Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Clayton Kershaw saw his Coors Field struggled continue last night, as he allowed a pair of unearned runs in the first and three earned in the sixth as the Dodgers lost 5-3. The Dodgers wrap up July looking for a >.800 winning percentage for the month (currently 20-5, which seems good) and bid adieu to Coors Field for the 2022 regular season (so help me god if the Rockies make it as a Wild Card). This is the final game between the two teams in Colorado, but by way of the lockout the Dodgers and Rockies square off for the final six games of the regular season, all at Dodger Stadium.
 |
 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:10 PM | Denver | ||
| 2B | Betts | DH | Blackmon (L) |
| SS | T. Turner | SS | Iglesias |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | LF | Bryant |
| C | Smith | 2B | Rodgers |
| DH | Lamb (L) | RF | Grichuk |
| LF | Lux (L) | 3B | McMahon (L) |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | 1B | Joe |
| CF | Bellinger (L) | CF | Hilliard (L) |
| RF | Outman (L) | C | Serven |
| P | Gonsolin (R) | P | Marquez (R) |
Tony Gonsolin starts tonight coming off his first official loss of the season. His final start before the break was his worst start of the season, which he followed up by taking the loss after allowing three runs in one inning in the All-Star Game. His first start post-break didn’t fare a whole lot better, as he allowed four runs in six innings and took his first loss in 2022. In his last two starts, Gonsolin has allowed nine runs in 11 innings. In his previous 16 starts, he allowed 16 runs in 88 2/3 innings. There was bound to be some mean-adjusting (a .188 BABIP and 1.62 ERA/3.37 FIP gap through his first 16 starts has now turned into a .333 BABIP and 7.36 ERA/4.76 FIP in his last two), so now it’s on Gonsolin to right the ship again. Gonsolin has allowed a homer in each of his four July starts (and two in his inning of work at the All-Star Game), which is also a pretty big jump after allowing six total in his 14 starts before July. This will be Gonsolin’s second crack at the Rockies and at Coors Field this season. His season debut came in Colorado and he only lasted three innings, but gave up five hits and a run and needed 62 pitches to get through three.
German Marquez starts for the Rockies and is trending in the other direction. Marquez has struggled mightily this season, with a 5.25 ERA/4.69 FIP in 109 2/3 innings. However, he’s been on a bit of a run of late. Not stellar, but in his last three starts he’s allowed only five runs in 19 2/3 innings. He faced Arizona and Pittsburgh in two of those starts, so he hasn’t exactly been facing top-tier offenses. Today will be Marquez’s fourth look at the Dodgers. He started the second game of the season and shoved, allowing a run and three hits over seven innings. His next two starts against LA didn’t go as well, as he allowed nine runs in 9 1/3 innings stretched over two consecutive starts, one in LA and one in Colorado.
Marquez is near the top of some leaderboards you don’t want to be near the top of. Out of 369 pitchers on Baseball Savant’s leaderboard, Marquez is tied for the 26th-highest average exit velocity allowed (90.8 MPH) and 17th-highest hard-hit percentage (47.3 percent have an EV of >95 MPH).
As was reported yesterday, James Outman will make his Major League debut today, batting ninth and starting in right. Mookie Betts makes his second start of the season at second base.
——
The newly acquired Chris Martin will be in the bullpen today.
Jake Reed was optioned for the fifth time this season. With the new rules, this means he cannot be freely optioned again this season. If he’s recalled again, he’d have to be DFA’d in order to be sent back to the minors.
Dustin wrote a quick write-up on Martin yesterday. Elite strikeout and walk numbers (40 strikeouts and four walks in 31 1/3 innings), but when he allowed contract it’s generally hard contact. Might not be a huge weapon out of the pen, but should be an upgrade nonetheless. Plus, think of all the Coldplay jokes Eric is gonna make.
——
Some injury updates.
Justin Turner will continue to be out (but not on the IL for some reason?). Considering that Zack McKinstry had been on the active roster for a good chunk of the season before being traded yet only had 14 plate appearances this season, I guess the Dodgers don’t necessarily need another bat on the bench. But then also this.
——
Chris Taylor could be that right-handed bench help in the future. He’s starting a rehab assignment tomorrow and be on rehab for at least a week. It’s hard to imagine sitting Trayce Thompson or Gavin Lux and despite his struggles at the plate it’s hard to take Cody Bellinger‘s glove out of center.
——
First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 PM PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
