The Dodgers finally return home to play a five game home stand against Tampa Bay, and Arizona. They’ll play a short two game interleague series on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon before a scheduled off day on Thursday and then a weekend set against the Dbacks. The Dodgers are of course exhausted, beset by injuries but in good spirits. The Cardinals gave them the gift of starting rookie Mike Mayers on Sunday night baseball and the Dodger bats clobbered him into another realm of existence.
The Dodger offense led by Adrian Gonzalez and his grand slam home run, scored 9 runs on 13 hits including 6 runs in the first inning and hung on for a 9-6 win. That coupled with the Giant’s delicious second half slump puts the boys in blue 2.5 games behind the hated ones. The Giants losing streak is certainly a joyous turn of events and something we’ve all been waiting for since May. The thought of the Giants possibly losing each day makes me giddier than a school girl on prom night. Every Giant’s loss fills you and me with joy and warmth.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Tampa Bay
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Kendrick LF
Grandal C
Toles RF
Pederson CF
Norris P
Chris Archer-5-13 vs. Bud Norris-5-9
Game Time – 7:10 PM – TV-SNLA
So now that the Dodgers are back at Dodger Stadium they can really get down to the business at hand of catching the Giants and taking over first place in the NL West. They’ll have to defeat Friedman’s former club the Rays and it shouldn’t be too hard of a feat. Although they played poorly in their two games set at Tampa Bay earlier this season. The Rays are one of the worst clubs in the American League. Check that they are almost the worst club with a 38-60 record and a last place standing in the American League East. The Rays are 19-30 on the road while the Dodgers are 30-18 at Chavez Ravine. The Rays are 19.5 games behind the first place Orioles.
Tonight the Dodgers will face possible future Dodger Chris Archer. The Dodgers will give the ball to Bud Norris who had to pitch over an inning in that 16-inning marathon that they blew. There are still rumors that the Dodgers could acquire Archer so it would be interesting to see him pitch tonight. Will he suck possibly knowing he could become a Dodger only days later? Or will he not suck and show the Dodgers what they can have if they acquire him? It’s weird and yet enticing.
The thing is Archer is not having a great season. He’s still striking out guys on a league leading pace (145) but has posted a 5-13 record and a 4.60 ERA. The 27-year old right hander has walked 51 and posted a 3.7 BB/9 rate. His walk rate has increased by one walk per inning since 2015. He’s allowed 20 home runs and 8.8 hits per nine innings in 123 innings pitched. Too many home runs and walks this year. However he did finish third in the American League Cy Young race last year and struck out 252 in 212 frames. Archer has never faced the Dodgers and he has a 6.37 ERA on the road.
The Dodgers will give the ball to Bud Norris. It will be interesting to see how he responds after pitching 1.1 innings of relief in that 16-inning loss against the Cardinals. You know Norris had gotten off to such a great start and lately he’s kind of sucked. He’s lost two consecutive starts and allowed six earned runs on seven hits across five innings against Washington. Overall he is 2-2 and now his ERA is 5.64 with the Dodgers. He’s struck out 26 and walked 5 but also has allowed over 10 hits per nine innings. Norris has made 6 career starts against the Rays and posted a 1-2 record with a 4.62 ERA. Tampa Bay is batting .304 (14 for 46) with 4 home runs against Norris.
Norris vs. Rays
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Evan Longoria | 16 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | .214 | .250 | .714 | .964 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Forsythe | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .143 | .333 | .143 | .476 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Logan Morrison | 8 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .571 | .500 | .714 | 1.214 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kevin Kiermaier | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .333 | .833 | 1.167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Miller | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .400 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Dickerson | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Guyer | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Beckham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 46 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 12 | .304 | .346 | .609 | .955 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The trade rumors are going to intensify as the week goes on while we inch closer and closer to the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline. I think Friedman is going to get somebody, but will it be guys who don’t suck? Will it be mediocre or injury riddled players? Will he trade for reclamation projects? Or will he actually acquire real impact players? We’ll know soon enough. It’s going to get hot up in here so keep your eyes peeled.
In the meantime the Dodgers have to keep gaining ground on the Giants. This division is within their grasp and there is plenty of time for them to take it.
Go Blue!
The Archer, one of those obscure villains of the Batman TV series. I’ll stop now.
Latest rumor; Dodgers talking to th e Mets about the availability of Matt Harvey. When asked if the FAZ team was aware that Harvey is out for the season, having undergone surgery, a Dodgers spokesman said yes they are aware of that fact. However, as they pointed out, every pitcher they sign or trade for ends up on the DL, they figured they might as well get ahead of the process. As FAZ said “going this route we believe will be more efficient and in keeping with our goal of providing the Dodgers with best possible pitching staff to all be on the DL at the same time”
This gets the award for best comment of the day……that was good. LMAO!!
I’m thinking a full starting lineup on the DL is within reach.
Since Kershaw went out, Dodgers’ starters “have a 4.53 ERA while averaging just 5.19 innings per start.”
… but they are winning more. Who cares about the rest?
really?
In the postseason when the team stops scoring 5 runs per game, you’ll care.
“Just win, Baby.” — Al Davis
you know how that worked out for him, don’t you?
Fine for awhile. That’s the way the world works. Only the rocks live forever.
😉
Kike Hernandez is 2-2 with 2 runs scored at RC tonight. Look for him at a Ravine near you soon!
Damn, I think I’m on to something (well, maybe I’m on something), but I think Bud Norris would make a good closer. He’s throwing 95 as a starter in the 5th. That’s like 98 as a reliever!
You heard it here first folks!
Boy, Chase Utley runs really, really hard. I love his hustle.
Norris might go 7!
Chris archer has looked pretty good today. He does have good stuff
Meanwhile our future closer Bud Norris has looked awesome tonight !! Great game for him
Archer could be awesome with a few tweaks!
Mark
I agree about Archer.
Also he isn’t using his all, just to pitch each pitch.
He looks pretty free and easy with his delivery.
I think the team’s situation might be taking away some of his drive.
He is a competitor, and the Rays haven’t been this bad, in a while.
How has this Tampa team won 38 games? They look like a minor league club to me.
That said, they won this one 2 earned runs to 1.
Seems like an odd schedule. 5 straight Monday’s off, and 6 out of 7, after playing 10 straight Monday’s. 8 days off in July should help this starting staff.
The bullpen pitchers have looked tired, like these innings are catching up with them.
I am beginning to believe that Mark has lost all touch with reality