The Dodgers have won five consecutive games fresh off of a sweep of the Snakes and are looking for their sixth win in a row as they travel into South Beach, Miami for a three game series against the Marlins. This series not only marks the return of Clayton Kershaw, but it also could mark the return of Andre Ethier. Oh you didn’t know Ethier was being activated soon? Neither did I. Although he had been on a rehab assignment for Rancho and was preparing for a return soon. We just weren’t sure exactly when. However the veteran outfielder is joining the club in Miami today and is expected to be activated sometime this series, or possibly tomorrow.
For the Dodgers this is a momentous occasion to get Kershaw back, even if he still isn’t 100%. The Dodgers are unlikely to make it through the postseason without him. The decision to return at this time was a decision made by Kershaw and the Dodgers jointly. I hope that Kershaw is not risking further injury. The Dodgers will reportedly be keeping a close eye on him throughout the game and he will be on a strict pitch limit.
Dodgers Lineup @ Miami
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Grandal C
Reddick RF
Pederson CF
Toles LF
Kershaw P
Marlins Lineup
Gordon 2B
Realmuto C
Prado 3B
Yelich CF
Ozuna RF
Francoeur LF
Johnson 1B
Hechavarria SS
Fernandez P
Clayton Kershaw-11-2 vs. Jose Fernandez-13-8
Game time – 4:10 PM – TV-SNLA
The pitching match-up is a marquee one with Kershaw facing fellow ace Jose Fernandez. The Marlins defeated Kershaw earlier in the year (One of only two losses Kershaw has suffered this season) back on April 26 when they swept the Dodgers in four games. In that game Kershaw allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits over 7 innings with 10 strikeouts. Although that was a completely different Dodger club. Kershaw is 5-3 with a 2.40 ERA in 9 career starts against the Marlins. At Marlin’s Park he is 2-1 with a 1.27 ERA in 3 starts.
Kershaw vs. Marlins
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Martin Prado | 35 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .147 | .171 | .147 | .318 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Chris Johnson | 21 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | .190 | .190 | .238 | .429 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | 18 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | .278 | .278 | .722 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jeff Francoeur | 13 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .333 | .385 | .333 | .718 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Mathis | 12 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .273 | .273 | .455 | .727 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Christian Yelich | 10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .444 | .500 | .444 | .944 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adeiny Hechavarria | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .111 | .111 | .111 | .222 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ichiro Suzuki | 9 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .375 | .375 | .375 | .750 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dee Gordon | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .429 | .429 | .714 | 1.143 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marcell Ozuna | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .167 | .167 | .500 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J.T. Realmuto | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .400 | .500 | .600 | 1.100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Miguel Rojas | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .400 | .600 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Koehler | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 154 | 148 | 36 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 39 | .243 | .263 | .358 | .621 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Fernandez is having another great season. The 24-year old is 13-8 with a 3.03 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 160.1 innings pitched. He is 1-0 this year against the Dodgers, defeating them back on April 28 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have yet to beat him. Fernandez is 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA in 4 career starts against the Dodgers. The current Dodgers have gotten only 10 hits off of Fernandez. This is not going to be easy. Fernandez is 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA at Marlins Park this year.
Fernandez vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .100 | .250 | .400 | .650 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Utley | 12 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .300 | .417 | .300 | .717 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .125 | .222 | .250 | .472 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlos Ruiz | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenta Maeda | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bud Norris | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 61 | 55 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 21 | .182 | .262 | .255 | .517 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Giancarlo Stanton is back from the disabled list but is not in the starting lineup tonight. Playing the Marlins also means seeing former Dodgers Don Mattingly and Dee Gordon. So we get to make fun of both of those guys the entire series which is great.
The Marlins are 34-34 at home and have essentially drowned themselves in the NL Wild Card race. They are 5 games back and have a 69-71 overall record. The Dodgers meanwhile are flying high with a comfortable 5 game lead in the NL West. It’s sink or swim for the Marlins.
Who’s ready to go fishing?
Go Blue!
I live in SW Florida and I don’t see a scheduled TV listing for the Marlins game tonite, damn.
I’d put a fastball in Dee’s ribs this series. I still doesn’t sit well with me that he waited until after the Dodgers series to take his suspension when he knew it was coming. He was instrumental in that series. His former teammates and fans treated him like royalty and for him to wait until after the LA series doesn’t sit well with me and I was a Dee guy.
Hawkeye
I remember that Gordon had that game winning hit, in that last game he was in.
Fernandez is such a stud; he’s dealing tonight.
Fernandez hasn’t been that sharp, to get some of these pitches.
That last pitch on Chase wasn’t a strike.
It was way to low, and outside.
I feel like I’m watching a spring training game.
Dodgers have used 6 pitchers thru the first 5. I believe our all time record for most pitchers used in a 9 inning game is 8.
We will shatter that record tonight
No way. We have a genius for manager, just ask anyone here… If you find a pitcher who gets outs, simply leave him in until he can’t get outs anymore. Is that concept so hard to understand?
Wondering
Wasn’t Norris right after Kershaw?
Fernandez out. Can the Dodgers score against the Fish’ bullpen?
The Giants are losing four to one.
Bumgarner has given up two, two run HRs.