Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers continued their hot streak yesterday as they barely held on to a 5-0 lead to take the first of two in Arizona. Julio Urias looked like Julio Urias and tossed six shutout innings, but the bullpen allowed two in the eighth and two in the ninth before getting bailed out by Corbin Carroll not running out of the box on a game-ending double play. It gave the Dodgers their seventh win in the last eight games, and the Dodgers wrap up their six game road trip tonight. The Diamondbacks have lost seven straight, and have fallen back to .500 and 10 games back in the division. Tonight, the Dodgers look to even up the season series against Arizona and continue their torrid August.
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| 6:40 PM | Phoenix | |||
| 2B | Betts | RF | Carroll (L) | |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | 2B | Marte (S) | |
| C | Smith | DH | Gurriel Jr. | |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | 1B | Walker | |
| LF | Peralta (L) | LF | Pham | |
| CF | Taylor | 3B | Peterson (L) | |
| RF | Heyward (L) | CF | Thomas (L) | |
| DH | Outman (L) | C | Herrera (S) | |
| SS | Rojas | SS | Perdomo (S) | |
| P | Miller (R) | P | Kelly (R) |
Bobby Miller starts tonight for the Dodgers. Miller’s coming off a start in San Diego where he labored, as he needed 86 pitches to complete 3 2/3 innings. He worked out of trouble in the second as he stranded second and third with no outs, but couldn’t escape damage in the fourth. He got two outs but allowed a single, walk and RBI single in the process before being pulled. A passed ball gave Miller a second run on his line, though this one was unearned. Miller posted his highest average fastball velocity of the season last time out (100 MPH), but it was also his shortest start of the season. The Dodgers have gotten at least six innings out of their starters in each game since Miller’s start on Friday that wasn’t a piggyback situation.
Merrill Kelly makes his 20th start of the season and third against the Dodgers today. His first two starts came against the Dodgers in the second and seventh games of the season, respectively. He opened his season with 3 2/3 shutout innings, but issued four walks and left two runners on when he was pulled in the fourth (neither scored). In the second game, Kelly allowed six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings and the Dodgers scored four on him, two of which were unearned (following an error by Kelly). Kelly’s been pretty consistent this season, as he’s allowed three or fewer earned runs in 16 of his 19 outings and has completed at least five in all starts since his first of the season.
J.D. Martinez remains out, with James Outman getting the start as DH and Chris Taylor starting in center.
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A day of bullpen sessions.
An unexpected development: Blake Treinen is also facing hitters right now
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) August 9, 2023
His first time doing so since offseason shoulder surgery pic.twitter.com/ZnnF81feFW
Walker Buehler and Blake Treinen both faced hitters today for the first time in their respective recovery processes. Buehler reportedly sat at 92-93 MPH and there’s less certainty he’ll return by September 1 (which was a lofty goal anyways). He’s still hopeful of a return this season.
Per #Dodgers Dave Roberts — Walker Buehler sat 92-93 mph during his one inning v hitters. Blake Treinen had been 86-87 mph in bullpen sessions but hit 94 when facing hitters today
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 9, 2023
Treinen on the other hand saw a notable jump in velocity from previous bullpen sessions. He touched 94 today and there’s no timetable on his return.
J.D. Martinez update.
J.D. Martinez received an epidural injection today, Dave Roberts said. MRI didn’t show anything different than they were expecting. Roberts said he hopes Martinez could be back Saturday.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 9, 2023
Martinez got an epidural but his MRI came back without any surprises. He could return Saturday against the Rockies. Too bad there’s not a list that an injured player can go to recover and allow the team to call up a player from the minor leagues, and too bad the Dodgers don’t currently have a top prospect crushing in the minors that may not have a position defensively.
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First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA
