Dodgers @ Padres August 28, 2019 – Maeda vs. Wingenter (?)

The Dodgers found their bats last night in a 9-0 win in Dodger Stadium South. Kenta Maeda starts the rubber game of this series against someone called Trey Wingenter.

	Dodgers			Padres
	6:10 p.m.			San Diego
CF	Pollock		2B	Garcia
2B	Muncy		LF	Naylor
3B	Turner		3B	Machado
1B	Bellinger		1B	Hosmer
LF	Taylor		RF	Renfroe
SS	Seager		CF	Margot
RF	Hernandez		SS	Urias
C	Martin		C	Hedges
P	Maeda (R)		P	Wingenter (R)

Maeda is making his fifth start against San Diego this season. He owns a 4.70 ERA and the Dodgers are 2-2 in those games. One game was one of the 12 walk-offs this season — this one on Aug. 4 in an 11-10 win. He gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings. It was one of his worst starts of the season. Conversely, his best start of the campaign came against these Padres. He struck out 12 in 6 2/3 innings on May 15 in a 2-0 Dodger win. Here’s hoping for that version of him tonight.

Will Smith is getting the night off. Relief ace Russell Martin will catch in his spot in a bold move by Dave Roberts. Joc Pederson was a late scratch in right field. It seems Mr. Wingenten is an opener and the Padres intend on bringing in a left-hander for a good portion of the game. Enrique Hernandez draws the start in Joc’s place.

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Onto some news, courtesy of Ken Gurnick’s Twitter feed.

Ross Stripling threw three innings in a rehab game last night and will be activated Sept. 1.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 28, 2019

Dave Roberts said David Freese will be activated Sept. 1. Alex Verdugo still has oblique soreness, he won’t be activated the first week of September.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 28, 2019

Reinforcements! Ross Stripling coming back should help a pitching staff that definitely could have used him at some points over the last month.

Freese coming back should be a nice boost for the Dodgers vs. LHP. Jedd Gyroko hasn’t really gotten on track yet and Tyler White wasn’t exactly working out too well.

Getting Alex Verdugo back and healthy for the playoffs is a biggie. It’s not as pressing as it might have been since it appears Matt Beaty is legit, but Verdugo showed flashes of his potential early this season and played a pretty good center field.

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Gavin Lux is “in the conversation” for a callup, but Roberts wouldn’t commit. He will be with the club “in some capacity,” not necessarily active.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 28, 2019

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Gavin Lux came up in the same capacity Smith did last season. He learned on the job without the pressure of having to perform. I wonder if this could be a model for other teams to follow.

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Roberts said May will pitch on Sunday, but the starter is still TBD.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 28, 2019

Ugh, I don’t get it. Why not just have Dustin May make the start? It really feels like a case of overthinking things.