The Dodgers were able to escape Coors Field with one win luckily. The boys in blue defeated Colorado 10-6 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon and then got the hell out of dodge. Now they’ll begin a three game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in a NLCS rematch. Wrigley Field is just as much of a nightmare as Coors Field is and I am sure nobody is looking forward to this match-up this early in the season.
While Rich Hill is testing his ailing blister in a bullpen session, southpaw Alex Wood will get the start today in his stead. Wood has pitched two scoreless frames this season and appeared in 14 games for the Dodgers last season before battling a serious elbow injury.
Dodgers @ Chicago
Alex Wood-0-0 vs. Jon Lester-0-0
Game Time – 5:05 PM – TV- ESPN
Wood has some good numbers in his career against the Cubs. He is 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 19 innings against the Cubs over 6 career appearances. He is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA at Wrigley Field. He’s held the current Cubs to a .260 batting average against. Only Kris Bryant has hit a home run and the Cubs have a .675 OPS against Wood.
Wood vs. Cubs
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Anthony Rizzo | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .273 | .273 | .455 | .727 |
| Kris Bryant | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .429 | .833 | 1.262 |
| Jon Jay | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .200 | .429 | .200 | .629 |
| Addison Russell | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .286 | .286 | .286 | .571 |
| Jake Arrieta | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jason Heyward | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 |
| Ben Zobrist | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .333 | .500 | .333 | .833 |
| Javier Baez | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
| Miguel Montero | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
| Matt Szczur | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
| Albert Almora | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Brett Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Willson Contreras | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Total | 57 | 50 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | .260 | .315 | .360 | .675 |
The Dodgers just have to face Jon Lester in the opening game. Oh and he’s also a left hander. No big deal or anything. Lester only lasted 5 innings in his first start of the season but struck out 7 and allowed one earned run on seven hits. Lester is 2-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 5 career starts against the Dodgers and has limited them to a .196 average against. The current Dodgers are hitting just .200 against him. Lester is hard to hit no matter where you face him or when.
Lester vs. Dodgers
| BATTER | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Andre Ethier | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 |
| Logan Forsythe | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .125 | .125 | .125 | .250 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .200 | .400 | .600 |
| Franklin Gutierrez | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | .217 | .250 | .348 | .598 |
| Enrique Hernandez | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | .250 | .250 | .667 | .917 |
| Joc Pederson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Yasiel Puig | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .500 | .333 | .833 |
| Corey Seager | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .167 | .286 | .167 | .452 |
| Rob Segedin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 |
| Chris Taylor | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .400 | .500 | .900 |
| Trayce Thompson | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 |
| Justin Turner | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .000 | .083 | .000 | .083 |
| Chase Utley | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .167 | .167 | .167 | .333 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .667 | .800 | 1.000 | 1.800 |
| Totals | 110 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 35 | .200 | .248 | .336 | .584 |
Of course with a left hander on the mound you can expect the Dodgers to not play at least one or more of their best offensive threats. That probably means Kike in center for Joc, and Franklin Gutierrez replacing Andrew Toles in left. Don’t expect the Dodgers to score more than one run today, if that. Honestly keep your expectations low for this one.
This is a strange series as the Dodgers will have a day-off tomorrow in the middle of the series and then back at it on Wednesday evening. Through the first seven games, the Dodgers are 4-3. Tonight’s game is exclusively on ESPN.
Does “exclusively on ESPN” mean it will be broadcast here in So. Cal?
Unless ESPN has to black it out yes. But if it is an ESPN broadcast, then the Dodger network and you MLB streaming network use ESPN’s feed.
1. Logan Forsythe (R) 2B
2. Corey Seager (L) SS
3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
4. Franklin Gutierrez (R) LF
5. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
6. Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
7. Yasmani Grandal (S) C
8. Joc Pederson (L) CF
9. Alex Wood (R) P
The Cubs are trotting out a bunch of guys who will be wearing Championship rings. But not until tomorrow. Tonight is just the banner. Not sure what they might do on the third night. Laugh a lot?
I am ok with this lineup. Would prefer Barnes at catcher. I want to see what Guiterez can do before I toss him overboard. I say the over/under on Grandall killing rallies is 2. I take it. How bout you Badger?
I don’t think you “take” the over/under. I think you take either the over or the under.
I’d go with the under, but how do we define killing rallies?
Grandal kill 2 rallies? Well, that’s an interesting question. With Lester on the mound I would say the O/U on rallies by the team is 2. Grandal ending both of them? I’ll take the under. Will he start a rally? I doubt it.
Hopefully they will score BEFORE Grandal can kill anything.
Posey hit in the helmet with Tijuan Walker fastball. He left the game. No report on his condition yet. Matt Moore pitching a gem – 7 innings 1 run. 70 pitches.
Who needs that guy. We have RICH hill.
You are being sarcastic I hope…..
Never like to see a guy hit in the coconut. I thought the Dodgers should have went after Moore last year, but what do I know….we got Rich Hill………
Moore would have cost Seager and Urias. We got Hill for …. a group of no names that will never amount to anything and $50 FAZillion. A steal by any measure ….that uses algorithmic functions understood only by those who drink the blue Kool-Aid Chili referenced.
I doubt Moore would have cost them that. Since both were in the majors at the time Moore was traded. Did you see the outing Cotton had today? He was unhittable.
This is a great opportunity for Wood to push for a spot in the rotation. Hopefully he does well.
Hope he likes cold weather because Chicago is an ice box tonight.
Nasty nasty weather in Chicago tonight. Temps have dropped 20 degrees in the last 2 hours. Poor ESPN announcers look very uncomfortable.
Urias 3.2 innings, 2 runs, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts and he made 79 pitches. That’s a lot of pitches in less than 4 innings.
I’m surprised by the number of pitches. I had that wrong.
I’m surprised too.
That is a lot of pitches, for just over three innings.
Guys,
the game is in rain delay until 5:45.
The game is also on ESPN only.
Guys,
first pitch is now delayed until 7:05. We’ll see if they get this one in
Gutierrez out with strained Hammy…..SVS in the game.
Wood looks good so far. But at my age wood looks great any time. Sorry that was bad. Tough conditions to play in. Gutierrez out with a hammy. Tough to blame Puig, SVS, Hmmm. Wood in trouble now. Pen soon to be alive?
Tim
Wood is throwing 95, and he has been pitching well, considering how tough the umpire is.
Moore went for a really good prospect and a really good major leaguer, if I remember right.
Cotton’s has been and is gonna be up and down. He’s a rookie.
Hopefully he sorts it out and pitches well.
Bluto
How stretched out is Wood?
They said 75 pitches was his limit. Stripling in now.
He pitched really well today. 7 innings of shutout ball, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Got his first win. ERA is under 4.
He was traded for Matt Duffy. Hell we could have beat that easily.
Personally I think the ump is calling it damn good. Pitch Trax and him seem to be pretty close. Much better than usual.
Its butt cold there. No thanks. I would rather be in Sedona it’s 61 and nice
I think Wood deserved better. But he dint get it. He wasn’t going to get 5 innings even if Puig doesn’t drop that ball. Weird game. Supposed to rain again there soon. App says it isn’t that cold – 54.
One hit so far. A squirrel single. Go figure.
It’s 8:30 and a game in Chicago just entered the 5th. I don’t think I’ll see the end of this one.
It was closer to mid 30’s. You see all that breath from the players? It was frigid.
Does this mean that the Orioles have more depth……and I thought we were #1.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-deal-designated-right-hander-joe-gunkel-to-dodgers-20170410-story.html
Has SVS made it to first yet? Grandall does seem to be doing a decent job of trying to locate where he wants the pitches and when they arrive at the right spot the outcome seems to work.
Now we need some hits!!!!
RISP. Rest in sleep players. That’s us for how many years now?
I just read about the trade with the O’s. Joe WHO??? Gunkel, Going to OKC. He is a starter…..more depth I guess, for the notorious PTNL.
Yes, I think it’s Frank Ptnl. He’s a glove-only SS, with little hit tool. If he makes it, it’ll take some serious work to get lift into his swing.
Disappointing loss. Gutierrez hurt, Turner hit on the hand and removed from the game. No clutch hitting. You get bases loaded and no outs, you should score….period. Seems they had that problem last year too.
Dave Roberts would not risk a stolen base attempt when his RISP-woeful guys had first and second and one out against Lester mid-game. Seemed to prefer the same cheap, embarrassing
clown show as last season’s playoff game, dancing and disrespecting Lester, rather than making an attempt to actually, y’know, compete against him, and y’know, actually steal a base…
Joe Maddon had no qualms allowing a guy with journeyman speed to steal a base in the ninth. Cubs win.
Dodgers sign a guy for moderately big bucks (nothing compared to the dough they’ve wasted on Cubans) who has chronic blister problems to be their #2. Y’gotta assume that the crack, hugely paid front office, in conjunction with the equally crack medical/training staff, had some reliable insight how to deal with it – otherwise why waste the money, and leave the starting staff even more vulnerable? The new number two makes it to the DL before a week of games are played.
Even for these guys, that deserves special citation:-).
I remain unconvinced they have 1) a front office anywhere near the worth of their checks,
and, 2) a manager quite able to compete for the brass ring.
Dave, to me, so far, looks genuinely good, genuinely not good enough.
What’s takin’ the Donald Gang so long to get those million mis-directed traffic-blockin’
feline felons to the pokey? Is there a worse crime in all the universe than blockin’ traffic?
Was so glad to see a few of our Real Americans here recognize the dastardly deed for what
it was. How can the Family maximize its presidential profits if ordinary, law-abidin’ denizens
can’t get to the hotels and golf courses? Call out the Marines….
Where you been dew?
A thoroughly uninspiring performance, with the viewing experience reduced by bad weather and worsened by a drawn out bromidic flag raising ceremony. Does something that gooey need to be shared with the viewing audience? Especially on a miserable weather delayed night like that one. Leave it for the locals who actually give a sh*t. I’d rather have watched Heidi than that sappy bunkum. Then we lose on another Jansen screwup. 3 games, 7.7 ERA, 1.7 WHIP, avg spin rate 1685….. which for those who may be wondering is 490 below ML average.
Off today, for some reason, then two more in Chisucko, with a day game, and more rain on Thursday. I’ve said it for years, all those teams that reside where April is still winter, and you know who you are, should play home games at their Spring locations or put a damn lid over your field.
Did I ever tell you about playing softball in NW Wisconsin during a thunderstorm? Perhaps I’ll tell you during the next rain delay. Maybe Thursday.
We played in some pretty nasty weather when I was in Germany and Korea. I didn’t care. I just wanted to play ball. That pre game was boring as watching a fly go up a drape. It was cool they had their 3 HOFer’s there, but still was boring to watch and all that know your Cubs crap with action on the field. They actually felt an interview with David Ross was more watchable than the game. ESPN needs some new directors and producers. Nobody but Cub’s fans watching that game gave a crap!