Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a 3-1 loss last night, the Dodgers (60-31) have now lost two in a row to the Padres (44-45). They’ll look to split the series this afternoon, and reach the All-Star Break at 61-31. In an attempt to do so, Ross Stripling will take the mound against Padres lefty Joey Lucchesi.
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Padres
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Dodgers
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1:10 P.M.
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Los Angeles
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SS
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Tatis Jr. |
SS
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Taylor | |
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1B
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Hosmer |
2B
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Hernandez | |
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3B
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Machado |
3B
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Turner | |
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LF
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Renfroe |
RF
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Bellinger | |
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RF
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Reyes |
1B
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Muncy | |
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2B
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Garcia |
LF
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Garlick | |
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CF
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Margot | CF | Verdugo | |
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C
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Hedges |
C
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Barnes | |
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P
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Lucchesi (L) |
P
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Stripling (R) |
The Dodgers will start nearly all their right-handed batters against the left-handed Lucchesi. The only left-handed hitters in the lineup are All-Stars Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy, also with Alex Verdugo in center field. If fully healthy, David Freese and A.J. Pollock would likely start at first base and center field today. Kyle Garlick will also get his seventh start in left field today, as Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez are in the infield.
Out of 110 qualified starters, here’s how Lucchesi and Stripling match up.
Luchessi has been a solid, steady pitcher for the Padres this season. Just for a few comparisons, his .219 batting average allowed is identical to that of Hyun-Jin Ryu, while his 23.9% strikeout rate is just ahead of Ryu (23.7%). Additionally, his 3.59 FIP is exactly the same as that of Clayton Kershaw. He’s tough on left-handed hitters, with a 29.3% strikeout rate and 2.31 FIP against them, compared to 22.5% and 3.92 against right-handed hitters. He’s given up six earned runs over his last two starts and 10.1 innings, on 10 hits and three walks. The Dodgers will bring out as many right-handed bats as they can to counter Lucchesi’s strengths.
Stripling ranks similarly to Lucchesi in a majority of stats.
Stripling has also been solid for the Dodgers both as a starter and a reliever. He’s had more success in his eight starts than he’s had in his 14 appearances out of the bullpen. As a starter he has a 3.24 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, compared to 4.02 and 1.34 out of the bullpen. At the same time, he’s coming off two rough starts totaling just 7.2 innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out 11. The strikeouts are encouraging, as that was an impressive factor in his game last season in which he made the All-Star team.
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There isn’t a ton of news going on this Sunday morning, but Dave Roberts had a few interesting things to say earlier.
Joc Pederson will also be in the Home-Run Derby tomorrow, starting at 5 P.M. PT.
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USA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, @USWNT!!!!!!! So proud of you. Now pay these women. Awesome display of grit, fight, skill, talent, dominance!!!! 🇺🇸
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) July 7, 2019
The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 this morning to secure their second consecutive World Cup. They’re awesome.
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First pitch is at 1:10 PT on SNLA.
