The Dodgers held on by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday evening to beat the feisty Rays by a score of 3-2. Two errors, (One by possible future Dodger Chris Archer) led to two unearned runs and Yasmani Grandal’s bomb was just enough to give the Dodgers the win and put them a season high 13 games over .500. Right hander Bud Norris gave the Dodgers a quality start and the tired bullpen was good enough to help the Dodgers to victory.
Today the Dodgers will wrap up the two game set against Tampa Bay as the trade rumors continue to swirl. The boys in blue remain 2.5 games behind the Giants in the NL West. The Dodgers will give the ball to Brandon McCarthy while the Rays will counter with left hander Matt Moore in the series finale.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Tampa Bay
Kendrick LF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Van Slyke RF
Gonzalez 1B
Taylor 2B
Pederson CF
Ellis C
McCarthy P
Matt Moore-6-7 vs. Brandon McCarthy-2-0
Game Time – 12:10 PM – TV- SNLA
The 27-year old Moore will be making his 21st start of the season. He’s posted a 6-7 record and a 4.31 ERA for the Rays while striking out 7.6 batters per nine innings. He’s dealt with various injuries which has derailed his career since he had that great 17-4 2013 campaign.
He’s struck out 104 and walked 36 in 123.1 innings. He’s also allowed 20 home runs as well. Moore is 2-2 in the month of July and has a 5.63 ERA on the road. Moore has made one career start against the Dodgers in which he allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits over 4.1 frames. The Dodgers are 9 for 30 against Moore with an .849 OPS.
Moore 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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .200 | .333 | .200 | .533 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 12 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .333 | .333 | .417 | .750 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 4.000 | 5.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 34 | 30 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | .300 | .382 | .467 | .849 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
The Dodgers will give the ball to Brandon McCarthy. The tall right hander has pitched very well since coming off of the disabled list and Tommy John surgery. He’s yet to lose and is 2-0 with a 1.68 ERA in 4 starts. He’s struck out 26 and walked 7 in 22.1 innings pitched. He’s allowed just one home run and 4 earned runs. He has a 2.33 FIP and has struck out 10.5 per nine innings. McCarthy is 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 11 career starts against Tampa Bay. In interleague match-ups he is 4-7 with a 4.20 ERA. McCarthy has limited the Rays to a .196 average and a .474 OPS.
McCarthy vs. Rays
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Evan Longoria | 19 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .222 | .263 | .389 | .652 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Forsythe | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Corey Dickerson | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .400 | .400 | .400 | .800 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Kiermaier | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curt Casali | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Miller | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Morrison | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Pearce | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 47 | 46 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 | .196 | .213 | .261 | .474 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The starting lineup has the Dodgers starting Scott Van Slyke in right field as Yasiel Puig sits again. Reportedly his hamstring is still not 100% but I wonder if possibly the Dodgers are thinking about trading him. Perhaps that’s why he’s really out of the starting lineup? Howie Kendrick is in left field leading off and Chris Taylor gets a start at second base. A.J. Ellis is behind the plate as Yasmani Grandal gets a day off.
Left hander Adam Liberatore is dealing with knee soreness. Apparently he injured the knee while covering first base in the St. Louis series. The Dodgers are saying that the injury isn’t serious and he may be available to pitch today.
Have some Dodger baseball with your lunch!
Go Blue!
This is snootherbone we should win.
I meant to type “another one” there but snootherbone is actually what autocorrect thought I meant. And maybe I did. I like that word. I don’t think there’s a snootherbone like it in the English language. Anyway, we’re favored big (-172) so let’s take advantage.
Badger
Who is playing leftfield today?
Basil Snootherbone.
Actually it’s Howie in LF, leading off.
Thanks for the catch Badger.
Thanks Mookie D!
Another trade target pitching for the Rays…will watch this one…..
Read some of the post game interview of Roberts last night. He was talking about Archer. His analysis was uniquely stated, at least for me. Sounded like a guy that really knows the intricacies of baseball, and is able to communicate them. Earlier in the week, he spoke of Liberatore in an encouraging and challenging way. I think he knows a lot about pitchers and how they think. I don’t remember Mattingly doing this, at least not in the same way. I’m continuing my agonizing reappraisal of Manager Happy. Of course, if the team starts losing, it will be his fault. It seems, though, that the players like to play for him, win or lose. The Marlins think the same way about Mattingly, I’m sure. Good win yesterday. TB plays close, late inning games a lot. Expect the same today.
I expect mcC to go 7 and I expect a win.
But, I also know what to expect when one has expectations.
bad prediction…..Mac goes 4
Goes 4 what?
Oh. Innings. Yep. Dammit.
Expectations just set you up for disappointments.
I feel your pain…..
Bobbie 17
I think the players would give more credit, to Bonds as there hitting instructor.
Then Mattingly, who is there figure head, and Tim Wallach doing most of the real management.
Not so….DM has a lot more control with this team……..
No your wrong, Wallach is still his Bench coach like I said.
And the only reason Mattingly was a part of those three western division titles because he had a lot a good players, unlike Roberts.
And when Mattingly didn’t have all that pitching, and hitting, in 2012 the Dodgers didn’t win that title did they?
Remember the Mattingly’s teams had a big payroll, which this front office is trying to bring down, as well as two number one pitchers.
He was given the job, he didn’t earn it!
And the Marlins players do give Bonds most of the credit for them hitting.
Bench coach means bupkis….DM has more control of his lineup than he did in LA> That was given to him by Miami ownership, so no Wallach is NOT running the show. The 2012 Dodgers not winning had a lot more to do with the Giants being a superior team than it did with DM’s managerial skills. DM would not have taken the job in Miami with the same restrictions as he had in LA>…as far as being given the job, he interviewed for it like everyone else, but was pushed by Joe Torre for the job. He was a good MLB player, that does not always translate to managing, star players do not always connect. Magic Johnson is a prime example. And unless you were in the room when he was hired you have no clue why he got the job. And Bonds is a cheat…..he might be a good batting coach, but he is a lowlife as a person……
The next spot starter from OKC should be Logan Bawcom. Numbers in the minors are impressive. The Kyles are back together at Tulsa, with Farmer coming off the DL and joining Garlick there. Edwin Rios at RC might be our next AGon. 6’3″ 220 lbs. Hits for average with some pop. From Puerto Rico by way of Florida International U.
What about Stewart?
Not ready yet.
B17 funny u mention Rios. I also have been watching him. He plays 3b as well but I don’t know how well he plays it.
Regardless, Rios may be a reason if we do trade Bellinger in any trade this week.
Meanwhile I’m here sitting in a coffee shop near golden gate park SF in a dodger hat. If anyone is here let’s grab a drink.
Not well, which is why he’s playing more 1B.
Buster Olney, stating that he believes Reddick is the best outfielder that may be available before the deadline, says that he believes that the Dodgers “are ready to turn the page on Puig.”
Puig for Reddick?
Good trade.
This Rays team is dreadful.
Reddick in his walk year. Hopefully they would throw in someone else.
Reddick has put together a couple good years, but he ain’t all that, he’s 30 soon, and his defense is below replacement grade. Yeah, I would expect someone else in that deal. Someone young and fast who gets on base at .400 and can pitch in relief.
Ellis steals a base!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First of his career……amazing…sends Dickerson to the wall….dang it……oh well..
Did anyone else think the Dodgers were in trouble when they saw Van Slyke in the cleanup spot?
Nope,, Van Smack usually crushes lefty’s…….Moore pitched well
Change that “usually’ to “used to”. He used to be a good hitter but last year and this he totally lost it.
Michael is right in that he’s hitting .300 against lefties this year…but under .100 with RISP. Small sample, but maybe that’s why I’m grumpy.
Very small sample..Going into todays game he had exactly 30 at bats against lefty’s and was hitting exactly .300……54 at bats against RH for a .204 average..
Wondering
I agree with you.
Mark said Scott is hitting 300 against lefties this year, but I think Scott hit that one particular pitcher on the Dbacks well.
Scott had
hit into back to back double plays, since his last at bat against the Cardinals.
No,, he hits lefty’s well period, and the guy has had limited AB’s . So it is not used to, he still does, Give the guy a break…..you take that much time off with only an occasional PH appearance, and lets see how well you hit……sheesh, you guys are so critical, and give no credit to the other teams pitcher….
Oh well. At least SF lost as well
https://twitter.com/kengurnick/status/758390605495926784