Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers rode another strong Tyler Anderson outing and a three-dong first inning to a stress-free 7-2 victory last night. It gave the Dodgers a fourth consecutive victory and the 14th win in their last 15 games against the Padres, which seems hard to do. The Dodgers currently sit 4.5 ahead of the Padres in the NL West, which is the largest division lead in the NL. Tonight, the Dodgers look to become the third team (and first NL team) to reach 50 wins and to finish off a four-game sweep.
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| 1:10 PM | Los Angeles | ||
| LF | Profar (S) | RF | Betts |
| 3B | Machado | SS | T. Turner |
| 2B | Cronenworth (L) | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| DH | Voit | DH | Smith |
| 1B | Hosmer (L) | 2B | Muncy (L) |
| C | Alfaro | 3B | J. Turner |
| SS | Kim | CF | Thompson |
| CF | Grisham (L) | C | Barnes |
| RF | Azocar | LF | Lux (L) |
| P | Gore (L) | P | Kershaw (L) |
Clayton Kershaw makes his 10th start of the season tonight and his fifth start since returning from the IL. The Dodgers have lost three of his four starts since he’s returned, but he’s pitched pretty well since returning. In his first two starts off the IL (both Dodger losses), Kershaw allowed three runs in a combined nine innings. The Dodgers scored three runs total in those two games, which seems less than ideal. Kershaw had dropped his ERA to 2.00 after a seven-inning, one-run start in Cincinnati but had a bit of an implosion last time out. Kershaw got Coors’d, allowing nine hits and six runs in four innings to raise his ERA nearly an entire run to 2.94. Kershaw entered the game having issued seven walks in 45 innings and walked four batters in his four innings. Kershaw saw the Padres in San Diego back in April and allowed a run and four hits in five innings.
The Dodgers get their first look at prized Padres prospect MacKenzie Gore today. Gore has looked the part most of this season. While his overall numbers aren’t dazzling (3.34 ERA, 3.32 FIP in 59 1/3 innings), he’s been largely excellent this season. Gore has allowed 22 runs in just under 60 innings. However, 14 of those runs came in two back-to-back starts against the Rockies in June. In his 10 other outings, Gore has tossed 53 innings and allowed only eight earned runs. Gore has five scoreless outings (four starts, one three-inning hold) and has reached double-digit strikeouts twice.
Gore has a classic four-pitch mix, mostly throwing a four-seamer (62.6 percent) that averages 94.9 MPH. He throws a curveball (17.4 percent) and slider (14.9 percent) and has thrown a changeup 5.1 percent of the time, exclusively to righties.
Mookie Betts returns to the lineup today. He also returns to right field and to the leadoff spot, despite some conversation about moving him down. Trea Turner will hit second for the first time this season and Freddie Freeman hits third. Chris Taylor is out of the lineup after leaving with a foot contusion yesterday, but is reportedly available off the bench. Cody Bellinger gets the day off with Trayce Thompson starting in center.
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Betts was activated and David Price is back from the emergency list. Ian Gibaut was designated for assignment without having thrown a pitch for the Dodgers, and Eddy Alvarez was optioned back to Triple-A.
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Hanser Alberto is not in the lineup against a lefty.
Alberto received an injection and could pinch hit if needed.
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Pitching matchups for the upcoming series against a true rival, the Rockies.
Probables for the #Dodgers' upcoming series vs. the Rockies:
— Sarah Wexler (@SarahWexler32) July 3, 2022
Monday: LHP Kyle Freeland vs. LHP Julio Urías
Tuesday: RHP Germán Márquez vs. RHP Mitch White
Wednesday: TBD vs. RHP Tony Gonsolin
The Rockies had Antonio Senzatela lined up to start Wednesday, but he was placed on the IL yesterday leaving them without a starter. Ryan Feltner is the likely starter per Nick Groke.
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First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
