The Dodgers wrapped up their regular season home schedule with a 14-0 whitewashing of the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon in their home schedule and series finale. With Colorado and St. Louis both winning their respective games, the Dodger’s lead in the National League west remains 1.5 games with six games left to play. The Dodgers are now 87-69, and 18 games above .500, a new season high.
Fan Appreciation day saw the Dodger offense show their appreciation by scoring 14 runs on 16 hits against the terrible San Diego pitching staff. The Dodger bats battered left hander Joey Lucchesi for seven earned runs on seven hits. Lucchesi lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up three home runs. The Dodgers scored two runs in the bottom of the second and six runs in the fourth. They added another two in the fifth and scored four more runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Padres 0 5 0
Dodgers 14 16 0
WP-Ryu-6-3
LP-Lucchesi-8-9
HR-Kemp-21-Machado-37-Barnes-3
Matt Kemp and Manny Machado both hit home runs in the bottom of the second and the Dodgers never looked back in this one. For Kemp, he went 3 for 4 with three runs batted in. One of them was his 1,000 career RBI. His homer in the second and two-run single in the fourth accounted for three of the Dodger’s early runs. Every Dodger starter had at least one hit. Max Muncy who didn’t even start the game drove in four runs and collected two hits. He had two two-run singles in the fifth and seventh innings. Hyun-jin Ryu reached base three times and had three hits. Even Austin Barnes hit a home run.
On the mound, Ryu was dominant. The Korean lefty tossed six shutout innings allowing just four hits and striking out eight. He did not walk anyone and once again proved why he probably should be in the rotation during the playoffs. Ryu is now 6-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.00. Julio Urias pitched the final two frames of the game, allowing just one hit and notching four strikeouts.
On a side note, this was Chase Utley’s final regular season home appearance as a Dodger before he retires. Utley received ovations during both of his plate appearances. Both were outs, but me and my girlfriend got video of both of those at-bats. Yours truly was at the game and it was a smashing good time. Not only was I there, but our very own Oscar and James were both at the game as well sitting in separate parts of the Stadium. This was the first time that I am aware of that almost the entire LADR crew was at the game. The Dodgers hit the road for the final six contests. They’ll open up the final trip in Phoenix against the dormant Arizona Dbacks, who were officially eliminated today after the Dodger’s win. Clayton Kershaw will counter Robbie Ray in the series opener on Monday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM PST. Magic Number: 6
Nice to see the fans give Chase Utley a rousing ovation, for his last appearance of the regular season, at home. I wish he had gotten a hit in his last at-bat at home.
Could this have been the “Lefty Lineup” swan song? If so, they went out with a bang. 14-0. Dodgers were not going to go down, bowing to another rookie lefty. We will see if Farhan will hold to his word to dis the shuffling, and go with playoff starters.
Ryu making a statement, too. He wants to be in the starting rotation in the playoffs. Also auditioning for DH, should they make it to the big show.
Matt Kemp making a statement, that he should be playing every day, AND make the playoff roster.
“The Smirk” making a statement that he is in playoff mode. The unpleasant smile is now aimed at the opposing team, not the fans.
Austin Barnes making a statement, that he can still hit the baseball… occasionally.
Wait a minute, don’t get too excited, Bluefan4Life…. it was only the Padres.
AZ and SF next up. The sooner they put this race to bed, the better.
One game at a time. Got to take care of your own business, Dodgers.
Congratulations to Matt Kemp on his 1000th career ribbie. He crushed his homer. None of the dingers were cheapies. I think the Pads were in shock after Barnes bomb. They sure played like it the rest of the game. Nary a murmur of protest. 14-5 on the season against SD. There was a time when there was a little rivalry vibe to those games, not so much anymore. Nice move by the crowd giving Chase a great send off. No worries, if they make the playoffs, Kemp will definitely be on that roster. Verdugo trying to make that kind of statement too. But they are not going to carry 5 outfielders in the playoffs. Pederson, Kemp, Puig, Taylor, Bellinger, Hernandez all play the outfield, no room for Toles or Verdugo. I doubt Utley makes it since Freese and Dozier are there. Dozier is really in a funk. Maybe these last 6 games he can rediscover his bat, because what ever wood he is bringing to the plate is more like paper mache. In the short series I think they go with only 12 pitchers, and if they make it to the NLCS then they will use 13 like they did in last years World Series and the win over the Cubs. I see the 13 as Belli, Turner, Dozier, Freese, Barnes, Grandal, Taylor, Pederson, Kemp, Hernandez, Muncy, Machado, and Puig. Kersh, Buehler, Ryu, Hill, Maeda, Stripling, Wood, Jansen, Baez, Fields, Alexander, and pick em as the 12th pitcher. Madson, and Axford have experience, Cingrani does not look like he will really be ready in the first round, Venditte has been one of the better guys out there. Rosscup is very effective against lefty’s. But that part of the BP is iffy at best. Will be an interesting week. I just want to see them beat AZ at least 2 of 3 and then beat the beans out of the Giants, who are having huge problems scoring right now….one of the happiest guys in baseball, Andrew McCutcheon, went from the bottom feeding Giants to a playoff spot with the Yanks. AZ’s offense is in a slumber right now too, and 2 of our best are going against them the first 2 games, Kersh and Buehler. Greinke, who is pitching game 3, now sits at 14-11 with a 3.21 ERA. Koch is over 4, and Ray a little over 3. The D-Backs would like nothing better than ruining the Dodgers season. Same with the Gnats, but the Dodgers control their own destiny. Lets hope the Phillies and Nationals play the Rockies tough. They will only get to use Freeland once this week since he pitched today. The Dodgers can pitch Kershaw twice. If needed, he would start either Sunday’s or Saturdays game. Buehler could technically be used twice too. If it is close, look for all hands on deck.
One guy to watch, for the last 6 games, is Urias. He hit 97 mph on his fastball, which I found to be amazing since he is coming back from shoulder surgery not Tommy John surgery, and he completely overpowered the Padres hitters. It’s only Padres, so I am curious to see what he’s got in the next few games. If he is fully healthy, I like him in relief a lot, especially with his arsenal and his make-up.
Urias, if healthy, has nasty stuff, BUT< Roberts is not inclined to use him in high leverage situations. He also has not pitched more than 3 innings in any game since he began his re-hab, and it is only the Padres. He does have a great make up and is pretty unflappable, but I believe he will not make the playoff roster because it is simply not in the numbers. He might be the best lefty down there, but guys who have been here all year are pretty much going to be the locks in the BP, and they like having those 3 starters available out of the pen.
Agree with Michael.
I’m more curious about what kind of innings limit we will see Urias defined with over the next 12-24 months.
You pick em, if they make the playoffs, who is the primary 2nd sacker? Dozier, Utley, Hernandez, or Taylor? Muncy is disqualified because of his lead glove. You need good defense in the playoffs.
MLB now rates the Dodger farm system at #8. Preseason they were #10. Reasons, good performances by some of the top prospects, and the fact that they only traded one of their top 10 at the deadline, Yusinel Diaz. Lux and May both had break out seasons. And Verdugo tore up the PCL. Joe and Orel talking about good hitting pitchers during the game due to Ryu’s 3 hit day, and they totally dissed Big D. He was good enough that sometimes Alston used him as a pinch hitter. And they also failed to mention probably the best hitting pitcher of all time, a guy named Ruth.
I’ve said this before and now again,
The fact that the system remains top ten with the team burdened with low picks and International limits is a real testament to scouting and players development.
It also suffered through loss of talent through recent trades: Hill, Darvish, Machado, etc. and remains high.
It’s just awesome.
Michael,
I say 2B should be Taylor. Hernandez 4th outfielder. Starting OF should be Kemp, Pederson, & Puig. Kiké late inning replacement for OF and 2B double switch. Dozier to the bench with “Gorilla Tape”.
We face Ray tonight, who we hadn’t beat in the regular season the last couple years, and we will probably face Bumgarner too, so I wouldn’t get ahead of ourselves.
Because while we are facing the Dbacks, the Rockies will be facing the Phillies at home, and only facing one of the Phillies top pitchers, but once again this is at Colorado, where most pitchers don’t pitch as well.
And we know both the Giants and the Dbacks are not going to hand this over to us.
Over the last 3 years Ray is 6-3 against the Dodgers in 13 games. He is not the same pitcher this year. He is 6-2 with an ERA close to 4. You can bet he won most of those games when the D-Backs were pounding the ball. He has served up 7 homers in those 3 years. The Dodgers do not hit him well, as a .196 BA over those years will attest. There are a couple of Dodgers with decent success against him, Dozier is 3-8 with a homer, Rocky Gale is 1-2 with a homer, Kike is 8-28 against him with 3 homers, Kemp is hitting .438 against him with 2 dingers, Machado is 2-4 the only time he faced him with a homer. Chris Taylor has a .389 average against him. Career wise the team as constructed has a .255 average against Ray with 9 homers and 22 RBI’s. That tells me that when he gives up a homer, usually no one is on base. As for Bumgarner, he is 0-1 against the Dodgers this year, and he has given up 3 homers to them. He is not the Bumgarner of 3 years ago. He has a 6-6 record and a 3.20 ERA. He has started 20 games. He has given up 13 homers in those 20 games. Over the last 4 years, the Mad Bum is 4-5 against the Dodgers. He is how ever a better pitcher at home than on the road. But I am far less concerned about him than Ray. By the time the Dodgers play the Giants, the .5 difference will be gone one way or another since the Rockies have that extra game. And I think the Phils are going to be a tough test for the Rocks. Just like the Rocks see only 1 of the Phils top pitchers, the Phils miss Freeland. The rest of the Rocks staff is not all that impressive. And you can bet the Phils and the Nats are not just going to lie down. Both of those teams have been near the top all year. Pride will be involved, just like it will for AZ and SF. And no matter what the Rockies need to win 2 more games than the Dodgers do to win the division. And AZ’s bullpen has pretty much imploded this month. They are so bad that Boxberger was removed as the closer.
Goldschmidt not in the D-Backs starting line up. Walker is playing 1st. Guy is hitting under the Mendoza line. Think the Rocks looked at this lineup AZ is running out there and said WTF????? Kemp hitting 6th, Kike 5th and Machado in the 4 hole. Worked yesterday.
Well, so much for Farhan’s flapping gums. Looks like the dreaded “Lefty Lineup” again…. Dozier included.
Only six games left, and dodgers still do not have their top 8 warriors picked for the playoffs yet. Farhan had said last seven games?♂️
Yeah, he lied. Scary moment when Maeda hit Walker in the face. It looked like it missed the face guard and caught him flush. Kersh gets the win when they rally against the bullpen. Giants fired their GM tonight. Rumor already circulating that Colletti is on their short list. Freese with a clutch homer. Puig and Muncy with key PH singles. Muncy last 2 games, 3 hits and 5 ribbies. Pederson thrown out of the game by home plate ump Joe West after striking out in the 9th. He was pretty upset and let go with a 4 letter word tirade. Jansen gives up a lead off homer to Pollock in the 9th, then shuts them down totally. 2 K’s and a game ending fly to right. 1 down, 5 to go, lead is still 1.5. The Smirk hit a ball that he thought was going out in the 9th and he loafed into 2nd. If the dirt bags had been awake, they probably could have thrown him out. Kemp had a bad night at the dish. Twice he came up with the bags juiced, K’d the first time and a really weak grounder the second. They did the right thing against Ray, ran up his pitch count and then pounced on the bullpen