Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
How does anyone focus on games when trades are happening?
The Dodgers escaped Coors Field without catastrophe, as no one died and they took three of four against the Rockies as a little bonus. The Dodgers played 26 games in July and won 21 of them, which according to my math is above average. The Dodgers had a 2.5 game lead on the Padres in the NL West on June 30, and now lead the West by 12 games.
Today, the Dodgers begin a four-game set in San Francisco, who they haven’t seen in like a week and a half. The two teams squared off in the first series of the second half and the Dodgers swept the four-game set, outscoring the Giants 25-13 in the three games. The Giants left LA and went to Arizona, where they got swept in a three-game set by the last-place Diamondbacks. They bounced back in their most recent series, taking three of four this weekend against the Cubs.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 6:45 PM | San Francisco | ||
| RF | Betts | 1B | Ruf |
| SS | T. Turner | CF | Slater |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | DH | Mercedes |
| C | Smith | 2B | Flores |
| DH | Lamb (L) | LF | González (L) |
| 2B | Lux (L) | 3B | Villar |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | SS | Machado |
| CF | Bellinger (L) | C | Bart |
| LF | Outman (L) | RF | Yastrzemski (L) |
| P | Heaney (L) | P | Webb (R) |
Andrew Heaney makes his second start off the IL and his first Dodger start against an NL West opponent tonight. Heaney returned Wednesday against the Nationals and threw 71 pitches in four innings. He only allowed one hit and struck out four but issued three walks for the second time in four starts. Heaney averaged 92.3 MPH on the 54 fastballs he threw last time out, which is the highest average fastball velocity he’s had this season. Heaney’s been hurt for most of the year, but has been dominant when he has pitched. He’s only tallied 19 1/3 innings, but has only allowed one run and 10 hits in those four starts. For reference, he struck out more batters in his April 17 start against the Reds (11) than he has allowed hits on the season. His control has been the only semi-issue, with seven walks and two hit batsmen in four games.
Opposing Heaney is Logan Webb, who makes his 22nd start of the season tonight. Webb has been quite good again this season, with a 2.91 ERA/3.21 FIP in 130 innings. He’s only 18 1/3 innings shy of his total innings from last season, but hasn’t seemed to be showing signs of slowing down yet. He’s allowed eight runs and 27 hits in his last five starts (32 1/3 innings), and four of those runs came in his last start against Arizona. Webb is striking out batters less frequently this season with a 20.6 percent strikeout rate, compared to 26.5 percent last season. Webb had his first look at the Dodgers in the second game after the break and held them to a run and five hits in six innings, but walked a season-high four batters. Allan wrote smart words about Webb before that game, so check that out.
The Dodgers are running out essentially the same lineup as Sunday in Colorado. All the batters are the same, but Mookie Betts starts in right instead of second, greatest hitter of all time James Outman starts in left and Gavin Lux starts at second.
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Blake Treinen is still on the mend.
Treinen should throw to hitters for the second time on Wednesday and believes that he’s healed. There’s a lot of jokes to be made here, but it’s a Monday and I’m sleep deprived so I’ll just leave it at that.
Another pitcher May be back soon.
Dustin May could be two rehab starts away from rejoining the Major League club. So far, he’s topped out at three innings and 61 pitches. The Dodger rotation is already pretty full and depending on the trade deadline, could become even more full. May would be a great weapon out of the bullpen (or in Washington).
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Speaking of “could become even more full”.
Pablo Lopez could be a target for the Dodgers. Lopez didn’t make the cut for our (Dustin’s) trade deadline primer, but he could be a solid consolation prize for the teams that missed out on Luis Castillo. Lopez is under contract until 2025 (which is 15 years away right?) and has a 3.41 ERA/3.60 ERA in 118 2/3 innings, which is already a career-high. Lopez would also give the Dodgers a righty to counteract the left-handedness of the rotation, but likely won’t come cheap (especially considering the return for Castillo).
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The Dodgers made a move earlier in the day.
Dustin already wrote about it, but Garrett Cleavinger was traded to Tampa Bay for a rookie-ball outfielder. German Tapia seems like he could be interesting enough, but the 40-man roster spot is the more intriguing thing right now (with under 24 hours left before the deadline).
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The Athletic updated their top-60 prospects, and there’s some big Dodger movement.
Diego Cartaya Keith Law’s fourth-ranked prospect, with Bobby Miller 26th and Miguel Vargas 34th. The big surprise is Gavin Stone, who ranked 32nd on Law’s updated rankings. Josh writes good words about prospects like every day, so please read those.
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Most of my attachment to Cody Bellinger is due to my resting stoner face condition.
My guy is GONE. Semi-related to this photo, Tommy Pham was traded to the not-Dodgers, which is a relief.
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First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
