Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Jose Peraza, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Heisey, CF
Alex Wood, P
By Jon Weisman
A quick note before we get to today’s lengthy health recap: Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta lowered his ERA to 1.99 this afternoon. If he and Zack Greinke stay below 2.00, they’ll be the first duo to do so in the same year since Dwight Gooden (1.53) and John Tudor (1.93) in 1985.
If Clayton Kershaw (2.15) joins them, we would have the first sub-2.00 trio since Luis Tiant (1.91), Gaylord Perry (1.92) and Gary Nolan (1.99) in 1972.
Kershaw, who is next scheduled to start Monday against the Rockies, most likely has four starts left in the 2015 regular season. If he pitched a total of 24 1/3 to 28 1/3 innings, he would need to allow no more than two earned runs (0.64 ERA) to get his ERA below 2.00. If he pitched 28 2/3 to 33 innings, he could allow three runs, and if he pitched at least 33 1/3, he could allow four runs.
And now, to the Web (Gem) MD report, via manager Don Mattingly to reporters:
- Jose Peraza, who is playing tonight (batting second) for the first time since tweaking a hamstring September 1, is at 100 percent.
- With Jimmy Rollins still recovering from a finger injury, Corey Seager is making his seventh start since his callup nine days ago. As Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. noted, Peraza and Seager are the youngest starting double-play combo for the Dodgers since 1947.
- Howie Kendrick had live batting practice and ran the bases. He’s “not there yet but getting closer,” reports Bill Plunkett of the Register.
- Yasiel Puig is still feeling hamstring tightness and has not been able to resume baseball work.
- Kiké Hernandez is feeling good, but still has to get over the hump.
- Yasmani Grandal took live BP today and was hitting home runs, according to Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles.
- Mat Latos’ stiff neck is improved, but his usage as a starter will depend on matchups.
trike mout (@urbuddyhaysoos)
I don’t know if I’d say the ERA race is “hot”, only because it’s still not much of a race. It would be very surprising still if Greinke doesn’t win handily. However, I think the Cy Young race is probably as hot as it’s been all year. Greinke and Kershaw are both setting marks that haven’t been seen in a long time in ERA and strikeouts, respectively (and Kershaw is also pushing the limits of some of the advanced stats.) Arrieta isn’t by any measure the strongest candidate, but if he finishes the year with 20 wins and an ERA under 2, that will attract some voters I’m sure.
Jon Weisman
I think any time you can get two or three pitchers under 2.00, that’s hot even if Greinke still has the best chance to win.