Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers got their first win of the second half in a commanding way yesterday, as Ross Stripling outpitched Chris Sale to give the Dodgers their 61st win of the season. The Dodgers beat up on the Boston bullpen much like the Boston offense did to the Dodgers on Friday night. Tonight, the Dodgers look to totally avenge their series loss last year with a series win, and each team has its ace on the hill.
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Dodgers |
Red Sox
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4:05 p.m.
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Boston
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SS
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Taylor |
RF
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Betts | |
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DH
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Turner |
3B
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Devers | |
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1B
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Freese |
SS
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Bogaerts | |
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RF
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Bellinger |
DH
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Martinez | |
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CF
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Pollock |
C
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Vazquez | |
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3B
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Muncy |
LF
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Benintendi | |
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2B
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Hernández |
1B
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Chavis | |
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LF
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Verdugo | CF | Bradley Jr. | |
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C
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Martin |
2B
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Nunez | |
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P
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Ryu (L) |
P
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Price (L) |
Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his first start of the second half today. He was the only of the three Dodger All-Star pitchers to not allow a run in Tuesday’s All-Star game, as he allowed a single and proceeded to get three groundouts. Ryu got the honor to start the game due to his stellar first half. Ryu has the lowest ERA in the Majors and the second-lowest WHIP, only behind Justin Verlander. Ryu made 17 starts in the first half, and allowed more than two runs only once (and that happened in Colorado so that doesn’t really count IMO). He bounced back from that start in his final start before the break, where he allowed three hits in six shutout innings against the Padres. He did walk three batters after having not walked more than one batter in a game this season, so that was a bit uncharacteristic. Ryu started at Fenway in Game 2 of the World Series last year and allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
David Price gets the ball for Boston today, and he’s been their best starter this season by a longshot. He’s their only starter with a sub-4.00 ERA (3.24), and his 2.84 FIP is tied for the third-best among starters with more than 80 innings thrown this season. Price suffered from tendonitis in his elbow earlier in the season, but only missed a couple weeks with that and came back strong. In 10 starts from his return from the DL on May 20, Price owns a 2.85 ERA and has allowed only two homers. That ERA also includes his worst start of the season, a 1 1/3 inning outing in Texas during which he allowed six runs (without allowing a dong). He hasn’t allowed a homer since June 2nd. Price has been great against lefties this season (in only 51 plate appearances). He’s allowed a .505 OPS and a higher on base (.255) than slugging (.250) against lefties this season. Price currently has the highest strikeout rate of his career at 28 percent.
Corey Seager is a surprising omission from the lineup after previous reports indicated he’d start each of the three games in Boston. He’s hitless in nine at-bats since returning from the IL and awkwardly failed to run out a grounder in yesterday’s game. It’s reportedly just a day off for him, so Chris Taylor starts at short.
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While Stripling was pretty good in yesterday’s game, his spot in the rotation might not be guaranteed even with Rich Hill‘s extended absence.
Julio Urias hasn’t allowed a run in in his last nine relief appearances dating back to June 1. He’s thrown 53 1/3 innings this season, so it seems possible that the Dodgers eventually transition him back into the rotation for the postseason.
Speaking of Hill.
Hill will begin to throw next week. He should be back for the final month of the season, barring a setback.
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A reminder that tonight is another national broadcast, so the game won’t be on Sportsnet. Tonight’s game will be on ESPN at a weird 4 P.M. start time.
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