Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
When the Dodgers blew out the Padres last night, they allegedly had clinched a playoff berth. However, apparently they haven’t officially clinched yet.
So basically if the Dodgers don’t win a game for the rest of the season, the Padres and Brewers win every single game remaining, and probably a bunch of other shit happens, the Dodgers would fail to make the postseason. As unlikely as it is, they still need to clinch and can do so with a win tonight (or a Brewer loss).
Arizona had been playing some solid baseball and briefly leapfrogged San Francisco for third place in the West, but have lost four of their last five. This will be the 12th game between the two teams this season, with the Dodgers winning nine of the previous 11 and outscoring Arizona 63-32.
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| 6:40 PM | Phoenix | ||
| 2B | Betts | C | Kelly |
| SS | T. Turner | 2B | Marte (S) |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | RF | McCarthy (L) |
| C | Smith | 1B | Walker |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | 3B | Rivera |
| DH | J. Turner | DH | Garrett |
| LF | Gallo (L) | LF | Luplow |
| RF | Thompson | CF | Thomas (L) |
| CF | Bellinger (L) | SS | Perdomo (S) |
| P | Anderson (L) | P | Nelson (R) |
Tyler Anderson gets the start for the Dodgers. Anderson’s breakout pre-free agency season hasn’t let up, as he’s continued to be one of the more consistent pitchers in the game. He’s completed six or more innings in 10 of his 12 starts since the beginning on July and 17 of his 26 starts on the season. He’s also allowed two or fewer earned runs in 18 of his 26 starts. He’s coming off one of the outings where he allowed more than that, as he allowed three in seven innings against the Giants last Tuesday.
Tonight will be Anderson’s third start against Arizona. His first came in the back half of a double header at Dodger Stadium on May 17, and he allowed two solo homers in seven innings. He started in Arizona a couple weeks later and threw six shutout innings with six strikeouts and five hits allowed.
Opposing Anderson will be Ryne Nelson, making his second career start. His first couldn’t have gone much better, as he went into San Diego and held the Padres to four hits over seven shutout innings. Nelson is Pipeline’s eighth-ranked Diamondback prospect and he looked the part last Monday. Despite his success in his debut, Nelson had struggled at AAA-Reno this season with a 5.43 ERA in 136 minor league innings.
Nelson threw 87 pitches in his debut, and 58 of them were fastballs, which averaged 95.1 MPH. He threw a curveball, slider and change as well.
Mookie Betts starts at second with Trayce Thompson getting the nod in right.
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How good would the Dodgers all-IL team be? Brusdar Graterol and Yency Almonte will each throw on Wednesday. Tommy Kahnle could be back in the next few days, and Gavin Lux could return to the lineup this weekend. Victor Gonzalez and Danny Duffy are both pausing their rehab assignments, and Kevin Pillar will be starting a rehab assignment soon. Finally, Tony Gonsolin is still experiencing some soreness, but Dave Roberts is still confident he’ll be good for the postseason.
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The Dodgers’ current starter for Wednesday is TBA.
Michael Grove is on the Taxi Squad and could slide in to start the finale in Arizona.
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There’s a reason I’m not a GM.
I do not care what his OPS is, I’m giving Cody Bellinger 10 Y/$350 MM for the entertainment.
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First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
