The Dodgers rebounded nicely after losing the first game of the series and on Wednesday afternoon defeated the snakes by a 3-2 score and took two out of three games in the desert. As expected the Dodgers fielded some of their B-squad, and it was one of those B-squaders that provided the Dodgers with their only offense on the day. Scott Van Slyke’s three-run home run was just barely enough to back Clayton Kershaw’s 11 strikeout win. Kershaw is now 10-1 and has 133 strikeouts with 7 walks. The Dodgers are now 35-32 and return home to begin a seven game home stand against Milwaukee and Washington. They’ll kick off the home stand with a four game series against the Brewers.
The Dodgers will face 31-year old “rookie” Venezuelan hurler Junior Guerra. The Dodgers will counter with Scott Kazmir. I use the term rookie in parenthesis because Guerra is the 30-year old rookie that had spent his entire career in the minors before finally being called up to the majors last season. Ironically Guerra had produced one of the top strikeout rates among qualified minor leaguers.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Milwaukee-TBA
Junior Guerra-3-1 vs. Scott Kazmir-5-3
Game Time – 7:10 PM – TV-SNLA
The Brewers claimed Guerra off of waivers from the White Sox last October. He was originally signed as a free agent by the Braves in 2001. Since 2001 he’s split time between the Venezuelan and minor leagues for the Braves, Mets, and White Sox organizations. The right hander made his MLB debut in 2015 with the White Sox. He made three appearances in relief and posted a 6.75 ERA in 4 innings pitched. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and struck out 3.
This season Guerra has made 8 starts in the Brewer’s rotation and pitched well. He’s 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA. He’s struck out 41 and walked 17 over 49 frames. Guerra is mostly a fastball (91-94) slider, and changeup. The Dodgers may be in trouble tonight. I mean after all this is a club that couldn’t hit Chris Rusin.
Guerra pitched well enough to win his last start against the Mets (6.2 IP 1ER 5H 3K) but took a no-decision because the Brewers couldn’t score for him. He’s never faced the Dodgers, and has never faced any of the Dodgers before.
Scott Kazmir is trying to rebound after last week’s short outing against the Giants. He tossed only 5 frames and allowed 3 earned runs on 3 hits and walked 5. He didn’t get a decision and the Dodgers eventually lost the game 5-4. Kazmir has won three consecutive decisions. The veteran has never faced the Brewers in his long career. Once he faces the Brewers he will have faced all 30 MLB clubs, including the Dodgers. Aaron Hill has hit Kazmir pretty well, batting .286 (10 for 35) with 4 extra-base hits and 6 runs driven in. Kazmir is 5-3 on the season with a 4.52 ERA in 73.2 innings of work.
Kazmir vs. Brewers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Aaron Hill | 38 | 35 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | .286 | .316 | .486 | .802 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Carter | 23 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | .294 | .478 | .412 | .890 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jonathan Villar | 13 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .333 | .385 | .667 | 1.051 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Presley | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 77 | 67 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 12 | .299 | .377 | .493 | .869 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The Brewers are really bad. They just got swept by the Giants and are 11-19 on the road. Overall the Brewers are 30-36 and sit in fourth place in the NL Central 15 games behind the Cubs. The Dodgers remain 6 games behind the Giants in the NL West. The Giants are idle today so the Dodgers can gain a half game with a win over Milwaukee.
Source: Dodgers have added another international prospect, agreeing to $2 million deal with outfielder Yordan Alvarez, 18. #Cuba
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) June 15, 2016
The Dodgers made a pair of signings on Wednesday. One was an international signing of 18-year old Cuban outfielder Yordan Alvarez. The Dodgers inked the youngster to a 2 million dollar deal and will face heavy taxation for the contract. The Dodgers will not be unable to sign any international prospect for over 300,000 dollars for the next two years.
2nd-rder Mitch White inks w/@Dodgers, $590,800 (pick 65 = $993,800). Santa Clara RHP, late rise, FB gets to mid-90s, nasty cutter. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 16, 2016
The Dodgers also signed second round right handed pitcher out of Santa Clara Mitchell White to a 590,000 dollar contract. Kenley Jansen has now tied the all-time Dodger record for saves. He needs one more (162) to move ahead of Eric Gagne for the most in franchise history.
Go Blue!
I think Van Slyke should be in right and Thompson in left most nights at least until Puig gets back. Stop the platoon madness!
Snider
Why do you want Scott in right?
Defense. I think he has a better arm.
Thanks!
Trayce is the superior defender. Scott does not have a great arm but he gets what he gets. I doubt SVS sees much time in RF.
Mat Latos was just released by the Chisox. He’s a perfect get for the Braintrust!
Great! Venable getting his 1st start for the Blue tonight. He’s much better than Van Slyke. Or Kike. Or Kendrick.
Hit a home run today, hit the bench tomorrow.
I will be interested in seeing the defensive metrics on Thompson. The announcers have been critical of a few of his routes. In the 10 inning loss the other night, he first broke back on a seemingly catchable fly ball that he eventually let drop in front of him. To me, and Mark is certainly the greater expert, it seems that Thompson does better chasing down balls that are far to his left or right than those that are hit more in his direction. Whatever the case athleticism seems to be in his bloodlines and I expect that he will be a star where ever he plays.
Van Slyke led the Dodgers in outfield assists last year, but I’m sure his arm can’t be that great. It seems the superior fielder has misjudged or misplayed three balls in the past week or so, but what does Monday know about playing the outfield? Oh, wait, who is in right field tonight?
Snider
I was just wondering because I think that Scotty plays a better leftfield
And I know Trayce has missed judge some flyballs.
I want to know why Trayce has those issues myself.
Because if he didn’t, he would be the better outfielder, because of more speed.
But even Scotty went up on a hit last night, that he should have been going back on.
I can understand why Trayce might have trouble in center, when a ball is hit right at him.
But he has trouble in both rightfield, and center.
I actually think that Scotty and Trayce, both play better in left.
I think Trayce would improve if they would leave him at one position–and it’s not like he’s bad.
The ball hit right at you is tough anyway.
Snider I don’t like that Roberts is resting both Turner, and Agone to night.
I was wrong obviously!
A-Gon is hurting pretty bad I have heard. He has to rest about every 3rd day. This ain’t going to get better as he gets older. The Trade… Yeah, THE TRADE. It was necessary. Keep telling yourselves that.
Wolfe is right. Thompson is great at chasing down ball to either side. He sometimes struggles with balls hit right at him. I can relate. I played SS or 3B until I got old and went to 1B but in a few dozen games in CF I really had problems with balls hit right at me. I scared the hell outta me. Just one if those things.
BTW, at age 62, I went White Water Raftjng for the first time today. Grade 3. It was awesome!
I never had that problem, but I have always wanted to go river rafting. I’m glad you had a great time.
I’ve watched Trayce – he doesn’t run good routes. He covers ground so he is able to make up for it (sometimes) but he is not a good outfielder.
And Van Slyke has a better arm – that’s why he should be in RF instead of Trayce when they both play.
You have somebody better than AGon in mind? It’s clear the organization is not hampered by money concerns, though you keep harping on that point. They’ve dumped several million and are at the same time spending several million on unproven players. If you have something better than what the geniuses you so worship are doing – let’s hear it.
Mark
That doesn’t make sense, about Agone. He isn’t taking every fourth day off!
Turner is the one that is getting rested, every six day. And Agone plays in more games then any other, of the Dodger’s players.
But this year, Cory will play more. And I think that Agone is at the top of the list, in all of baseball, with games played, since he has been a Dodger.
And I know he has hit in more runs, then anyone in baseball, since he was a Dodger. And he is one of the most consistent players, in all of baseball.
Badger
This is what I don’t like about Kazmir.
Any time he is facing a really good hitter, he starts pitching defensively, and walks to many hitters.
He never attacks good hitters!
At least he’s missing his spots outside the strike zone.
Hey guys
We were fortunate this inning
Kazmir sucks
So I”m watching the NBA finals on the apple tv, and the Dodgers on the laptop.
As Klay was shooting free throws, Trayce hit the 3 run shot. Amazing
Yeahhh!!!! I called it on twitter too
I’m watching that series too. It would appear the NBA, and ABC, are getting what they want.
Kazmir with 90+ pitches in the 4th? Man, that does suck. Will he even get opportunity to win the game?
Meanwhile, for Rancho today: McCarthy, 3ip, 4hits, 2 runs, 0bb, 4k.
Maybe McCarthy will be ready by the deadline and we can trade him back to the Yankees for Chapman.
Kazmir was weak tonight. His ERA goes up and the bullpen gets overworked. He can go to New York too. We don’t need him. We have Zach Lee to take his place. Lee, Urias, De Leon, Maeda and Kershaw. That would fit The Plan.
That would be great Badger!
Boy they stink
Well that turned around quick.
Bobby
That is the reason that the Twins let Fien go!
Not in high leverage situations!
Why the F is Grandal tagging up on that play?????????
Why did the 1st base coach let him even try that??????????
Bobby
Hopefully Grandal wasn’t tagged before Joc cross the plate!
Bobby
How could Grandal, not see that play developing? He was facing the outfield.
Just another stupid base running mistake, because Joc is fast enough to score on that fly ball. I’m glad Turner didn’t fool around! He just hit the easy flyball!
Good job from the offense tonight. They did not give up
It’s Milwaukee. They kinda suck.
Grandal dang near cost us a run. Dumb. Maybe that’s who Mark is talking about.
Badger
Mark always likes to temp fate, when he over exaggerates about the bullpen!
Like the article said, not in high leverage situations!
I don’t think it was a fastball, but it was right down the middle, of the dam plate!
You would think that Baez would have woke up, after he got the reprieve on Goldy’s almost HR!
Badger
Read below!
It’s time for the Friedman experiment to end and soon.
Scott
Turner got in a little fight, in the dug out, with Grandal! Because Grandal ran into that out!
Kazmir owes Thompson dinner for saving him from the L but it was his fault the Dodgers had to go to the well (bullpen) twice too often. The Giants beat these guys like a drum. I guess they had to take it out on somebody.
Everyone, Turner got in a little fight in the dug out, with Grandal!
Baez continues to have a problem with throwing a pitch in the middle of the plate. You just cannot trust him.
I am glad to see Turner taking a leadership role. I wish the manager and coaches would do more of this. What is wrong with them telling a ball player that was a stupid decision. Maybe they do it after the game or next day. When I was coaching basketball, I always told my players, if you take a bad shot , you are going to be sitting on the bench right beside me. Even if you make the shot. I also got on them if they did not take an open shot.
Idahoal
I think it was you, that said that the bullpen had been better, but you still didn’t trust Baez.
And that is exactly how I feel. They have been doing a better job, but they haven’t been as good as Mark, wants to say.
In that article about how well the bullpen has been, the writer, went on to say that the bullpen, has not been good, in high leverage situations.
And high leverage situations, , is what a bullpen is for, most of the time. And if they aren’t good in these situations, they are not doing there job.
And a bullpen’s era, doesn’t really tell you, how well a bullpen, is pitching.
And this HR bothers me even more, because Baez just almost gave up a go ahead HR, in the game before, when he pitched.
I just don’t get it. Bullpen pitchers, don’t have to throw a lot of pitches, and don’t have to keep there concentration, beyond an inning or two. How hard can that be?
And Kazmir didn’t do much to help the team last night, with the way he pitched. Kazmir constantly makes the same mistakes in a game, and it gets old with him too!