Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers had a pretty solid homestand. They outscored the Cardinals 14-6 for a three game sweep, and then swept the Phillies in even more commanding fashion. Wednesday’s finale was a 10-6 walkoff grand slam win, and also the fewest runs the Dodgers scored in the three games. They put up 13 runs in each of the first two games and outscored them 36-11 in the three games. A pretty nice bounceback after a frustrating series loss in Pittsburgh.
After an off day, the Dodgers get back in action and get their first look at the preseason favorites in the NL West. Like the Dodgers, the Padres had a disappointing start to the season and have turned it on of late. They were 13-14, but swept a two game series against Giants in Mexico and took two of three against the Reds. They’ve scored 38 runs in the last five games, aided a bit by the Mexico stadium basically being Coors Field on steroids (speaking of steroids, Fernando Tatis Jr. is back).
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|---|---|---|---|
| 6:40 PM | San Diego | ||
| RF | Betts | RF | Tatis Jr. |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | 3B | Machado |
| C | Smith | LF | Soto (L) |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | SS | Bogaerts |
| CF | Heyward (L) | DH | Cruz |
| LF | Outman (L) | 1B | Cronenworth (L) |
| 2B | Vargas | 2B | Kim |
| DH | Peralta (L) | C | Nola |
| SS | Rojas | CF | Grisham (L) |
| P | Kershaw (L) | P | Darvish (R) |
Clayton Kershaw makes his first start of May after being named NL Pitcher of the Month for April. Kershaw made six starts in April and allowed eight earned runs (and three unearned), four of which came in his second start in Arizona. He’s been especially on one of late. In his last three starts (against the Mets, Cubs and Cardinals), Kershaw has allowed one earned run (two unearned) in 20 innings and has struck out 24 with only one walk issued. He needed only 88 pitches to toss seven shutout innings in his last start, as only two Cardinals reached base (both on singles) and he struck out nine.
Kershaw saw the Padres twice in the regular season last year and was pretty good both times. He only went five innings in his first start against them and allowed four hits and one run while only striking out three batters. This game is a bit fuzzy, but I assume he didn’t go more than five innings because the Dodgers were up 10-1 at that point. Kershaw saw the Padres again in July and tossed seven shutout innings. He started game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres, and he allowed three runs in five innings in a game the Padres ended up winning 5-3.
Yu Darvish starts today, despite ESPN saying it would be Joe Musgrove and me prewriting a blurb on Musgrove. Love that for me. Darvish will be making his sixth start of the season. He’s had three starts where he’s allowed exactly one run each time, combining for 17 2/3 of his 30 total innings this season. His second start of the season was a bit rough, as he allowed five in 6 1/3 innings against the Mets. He also struggled last time out, as he allowed four runs in six innings. That did come against the Giants in Mexico, so it’s hard to call that a terrible outing considering the ballpark. He hadn’t allowed a homer in his first four starts, but gave up three in Mexico.
Darvish saw the Dodgers four times last season. Two of them were shutouts (six and seven innings, respectively) and he allowed only two runs in six innings in a third start. The Dodgers got to him in one start in July, as they scored five runs and eight hits in six innings. He started game 2 of the NLDS opposite Kershaw and basically had the same start, allowing three runs over five innings.
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The Dodgers made a roster move.
Gavin Stone was optioned following his rough Major League debut on Wednesday. The rotation is back to five, as reliever Wander Suero has been called up. Suero pitched four seasons for the Washington Nationals and posted a 4.61 ERA in 185 1/3 innings. He spent last season struggling in the minors for the Angels’ AAA team (6.08 ERA, 1.859 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings) but earned a non-roster invite to Spring Training. He allowed one run and six hits in 7 2/3 Spring innings and struck out eight batters without walking anyone. His success carried over to OKC to start this season, as he’s allowed two runs and five hits in 10 2/3 innings.
With Stone optioned, here’s how the Dodger rotation will shape up in Milwaukee.
Kershaw will start Wednesday on normal rest as the Dodgers shift back to a five-man rotation. Tony Gonsolin is expected to start the opener on Monday with Noah Syndergaard starting Tuesday.
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Trayce Thompson is back with the team.
Thompson was a surprising non-option Wednesday when the Dodgers needed a pinch hitter against a lefty. It was later revealed he was not with the team due to an illness, and he’s back and should start tomorrow against Blake Snell.
J.D. Martinez will likely be back in Milwaukee.
Martinez has been out since April 23, but should be back sometime next week.
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First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.
