Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (71-46) pulled off a small miracle this weekend, winning two straight extra-inning one-run games against the Mets (59-57). For the first time in 17 days, the Dodgers gained ground on the Giants (75-42) in the NL West standings. Today the Dodgers have a shot to collect their seventh win in their last eight games and a series sweep against New York.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 4:08 PM | New York | ||
| 2B | T. Turner | CF | Nimmo (L) |
| 1B | Muncy (L) | RF | Conforto (L) |
| 3B | J. Turner | 1B | Alonso |
| SS | Seager (L) | LF | Smith (L) |
| C | Smith | 2B | McNeil (L) |
| LF | Taylor | 3B | Davis |
| CF | Bellinger (L) | SS | Villar (S) |
| RF | McKinney (L) | C | McCann |
| P | Scherzer (R) | P | Carrasco (R) |
Max Scherzer (9-4, 2.67 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 0.890 WHIP) makes his third start for the Dodgers when he takes the mound today. The former three-time Cy Young Award winner has only pitched 10.1 innings for the Dodgers so far, but he’s been as dominant as ever. The veteran right-hander has only allowed one earned run on eight hits with a 16 K/BB ratio in Dodger Blue. At age 37, Scherzer is having one of the best seasons of his career.
Scherzer will have to pitch carefully to Michael Conforto who is hitting .379 with three home runs in 29 at-bats against him. Conforto had a pinch-hit double against Brusdar Graterol in the series opener Friday and a home run vs. Walker Buehler yesterday.
Carlos Carrasco (6.75 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 1.500 WHIP) gets the ball for the Mets, looking for his first win of the season. The Mets acquired Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians as a part of their blockbuster trade for Francisco Lindor in the offseason. It was a long road for the right-hander to get back to the majors after tearing his hamstring in spring training. He’s only made three starts this season since coming over from Cleveland. His last start, against the Nationals, was shortened due to rain.
Interestingly, Carrasco has never faced the Dodgers. L.A. will have a favorable matchup vs. Carrasco, because they’ve been successful against right handed pitching this season (111 wRC+, 111 HRs, .334 wOBA). His slider has been his best pitch. In 2021, so far, opposing hitters have hit only .133 average against his slider with a 35.7% whiff rate. The Dodgers are one of the top fastball and changeup hitting teams in baseball, so we may see a lot of those sliders tonight.
Justin Turner is back in the Dodgers’ lineup and at third base for the first time since last Saturday. He’s been dealing with a left-groin injury.
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Yoshi Tsutsugo will now be considered an old friend when he faces the Dodgers as a Pirate next series.
#筒香嘉智 選手はパイレーツ移籍が決定。月曜からパイレーツの一員として、ロサンゼルスでのドジャース戦に臨みます。#YoshiTsutsugo who was released from the OKC #Dodgers, will sign with the #Pirates and face his former team, the Dodgers from Monday. Source confirmed to Sankei Sports.
— 山田結軌⚾️サンスポMLB記者🇺🇸 (@mlbkishayamada) August 15, 2021
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Monday will be a bullpen game for the Dodgers. Tuesday David Price will start, and Wednesday Mitch White will get the bulk of the innings. Andre Jackson is also in the conversation.
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First pitch is at 4:08 PM PST on ESPN. Happy #ScherzDay.
