By Miranda Perez
Here are a few highlights from Tuesday the Dodger farm system, including one outing where the hits stopped coming:
Month: August 2016 (Page 5 of 8)
All the way up. #ZeroGamesBack pic.twitter.com/x0V8UXvkN8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2016
NL West standings after games of June 26
By Jon Weisman
Eighty-five games after they last held the lead, 41 games after Clayton Kershaw last held the mound, the Dodgers have returned to first place in the National League West.
Three hours after the Dodgers pounded the Phillies, 15-5, San Francisco put runners on second and third with one out in the ninth inning but fell to Pittsburgh, 4-3, giving Los Angeles a view atop the division for the first time since May 10.
The bookends? Home runs by Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who hit two off Kenta Maeda on May 11 to knock the Dodgers into second place. Tonight in Arizona, Syndergaard hit his third homer of the year, heralding the Dodgers’ re-ascension.
Since June 26, the Dodgers have gone 25-16 (.610), while the Giants are 17-25 (.405).
The Dodgers have 44 games to play, and nine of them — more than 20 percent — against the Giants.
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By Jon Weisman
In every other way, this was Chase Utley’s night. He was welcomed home by his longtime fans in Philadelphia with a prolonged standing ovation. He homered — against the Phillies — and they begged him for a curtain call. He hit a grand slam, and the begged him for another.
But in one very specific way, tonight was about the fact that we are in the midst of one of the most meaningful stretches of Howie Kendrick’s 11-year MLB career.
The Dodger Insider cover guy ripped a mammoth two-run homer to center and flipped a one-run deficit in the fifth inning, part of a 4-for-5 night in the 15-5 victory that, pending the final score of the Giants’ game against Pittsburgh tonight, put the Dodgers in a tie for first place in the National League West.
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By Jon Weisman
Fairy tales might or might not come true, unless you’re Chase Utley, in which case they certainly do.
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By Bart Harvey
Oklahoma City’s Trevor Oaks threw a three-hitter Monday in an 8-1 victory — finishing a four-game sweep by the Dodgers’ Triple-A team over El Paso.
The 23-year-old Oaks, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, notched a career-high 11 strikeouts in addition to registering his first complete game this season. The right-hander has pitched well of late, recording seven quality starts in his last eight outings with a 2.40 ERA.
Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers at Phillies, 4:05 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Kenta Maeda, P
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Kenta Maeda, P
By Jon Weisman
Casey Fien has been activated from the disabled list by the Dodgers, who optioned Brock Stewart to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the roster.
Fien went on the DL on July 19 with elbow tendonitis, following a stretch in which he allowed six runs (including four home runs) in 3 2/3 innings. Before that, Fien had a 1.96 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings as a Dodger.
Stewart allowed a run in three innings after relieving Brett Anderson in the second inning Sunday against Pittsburgh. It was Stewart’s first big-league relief appearance after two starts.
The Dodgers also released Zach Walters, who had been designated for assignment Sunday.
By Jon Weisman
The 1916 National League champion Brooklyn Superbas used 10 pitchers to throw their 1,427 1/3 innings.
The 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers used 15 pitchers to throw 54 innings last week.
Some people — even those under the age of 100, have noticed the difference.
Between now and Vin Scully Appreciation Day on September 23, the Dodgers are revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time, one at each home game. Here’s No. 19: Manny Ramirez’s pinch-hit grand slam on his Bobblehead Night.
— Jon Weisman
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Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
The third-annual Dodgers All-Access event will take place September 1 at Dodger Stadium, beginning at 5 p.m.
The evening features panel discussions with current and former Dodger players, coaches and executives. Guests will also have the opportunity to take batting practice in the Dodger batting cages, pitch in the Dodger bullpen, tour Dodger Stadium, call play-by-play action on historic Dodger moments, take photos throughout the stadium with Dodger alumni and enjoy a dinner on the infield.
Among those scheduled to take part in the panel discussions are Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner, Joc Pederson, Dave Roberts, Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi. Others set to participate in the event include Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Mickey Hatcher, Orel Hershiser, Eric Karros, Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell, Reggie Smith and Steve Yeager.
Proceeds from the event will be split between the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Council, which partners with the City of Los Angeles to bring such major sporting and entertainment events to Los Angeles as NBA All-Star Weekend, the Grammys and more.
By Jon Weisman
Howie Kendrick had one of his best weeks as a Dodger over the past seven days, going 10 for 21 with a walk, a home run and five doubles for a 1.357 OPS.
At this moment, Kendrick’s adjusted OPS for the 2016 season is 100, which is the equivalent of league average. But this has been anything but an ordinary season for Kendrick, who had to adjust to becoming the Dodgers’ primary left fielder after spending the previous 10 seasons almost entirely at second base.
In the cover story of the most recent Dodger Insider magazine, we talked to Kendrick as we detailed the transition.
“I learned a long time ago you have to put your ego and your pride on the backburner and just go out and play,” said Kendrick, who already has met or exceeded his 2015 totals in doubles, walks and stolen bases. “Because all that matters is, is your team going to win the game? What can you do to help your team win that day?”
Read the entire story by clicking here.
Beginning this year, the Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand plus one in October, 13 issues total. It is distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation. Dodger Insider magazine includes news, features, analysis, photos, games, stadium information and more. Fans who still wish to subscribe can do so at dodgers.com/magazine.
Pirates at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Rob Segedin, 3B
Brett Anderson, P
Chase Utley, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Rob Segedin, 3B
Brett Anderson, P
By Jon Weisman
As expected, Brandon McCarthy has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Dodgers with right hip stiffness. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported on the likelihood of this Saturday.
Less expected is the news that reliever Josh Ravin will be joining McCarthy on the DL, because of right triceps soreness. Ravin walked two, threw a wild pitch and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning Saturday.
Those moves make room for the activation of Brett Anderson from the 60-day disabled list for today’s start, as well as the recall of Brock Stewart from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
![Image-1[83]](https://mlblogsdodgers.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/image-183.jpg)
By Jon Weisman
There are more questions about Brandon McCarthy, but at least the Dodgers had multiple answers for their two-game losing streak.
Between now and Vin Scully Appreciation Day on September 23, the Dodgers are revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time, one at each home game. Here’s No. 20: Mark McGwire hits a ball out of Dodger Stadium.
— Jon Weisman
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Pirates at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Rob Segedin, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Brandon McCarthy, P
Note: Justin Turner has been scratched with a right-hand contusion, replaced by Rob Segedin at third base.
Chase Utley, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Rob Segedin, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Brandon McCarthy, P
Note: Justin Turner has been scratched with a right-hand contusion, replaced by Rob Segedin at third base.
By Jon Weisman
Here’s a recap and look ahead at the state of Dodger pitching, based on Dave Roberts’ comments to reporters today:
- Today: Brandon McCarthy starts on five days’ rest. (A.J. Ellis, making his third start since July 28, will catch.) Bud Norris will make a rehab start of approximately 75 pitches for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
- Sunday: Brett Anderson makes his 2016 debut. At Rancho, reliever Adam Liberatore is scheduled for a rehab outing.
- Monday: While the Dodgers have a travel day, Rich Hill is likely to have a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
- Tuesday: Kenta Maeda starts the series opener in Philadelphia on six days’ rest, with Liberatore rehabbing again for Rancho.
- Wednesday: Scott Kazmir starts, also on six days’ rest.
- Thursday: This would be Ross Stripling’s turn, but according to what Roberts said today, Stripling will be available in long relief. McCarthy or Norris might make the start.
- Over the next several days, pitchers that could be optioned to make room for Anderson, Norris and Liberatore include Urias, Stripling, Grant Dayton, Josh Fields and Josh Ravin.
By Jon Weisman
Scott Kazmir went six innings. Ross Stripling went seven innings.
Suddenly, the Dodger starting rotation is starting to get more length. The only asterisk is that neither performance led to a victory.
Winning 23 of their first 36 games since Clayton Kershaw’s injury, the Dodgers have proven that starting pitching isn’t everything, and over the past two games, they’ve made that argument more perversely. Instead of winning without it, they’re losing with it.
