The Dodgers evened the Freeway Series on Tuesday night with a 5-1 win over the Angels thanks to another masterful performance from maestro Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw now has 88 whiffs and 4 walks on the season and has struck out 10 or more batters in six consecutive outings. My god that man is a pitching artist. Now the Dodgers have to prove they can win in games not started by Kershaw as the Freeway Series shifts to Anaheim.
Tonight we’ll see Mike Bolsinger make his season debut as the Dodgers go with a six-man rotation during the next 20 games. Bolsinger has been recovering from an oblique injury that has sidelined him since spring training. Last season he was very reliable, posting a 6-6 record and a 3.62 ERA across 109.1 innings pitched. The 28-year old right hander has never faced the Angels and has made just one interleague start in his short MLB career. Last season Bolsinger was 2-3 with a 3.95 ERA away from Dodger Stadium. Yunel Escobar is the only Angel to have ever faced him. He is 1 for 2 with a double in two plate appearances.
Dodgers Lineup @ Anaheim
Utley 2B
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Kendrick 1B
Pederson CF
Thompson LF
Grandal C
Puig RF
Crawford DH
Mike Bolsinger-0-0 vs. Nick Tropeano-1-2
Game Time – 7:05 PM – TV- SNLA-FSW
The Halos will counter with 25-year old right hander Nick Tropeano. The New York native was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the fifth round of the 2011 amateur draft. He was traded to the Angels along with Chris Perez for catcher Hank Conger in November of 2014. Tropeano made his MLB debut in 2014, and has had limited time in the Angel’s starting rotation. Last season he finished with a 3-2 record and a 3.82 ERA in eight games. He started seven of them and struck out 9.1 batters per nine innings. This season Tropeano has a 1-2 record with a 3.62 ERA in seven starts. In 36.2 innings pitched he’s struck out 39 and walked 20. He’s had control problems and also has had trouble keeping the ball in the park because he’s allowed seven home runs.
National League West Standings
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | AWAY | L10 | |||
| 1 |
|
23 | 18 | .561 | – | 11-10 | 12-8 | 7-3 | |||
| 2 |
|
20 | 18 | .526 | 1.5 | 8-10 | 12-8 | 6-4 | |||
| 3 |
|
21 | 19 | .525 | 1.5 | 10-12 | 11-7 | 6-4 | |||
| 4 |
|
19 | 23 | .452 | 4.5 | 7-16 | 12-7 | 5-5 | |||
| 5 |
|
17 | 23 | .425 | 5.5 | 8-12 | 9-11 | 4-6 | |||
Tropeano is mainly a fastball, slider, and changeup guy. According to the scouting reports his changeup is a plus offering. He has always pitched poorly this time of season. Tropeano has a 5.87 career ERA in the month of May. The big right hander has made just one start against the Dodgers in which he allowed three earned runs on eight hits across 4.1 frames. The current Dodgers are batting .412 (7 for 17) against him with two extra-base hits.
Tropeano vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Carl Crawford | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Utley | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 18 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .412 | .444 | .529 | .974 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
In order to clear roster space for Bolsinger, the Dodgers have optioned infielder Charlie Culberson to triple-A. Culberson is an outstanding defensive player but doesn’t hit much. In 28 plate appearances this season he batted .259 (7 for 27) with two extra-base hits and 4 walks while playing in 15 games.
Today, the #Dodgers reinstated RHP Mike Bolsinger and optioned IF Charlie Culberson to Triple-A @okc_dodgers.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 18, 2016
The Dodgers are going to rest Adrian Gonzalez another day in hopes he can avoid a trip to the disabled list. Gonzo has been battling a rusty lower back since he aggravated it on a swing in Monday night’s loss to the Angels. The Dodgers are hoping he can DH in Thursday evening’s series finale.
There is really no excuse to not be playing the kids right now. As Oscar so eloquently wrote, the kiddies are carrying the club. The Dodgers need to stop platooning Trayce Thompson, Corey Seager, and Joc Pederson. Until the veterans start hitting, and who knows when that will be those guys need to be playing every day. No exceptions, and no excuses.
In the meantime, for those that don’t have time warner, you can catch the game on the Angel’s broadcast of Fox Sports West.
Go Blue!
Scott they need to move Turner down. I think Crawford could hit better then Turner right now. And since he isn’t playing in the field, he can’t hurt us there tonight.
I would say that they are hitting Turner second to get fastballs, but Utley isn’t a base stealer. We need our vets to start hitting. If Turner and Puig were hitting well, the Dodgers would be doing much better.
Because the kids are helping too. And with Ryu coming back, there would be more hope, even with the terrible bullpen. And we are lucky after the Giants have won six games in a row, that we are only one and a half games back! They play the Cubs this weekend, so maybe we can pick up some games then.
Do we have 4 man bench tonight? Kiké, Ellis, CC, and bad back AGon. Did I miss anyone? I guess Kershaw can pinch hit if needed.
Make that 3, CC is the DH. Several of our pitchers are decent hitters.
Agon can pitch hit, if they need him.
It is a real horse race now . . .
Roberts is tied with Donnie Boy with the exact same record of wins and loses.
Who would have thought!!!
The Marlins payed more for a new starting pitcher. I believe his name is Chin.
Where is everyone tonight?
Another Bolsinger Tightrope.
Did you hear they might try Bolsinger in bullpen?
The Dodgers is making the Angels pitcher job to easy. They need to have better at bats!
Tropeano 22 pitches to mow down our starting lineup. Damn. That’s about as easy as it gets.
This game is really boring so far
Most days Tuner show me that he is a mental midget
Turner was told to run home on Cory’s double, but he stopped! Then he runs into a tag on the next play.
The Dodgers’ inept offense has made the infamously poor Angels’ pitching look pretty good
Game 1 – Angels’ starter Shoemaker 1-5, 9.12 going into the game. Outcome: 5ip, 6 H, 3 ER
Game 2 – Angels’ starter Weaver 3-2, 6.10 going into the game. Outcome: 7ip, 10 H, 3 ER
Game 3 – Angels’ starter Tropeano 1-2, 3.68 going into the game. Outcome (thus far): 3 1/3 ip, 1H, 0 R
When will things improve?
I was going to say that this pitcher has a decent era, compared to the first two.
Dodger rick are you saying they are playing to close to home?
Bolsinger doing a good job getting of trouble each inning.
And we can’t seem to do much vs. this Tropicana guy
Turner not doing a good job, he cost Cory an RBI and cost the Dodgers a run too. And he just flied out, with runners on second and third.
Sometimes you look at a pitcher and say, wow he’s a warrior and great at pitching out of trouble.
(Then the bartender reminds you, he’s also really good at getting into trouble ….)
Some days we just don’t look like a good baseball team.
that was a very fluky last few hitters.
I really don’t fault Coleman whatsoever
I don’t either Bobby. I thought that Bolsinger should have stayed in, because he wasn’t near 80 yet.
And he was getting out of trouble all night with double plays.
So that game went to HELL in a Hurry.
I can’t stand it! (shades of Charlie Brown)
Why did Howie cut off Puig’s throw?
I gotta admit, Badger was right all along. They suck. Badger, you know your stuff. They’re on pace for about 75-80 wins.
I would love to see some changes. I think it’s time to blow this up. Hard to watch this garbage. Start moving some of the veterans.
Yeah, we have issues. But they won’t blow it up. It’s LA. No towel throwing allowed. You can rebuild if you disguise it and call it a reload.
I’m watching Betances pitch against the snakes. Dang. This guy is a 7th inning reliever? He’s 6’8″, 265 and throws 98 mph. Has a nasty breaking ball too. Scary looking dude. He just needs to throw strikes.
Turner should’ve had that 6th inning single by Trout. A lot of little things that add up. The good teams do the little things consistently well.
Bullpen numbers won’t look good by the time this one is over, which for me is going to be soon. 5 a.m. comes early. It’s the same time every day but…. ah never mind.
You could tell from the look on Utleys face he questioned the move too. Wow!!!
I feel so bad for Vinny, because he has to call this game! Until they are going to put Turner down in the order, what do they expect.
And why is Turner by himself, on the left side of the field? That should be Cory!
That is for sure Tim!
Bases loaded and no outs. 2 batters later and…… Ah screw it….
What a revoltin’ development! I feel sorry for anyone who made the drive for this.
Agone wanted to play today, but Roberts insisted that Agone sit out this game.
2 comments –
1 – they are making Tropeano look like Cy Young
2 – they should have projected that an 80 pitch start out of Bolsinger was going to wear out the bullpen going forward (even if he pitched well, which he didn’t). Now the ‘pen is going to be blown for the forseeable future. Great thinking by the Braintrust
I disagree about Coleman.
I woulda hooked him after he walked the first batter he faced in 4 pitches. He never looked like he had it from ball one.
Also, someone needs to explain to me why the slumping Kiki would be a better bet than Utley with the bases loaded and the even more slumping Turner up next?
We will be 2.5 games behind SF when this is done.
I thought that you knew that hiring a new manager was going to solve all of the team’s problems. You mean that – that – that – it didn’t happen?
Watford I think that Roberts took Utley out of the game, because he thought it was out of hand, and he wanted to give Chase some rest, for the next game. And you know I want Chase in there. He really makes Howie seem old, even though he is four or five years older. I would have loved to have him on the Dodgers, when he was young, and in his prime. Because not only was he a really good player, he is a gamer, that will do anything to help his team win. And a lot of really good players, have the talent, but they don’t have the drive, like scrappy players.
I think Utley has both, and that is a quality that is hard to find. And that is why the people in Phillie love him.
Another failed experiment that was just the kind that Dummie did last years. Guess it is System Wide or Neddy Jr. Protocol.
Trout followed by Pujols.
Seagar followed by Kendrick.
Per True Blue LA:
“The offense has scored three or fewer runs in 22 of their 41 games, and are 7-15 in such games.”
Roberts on Bolsinger:
“I thought he had did what we had hoped”
Where to begin with that quote. First, it sounds like Larry the Cable Guy is running the on field operations. Secondly, I know Roberts must have hoped for 80 pitches and 5 innings or why make the move in the first place? 3 earned, 69 pitches in 4.1 is not a very high bar.
Speaking of first place – the Giants. 7 in a row.
The thing about the Giants Badger, is that they have always been able to win a lot of games in a row, but they have also lost a lot of games in a row.
The Dodgers never won a lot a games in a row, in the last few years, but they never usually lost more then three games in a row, and they have won the league. Next month, I will be interested, in how well the Giants are doing. They play the Cubbies three games this week end.
I checked out early, got up hoping to read about an 8 run rally in the 9th to win it. It appears I didn’t miss much.
If Turner, Puig, Kendrick, Grandal, and Hernandez continue to don’t hit we probably will continue to won’t win. We did get 2 hits WRISP, 2 for 9, but of course scored only 1 run as a result. Crawford passed Kendrick and Hernandez in batting average last night. I’d say that was a positive sign but at .222 how can it be a good thing?
Where’s our resident FAZophants? They done r-u-n-n-o-f-t. Guess they got tired of hanging with morons. Morons who to date have been spot on about this team.
Two things do surprise me so far – how good the starting pitching is and how good the hitting isn’t. Still time to right the ship, but I say again it will take some some steely eyed baseball men moves to get ‘er done. I remain hopeful, but as you know I to date have not been a true believer in ’16. It will be fun to watch Urias when he comes up, but I don’t see him going Fernando. Not yet. Maybe next year. And I still look forward to Puig getting hot. He’s got a quizzical look on his face now. He is bumfuzzled as to why he hasn’t gone galactic. What a strange few years it’s been.
Oh well. Winning streak could start today. Stripling vs Chacin, both 1-2, both with ERA’s over 4. Could be a shootout.
Badger you know I didn’t like that they signed Howie, and I don’t really like him on defense to much, but I looked what he has been hitting, the last 15 days, and last 7days, and he was batting in the 300s. But I thought that Crawford should maybe bat second last night, instead of Turner, because I thought that Crawford would hit better, and he has speed, and he wouldn’t be in left. Turner seems to me, to have bad base running skills. And I am not talking just about last night. They need to start hitting, and then start running the bases better.
Everyone doesn’t have to have speed, to be a good base runner, and you can even have slow runners in motion, to avoid the double play. All of the Giants run, and are in motion, when it is conducive to the team.