Don’t look now but the Dodgers have won 6 of their last 7 games. The Dodgers escaped New York with a series win thanks to Adrian Gonzalez’s clutch ninth inning two-run single to give the Dodgers a 4-2 win over the Mets on Sunday night baseball in the series finale. Dave Robert’s questionable decision to pull Clayton Kershaw with two outs and at 114 pitches in the bottom of the eighth inning still looms large.
I wasn’t as upset about it as you might think. Left hander Adam Liberatore had limited left handed hitters to a .107 average and asking him to get one out seemed reasonable. It wasn’t Pedro Baez or Chris Hatcher. Of course it backfired when the Mets tied the game off of Curtis Granderson’s triple off the right field wall. Kenley Jansen could only watch annoyed from the Dodger bullpen. Thankfully Gonzo bailed the Dodgers out and they won anyways. I won’t complain because a win is a win and they seem to be playing a lot better. There are plenty of games left. Not all is lost.
However the Dodgers have to get their annual Wrigley Field trip out of the way and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. While the Giants are vacationing in Atlanta, the Dodgers have to play four games against the Cubs starting this afternoon. Doesn’t seem fair does it? So the Dodgers will travel to the heart of America, Chicago. Very patriotic.
Dodgers Lineup @ Chicago
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Puig RF
Crawford LF
Wood P
Alex Wood -1-3 vs. Jason Hammel-6-1
Game Time- 2:05 PM – TV- ESPN
Today’s pitching match-up will see left hander Alex Wood facing off against Cub’s right hander Jason Hammel.
During the Julio Urias mania we learned that Wood was fighting a sore triceps. He injured it on a swing while he was batting, and the Dodgers decided to push his start back to today. We’re not sure how much we’ll get out of him. I’m going to assume he’ll probably get hammered since he normally pitches so awful on the road.
Wood has a 6.34 ERA on the road, but has posted a 1.17 ERA at Dodger Stadium. In Wood’s last start (which was on the road) he struck out 13 and allowed two earned runs on four hits over 6 frames. He picked up a no-decision in that one, but he has been pitching very well lately. He has allowed two runs or less in four of his last five outings. Unfortunately he has not won since April 13. Overall Wood is 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 9 starts. He’s posted a 3.38 FIP and has 55 strikeouts and 15 walks in 51.1 innings pitched.
Wood is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 5 career appearances against the Cubs. He’s made two appearances and one start at Wrigley Field in which he allowed four earned runs on five hits over six innings. Wood has limited the current Cubs to a .194 (6 for 31) average with three extra-base hits.
Wood vs. Cubs
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Dexter Fowler | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .286 | .444 | .429 | .873 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anthony Rizzo | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .143 | .143 | .286 | .429 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Arrieta | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kris Bryant | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | 1.333 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miguel Montero | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Addison Russell | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Szczur | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Federowicz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Hammel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | .194 | .242 | .355 | .597 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Cubs will counter with Jason Hammel. The former Rockie has pitched very well this season. He is 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He’s coming off of a win against the Cardinals and is pitching better than ever. He’s only allowed 7.0 hits per nine. The notorious ground ball pitcher has had his struggles against the Dodgers. He is 2-6 with a 4.93 career ERA against the Dodgers. He’s held the Dodgers to a .242 (24 for 99) average against with a .724 OPS. Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley have been the thorns in his side. Kendrick is hitting .438 (7 for 16) with five runs driven in. Utley is batting .556 (5 for 9) with a home run.
Hammel vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 42 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | .184 | .262 | .316 | .578 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 18 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | .438 | .500 | .563 | 1.063 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Chase Utley | 13 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .556 | .692 | 1.111 | 1.803 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .143 | .143 | .143 | .286 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carl Crawford | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .400 | .500 | .900 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Enrique Hernandez | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .333 | .600 | .333 | .933 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | 1.000 | 1.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Blanton | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Wood | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 112 | 99 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 21 | .242 | .330 | .394 | .724 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
The Dodgers have to watch out because the Cubs have the best record in the majors. They are 34-14 and have a 17-6 record at home. They’ve won 5 in a row and have a 6.5 game lead over the Pirates in the NL Central standings. No better time to break their streak than the present. The Dodgers are now 27-24 and remain 4.5 games behind the Giants in the NL West standings.
|
#
|
Team
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
L10
|
||
|
1
|
|
32
|
20
|
.615
|
–
|
16-11
|
16-9
|
8-2
|
||
|
2
|
|
27
|
24
|
.529
|
4.5
|
13-12
|
14-12
|
6-4
|
||
|
3
|
|
23
|
26
|
.469
|
7.5
|
9-12
|
14-14
|
3-7
|
||
|
4
|
|
23
|
29
|
.442
|
9.0
|
9-18
|
14-11
|
4-6
|
||
|
5
|
|
20
|
31
|
.392
|
11.5
|
10-15
|
10-16
|
3-7
|
||
Today’s game will be watchable on ESPN. I hope everyone has a happy memorial day. Remember a win for the Dodgers is a win for America!
Go Blue!
As you say, this series will be a huge test for the Dodgers. Four games against the best team in the league without our ace making one start. The good news is our team hits better on the road. I’m sure Roberts would be happy to get a split…and not have to play any doubleheaders.
Watched my recording of ESPN’s coverage when I woke this morning and what a great game.
Really enjoyed it, which for me is what this season is all about.
I thought the announcers were fair, and the lady (Jessica Mendoza) was very good.
Watching Kershaw pitch is absolutely fantastic. I watched with my 12 year old son and told him to watch closely because one day people will be listing him in the top pitchers of all time.
He had thrown 112 pitches when he came out, and we saw what happened when Donnie left him in too long against the Cards.
We said before the season started that much would depend on Joc & Puig.
Joc is definitely progressing, Puig I’m afraid, regressing. Joc’s ABs are much better and he seems to be keeping his body more passive when swinging. Yassie is still swinging at down and away pitches. He seems unable to lay off them.
If we could only trade for a thumper in July, this team would look so much stronger.
I like the way we are going.
Joc didn’t have good at bats in the first game against the Mets. I hope he isn’t going to do that today.
He just swung at three pitches, out of the strike zone. Two were way to high, to swing at.
Add Puig to that MJ.
Very poor AB
Watford
It looks like Puig can’t recognize off speed pitches, like Badger says, but that last high Puig swung at, was crazy. Just like Orel said, the Cubs pitcher was having trouble throwing strikes, but Joc and Puig help the pitcher out.
I thought Crawford would swing at his high pitch, but he didn’t. We really lucked out, that the Cub’s runner, didn’t go home, with Crawford’s arm.
That is why I don’t like Crawford playing in leftfield, and on defense. He doesn’t do a thing, to compensate, for his week arm. He doesn’t run into a flyball, and doesn’t even really do a crows hop either.
Watford
I hope you didn’t stay up for this game, and had to miss sleep.
Joc pops up a lot.
Puig still swings at pitches out of the strike zone.
Wood might need a couple of quick innings to get through 6.
Badger
That is for sure. I didn’t like him walking a batter, he had a 0 and 2 count against.
Almost at sixty pitches, in the third inning. That is not going to get the job done, unless he has some hitters, swinging at his first pitch.
Roberts needs to get Howie in the game. There are to many lefties, in the line up. Even Agone is helping the pitcher out. Let’s see if Wood can have a quick inning.
Two leftie pitchers, named Wood.
Wood’s WHIP is 2.00 – 7H, 3BB in 5 IP. That’s too many baserunners.
2 earned in 5, though saying earned is a stretch. He battled, I’ll give him that.
Puig with 1 decent ball in play. It takes patience watching him.
1 hit through 6. But still in it.
Badger
I guess Roberts is conceding a loss. I would have brought Howie and Trayce in the game.
Agone looks tired, and he even had a couple unlike Agone at bats. But Heyward should have been out at home.
And Wood got in Agone’s way, of really throwing home. Wood got off the mound, just in time, to block Agone. But he couldn’t make it to first, or keep his pitch count down. And I saw one of Cory’s worse at bats today. I guess they will get them, tomorrow.
1 hit through 8. Offensive jugger not.
Badger
I hope Roberts doesn’t put a bunch of left handers, in the game tomorrow, against Arrieta.
Because they say that right handers, hit better against Arrieta, so he has reverse numbers.
And that is what Mattingly did last year, when they were no hit.
Well the Cubbies were not to impressive today either. Without Puig’s error, they didn’t do to much either.
Love HK.
.291 career avg
.234 now
How many games in his 11 year career has he entered a game hitting below .250?
How many of those games have been this year?
How many times did Howie get signed late by a team, in the free agent market. Then get hurt twice in spring training, and not be able to be in the opening week of the season. And actually, he has brought his average up a lot, in the last three weeks.