bellinger | |
|
SS
|
DeJong |
1B
|
Muncy | |
|
3B
|
Gyorko |
C
|
Grandal | |
|
CF
|
Bader | 2B | Taylor | |
|
2B
|
Wong |
RF
|
Puig | |
|
P
|
Poncedeleon (R)
|
P
|
Ryu (L)
|
Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his second start since returning from a three-month DL stint. He looked about as good as we could have expected, as he held the Giants to three hits in six shutout innings while striking out six and not walking a batter. Ryu was robbed of the ever-important win when Caleb Ferguson allowed a game-tying home run to Andrew McCutchen in the eighth inning, but he pitched well and efficiently, needing only 89 innings to complete six innings and facing five or fewer batters in each inning. Ryu has only tossed 35 2/3 innings this year because of that three-month groin injury, but he owns a 1.77 ERA and has struck out nearly 31 percent of the batters he’s faced this season.
Daniel Poncedeleon starts for the Cardinals for only the second time this season. Poncedeleon started in his Major League debut on July 23 in Cincinnati and tossed seven no-hit innings, but issued three walks and threw 117 pitches before being pulled. Each of his five appearances since then have come in relief, and he’s allowed four runs in 10 2/3 innings as a reliever. Poncedeleon is currently ranked as the Cardinals’ 30th-best prospect on MLB Pipeline. He’s an easy guy to root for.
Cardinals' Daniel Poncedeleon working no-hitter through 6 innings in debut 14 months after life-threatening head injury. https://t.co/tvoMv9OHPO pic.twitter.com/b7CdF7OQiA
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) July 24, 2018
The video is out there if you need a visual, but Poncedeleon’s first start came 14 months after a comebacker fractured his skull and he needed an emergency brain surgery.
Brian Dozier and Matt Kemp both sit for the Dodgers today. Yadier Molina is back in the lineup for the Cardinals after not starting last night for the first time in 27 games.
——
The Dodgers are ambidextrous again.
Pat Venditte is replacing J.T. Chargois in the Dodgers bullpen. Chargois will go on the disabled list with a neck injury.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) August 21, 2018
JT Chargois left last night’s game after facing one batter. The Dodgers said he left the game with “neck discomfort”, and he’s been placed on the DL with nerve irritation. Pat Venditte is back up after being demoted last Monday when Erik Goeddel returned.
——
Ross Stripling is nearing his return.
Ross Stripling will throw sim game Friday. Could return to active roster couple days after that. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 21, 2018
If everything goes according to plan, Stripling could pitch in one of the games this weekend against the Padres. Most importantly, Stripling pitching on players’ weekend means that we could see the return of the Chicken Strip jersey on the mound.
——
Today was fun for like five minutes.
I'm told the Dodgers are the "mystery team" that claimed Bryce Harper on revocable waivers.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 21, 2018
sources: waivers have expired on Bryce harper. he is staying with nats.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 21, 2018
Can confirm #Dodgers did put waiver claim in on Bryce Harper. Was a block. No expectation of a deal getting done.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 22, 2018
The Dodgers reportedly claimed Bryce Harper on waivers, and the Nationals pulled him off. Harper won’t be a Dodger (until free agency). Striking a deal for Harper would have been complicated given the teams’ concerns with the luxury tax. The Nats did make two deals, as Matt Adams is back with the Cardinals and Daniel Murphy is now a Cub.
