Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Last Wednesday, the Dodgers lost the finale of a series with St. Louis. They were 67-61 and 4.5 games back in the division race, with two teams ahead of them. Things didn’t look good, but the Dodgers did what good teams have to do. They beat up on a pair of last place teams, sweeping the Padres and sweeping a two-game series in Texas. Now, the Dodgers are 72-61 and one game behind Arizona (with Colorado still between the two teams).
So yeah, this four-game series is a little important. Arizona has won eight of the 12 games between the two teams so far this season, but they haven’t seen each other since May 9. Manny Machado and Brian Dozier were both in the American League, and Paul Goldschmidt had a .227/.357/.414 triple slash. Things have changed quite a bit since then.
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Diamondbacks
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Dodgers
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7:10 PM
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Los Angeles
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RF
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Souza |
2B
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Dozier | |
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CF
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Pollock |
3B
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Turner | |
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1B
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Goldschmidt |
SS
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Machado | |
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LF
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Peralta |
LF
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Kemp | |
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3B
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Escobar |
1B
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Hernández | |
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SS
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Ahmed |
CF
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Taylor | |
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2B
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Marte | RF | Puig | |
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C
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Murphy |
C
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Barnes | |
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P
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Ray (L)
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P
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Hill (L)
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Rich Hill starts for the first time since the greatest start in Major League Baseball history. While wearing D. Mountain on his uniform, Hill tossed six innings of shutout ball, holding the Padres to two hits and one walk while striking out eight. Hill also drove in a run at the plate as the Dodgers won 11-1. It was a nice bounceback start after a rough outing in Seattle, but for the most part Hill has been great since returning from the DL in mid-June. In 13 appearances/12 starts, Hill owns a 2.59 ERA and a 1.137 WHIP since June 19. Two of his six pre-DL starts came against the Diamondbacks, and neither went well at all. On April 14, Hill allowed seven runs in five innings. He missed a few weeks with finger inflammation and returned for another start against Arizona, and this time allowed five runs in five innings.
Robbie Ray gets the ball for Arizona, and he’s struggled coming off a great season last year. In 17 starts, Ray owns a 4.73 ERA and a 4.66 FIP, and his 1.459 WHIP is his worst as a Diamondback. Ray posted a career-best 32.8 percent strikeout rate last season, but that’s down to a still-good 29.7 percent this season. He’s had an issue with walks, as his 12.8 percent walk rate is the highest of his career. In August, Ray has thrown 19 2/3 innings over four starts and allowed 18 hits and 15 walks while striking out 24. He allowed three or fewer runs in each of the four starts, but hasn’t completed six innings since July 25 and has done so only four times in 17 starts. Ray hasn’t seen the Dodgers yet this season.
David Peralta is the only left-handed hitter starting for either team tonight (excluding the two pitchers). For the Dodgers, this means Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy sit. Yasmani Grandal also gets a rare day off with Austin Barnes getting the start behind the plate. Enrique Hernandez starts at first, which means it’s most likely a tight pants day. I don’t have a lot of regrets in life, but not being the person to break down Kiké’s tight pants splits is easily in my top three biggest regrets.
Here is the study if you haven’t seen it yet. Please click on it, so my Google Search History being ruined doesn’t go to waste.
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Josh Fields is back, making Allan a happy camper.
The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated RHP Josh Fields from the 60-day disabled list and optioned RHP Yimi Garcia to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 30, 2018
The Dodgers are saved https://t.co/bf3sruIlhN
— Allan Yamashige (@AllanYamashige) August 30, 2018
Fields is back, but Yimi Garcia was optioned to High A-Rancho Cucamonga. He’ll probably be back as soon as he’s eligible, with rosters set to expand on Saturday. Rob Segedin was the 40-man roster casualty.
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If the Dodgers find themselves in a save situation today, expect to hear some Tupac.
Dave Roberts said Kenley Jansen will close the game tonight if situation presents itself. “There is no wavering of trust.” #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 30, 2018
Kenley Jansen will be the closer if a closer is needed today. Dustin wrote about his command issues yesterday morning.
