Pitching – Page 4 – Dodger Thoughts

Dodger pitching continues to play numbers game

On August 6, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching, Pregame, Transactions

Scott Kazmir allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings during the Dodgers’ 9-0 loss Friday to Boston.

Red Sox at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernández, CF
Josh Reddick, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Ross Stripling, P

By Jon Weisman

Brandon McCarthy will start Sunday on four days’ rest after all, with the Dodgers postponing the anticipated activation of Rich Hill from the disabled list.

Dave Roberts told reporters today that Hill remains day to day because of remnants of a blister on a different part of his finger than the one that sent him to the DL in July.

McCarthy has thrown a total of seven innings over his past two starts, averaging 84 pitches.

Bud Norris was officially placed on the disabled list (retroactive to August 1), and Ross Stripling was officially promoted to start today’s game.

In 34 innings this month, the Dodgers have used 13 pitchers, with none pitching more than twice. Stripling will be their 14th pitcher in August, and Grant Dayton, recalled Thursday from Triple-A Oklahoma City, could soon be No. 15.

No reliever has thrown more than three innings in the past five days. Until things stabilize, Dodger pitching might continue to resemble a series of line changes that incorporate additions and subtractions from the minors and the DL.

Within the next two weeks, that could include the return of Brett Anderson, Louis Coleman, Casey Fien, Adam Liberatore, Hill and Norris from the disabled list. Jose De Leon, scheduled to pitch tonight for Triple-A Oklahoma City, is among those who continue to lurk in the minors. It’s not out of the question that the Dodgers will use 20 different pitchers in August alone.

Stripling, Hill projected to start this weekend

By Jon Weisman

On August 5, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Ross Stripling is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start Saturday against the Red Sox, with Rich Hill projected to make his Dodger debut Sunday, according to Dodger manager Dave Roberts.

Starting pitching remains in flux for Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On August 2, 2016

In Pitching

Rich Hill today met reporters for the first time as a Dodger.

By Jon Weisman

Though newly acquired left-hander Rich Hill is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, he will likely make a rehab start before his Dodger debut, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Hill threw a bullpen session today, and said his finger blister was much improved, according to Gurnick. He hasn’t recorded an out since July 7, when he struck out 10 in six innings for Oakland in a 3-1 victory over Houston.

The Dodgers are also giving an extra day of rest to Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir, who were originally scheduled to start Wednesday and Thursday at Colorado. Maeda will start Thursday, with Kazmir taking the mound Friday against Boston. Kazmir remained in Los Angeles rather than making the trip to Colorado.

Also in Los Angeles is Bud Norris, who left his Sunday start after two batters because of right lat soreness. Norris is receiving back treatment, and the hope is that he would start Saturday for the Dodgers, though nothing is definite.

Thinking out loud: If MLB games were seven innings

By Jon Weisman

On July 13, 2016

In Pitching, Thinking out loud

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Every now and then, your brain takes you to some weird places.

Most of the time, mine thinks about baseball … which can also lead you to some weird places.

For a few years now, I’ve nursed this feeling that sometime in the distant future, Major League Baseball games would be reduced from nine to seven innings. I don’t really think this will ever happen, but there’s a logic to it.

It’s in part because pace-of-play rule changes are fighting an uphill battle against baseball’s evolutionary elongation. (MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday compared the challenge of eliminating the issue to “dandelions in your front lawn.”)

A double inning-ectomy would lop a good 40 minutes or so off the average game, taking them back into the sub-2:30 range that seems to have been the sport’s sweet spot. This would be particularly handy in the postseason, helping more fans see a fantastic finish before midnight.

To be sure, not everyone’s in a hurry to leave the ballpark — certainly not my friendly colleagues here at Dodger Stadium trying to sell food, drink and merchandise — which is probably reason enough to end this conversation.

But the best reason for the seven-inning game is that it’s just getting harder and harder to cobble together the pitching to get 27 outs or more each game.

Ryu feels no pain after start, looks to increase velocity

By Jon Weisman

On July 7, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Hyun-Jin Ryu said after tonight’s big-league comeback start that he felt no problems physically with his surgically repaired shoulder, and is focusing on improving the results.

“Overall, I felt really great, (though) I gave up the runs,” Ryu said. “My shoulder felt great. I didn’t see any issues.”

“As I threw more, I was feeling better mentally,” he added. “I don’t think there were any uncomfortable pitches. I was pretty much happy with my control. … I just have to get better. ”

Ryu conceded that he is hoping his fastball speed will increase as he gets more work in.

“Compared to when I was healthy, of course my velocity is a little down,” he said. “Again, as I play more games, I think (I’ll improve).”

Seeing Ryu take a Major League mound again “was a victory in itself,” Dave Roberts said.

Clayton Kershaw heads to 15-day disabled list

By Jon Weisman

On June 30, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching, Transactions

Clayton Kershaw pitches to Bryce Harper on June 20. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw will finish the first half of the 2016 MLB season on the 15-day disabled list, Dave Roberts told reporters today.

Roberts said before today’s game in Milwaukee that Kershaw received an epidural in his lower back Wednesday after flying back early to Los Angeles. The Dodgers have not yet chosen who will take his scheduled Friday start, though Carlos Frias is a leading internal candidate if the Dodgers essentially decide to make it a bullpen game. A roster move has not officially been announced.

How the Dodgers’ starting rotation is like the family from the 1994-2000 Fox television series ‘Party of Five’

By Jon Weisman

On June 29, 2016

In Pitching, Television

By Jon Weisman

How the Dodgers’ starting rotation is like the family from the 1994-2000 Fox television series ‘Party of Five’ …

Clayton Kershaw = Charlie Salinger: Older than his years, young by any other reasonable standard, Clayton/Charlie is the unquestioned leader. Everybody loves him. Everybody wants him. This rotation/family could thrive or dive depending on his presence, and fans will be in awe over his always perfect amount of facial hair. But on rare occasions when even he needs a lift, we turn to the rest of the clan.

Strasburg-Kershaw showdown at Dodger Stadium

By Jon Weisman

On June 20, 2016

In Pitching, Pregame

Matt Hazlett (Getty Images)/Jill Weisleder (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCLVII: Kershawriots of Fire
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Here on this broiling first day of summer, Dodger Stadium showcases a red-hot pitching duel between Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg is in his seventh big-league season, and he’s on his way to it being his finest: 2.90 ERA (2.83 FIP), 1.07 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Kershaw, of course, has redefined remarkable: 1.58 ERA (1.64 FIP), 0.66 WHIP and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, plus that majestic 19.0 strikeout-walk ratio.

So far, the Nationals and Dodgers are each 13-1 when Strasburg and Kershaw start this season.

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Tonight’s starting pitcher, Julio Urías, has thrown 58 professional innings this season. Dave Roberts said Thursday that the plan was to give Urias two more starts, then evaluate.

Most interpreted this as Roberts saying that Urías would be shut down in the manner of Ross Stripling, who hasn’t pitched in a game since May. To be clear, though, that wasn’t stated explicitly by Roberts, who simply said, “we’ll go from there.”

Last year, Urías threw 80 1/3, and the year before, a career-high 87 2/3. Even in the unlikely event of two complete games, Urías would still be at 76 innings on the year. Two six-inning outings would put Urías at 70. Presumably, Urías can go incrementally above the 80-plus inning range that he has previously reached.

So the question would be whether it makes sense to use all those innings now, while the Dodgers wait for the return of Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood from the disabled list (and longer down the road, Brett Anderson). Or do they have Urías take the break, and the ramp him up again in the second half of the season, when the rotation might be more crowded — not that there couldn’t be other setbacks.

Late-inning dominance: Jansen and Kershaw

By Jon Weisman

On May 19, 2016

In Pitching

Photos: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Here’s a fun comparison* between arguably baseball’s best closer, Kenley Jansen, and baseball’s best starter, Clayton Kershaw.

In the late innings (i.e., after the sixth), they have both been brilliant — and nearly identical.

*partially inspired by Jayson Stark’s ESPN.com column, which names Kershaw the best National League pitcher of the quarter-season.

We’re getting more Clayton Kershaw than ever before

By Jon Weisman

On May 17, 2016

In Pitching, Pregame

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCLI: Dankershawoen
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Howie Kendrick, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Trayce Thompson, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

By one measure, Clayton Kershaw never worked harder in than he did in 2010.

Then 22, Kershaw averaged 106 pitches per start, which remains his career high.

Now 28, Kershaw is on pace to throw approximately 270 innings, which would be 44 more than his previous high total.

But Kershaw isn’t exerting himself more. He isn’t throwing more pitches. He is currently averaging 105 pitches per start, which is completely in line with what he’s done throughout his career.

If anything (with the caveat that no one should question how hard he is working), Kershaw’s days at the office are easier, because he’s averaging a career-low 13.5 pitches per inning.

Alex Wood: The most extreme home-road Dodger

By Jon Weisman

On May 15, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

You might be aware that Alex Wood’s home-road splits as a Dodger are poles apart, but we’re not talking your typical North and South Poles. We’re talking the North Pole on Earth and the South Pole on Neptune.

How so?

No starting pitcher in Los Angeles Dodger history has a lower home ERA than Wood’s 2.00 in eight starts.
One starting pitcher* in Los Angeles Dodger history has a higher road ERA than Wood’s 6.79 ERA in 11 starts.

If you include Wood’s time with Atlanta, he has a career 1.78 ERA at Dodger Stadium — a full five runs better than what he’s done on the road as a Dodger.

So yeah, Wood comes across as a wee bit happy to pitch at Chavez Ravine (if also a wee bit inconsistent overall). The formula gets put to the test in tonight’s 5 p.m. game against St. Louis. For the second time in his Dodger career, the 25-year-old Wood is making a second consecutive start at home.

Starting pitching notebook: Kershaw, Kazmir, Stripling, Ryu

By Jon Weisman

On April 26, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching

Scott Kazmir and Clayton Kershaw (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw has thrown at least seven innings in each of his four starts this season, and the Dodgers would love for him to make it a fifth.

It would be going too far to say they need him to, but … it sure would be nice.

Of the Dodgers’ 20 games this season, starting pitchers have gone at least six innings 11 times — twice in the past seven games.

“I think those guys would be the first to tell you, we’ve got to get length,” Dave Roberts said. “Obviously, we came from (three games in) Denver, but I think to win a lot of games and to go deep in the postseason, we can’t beat up our pen, and so that starts with the starting pitching.

“Last night, I tried to get a little extra length with Ross (Stripling), and unfortunately in the sixth inning they scored a run, but I’ve kind of got to think about the pen usage as well as trying to win that night. There’s that fine balance, certainly.”

Kershaw is making his final start of April tonight. If he completes five innings, he would become the first Dodger starting pitcher to average at least seven innings per start in April since Derek Lowe in 2005. (He’s also on pace to post the highest April strikeout-walk ratio for a Dodger starting pitcher in history: 10.0.)

Next after Kershaw comes Scott Kazmir, who has been bothered somewhat by a sore left thumb and wrist. Kazmir through off flat ground today and is ready to make his scheduled start Wednesday.

“Kaz is a pro,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t want to use it as an excuse, but when you’ve got the wrist-thumb thing, it’s kind of hard for him to get on top of the baseball, so I think he was getting a little outside and under it. So just now even watching him play catch, he was kind of getting the extention he needed and the ball was coming out really well, so I do think it’ll make a big difference.”

Maeda, Stripling to join rare group of 26-and-older starting pitchers to debut with Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On April 6, 2016

In History, Pitching, Pregame

Hideo Nomo and Kaz Ishii each pitched shutout ball in their Dodger debuts.

Dodgers at Padres, 6:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Kenta Maeda, who turns 28 on Monday, tonight will be the 18th Dodger starting pitcher in the past 100 years to make his Major League debut at age 26 or above.

And 48 hours later, barring anything unforeseen, 26-year-old Ross Stripling will become the 19th in that group on Friday.

That list includes such Asian pitchers as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Hiroki Kuroda, Kazuhisa Ishii and Hideo Nomo, who combined to pitch 24 innings and allow only two runs while striking out 26.

Kazmir matches Kershaw with one-hit start

By Jon Weisman

On April 5, 2016

In Midgame, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Scott Kazmir certainly likes to make a good first impression. And Dodger starting pitchers this season like to make good impressions twice over.

Echoing the season-opening seven innings of one-hit shutout pitching by Clayton Kershaw on Monday, Kazmir stymied the San Diego Padres in his debut performance as a Dodger with six innings of one-hit shutout ball tonight, handing a 3-0 lead to the Dodger bullpen.

Kazmir all but duplicated his seven innings of one-hit shutout ball in his own 2015 season debut. Though he pitched one fewer inning this evening, he walked none.

The only hit off Kazmir was an infield single by Cory Spangenberg near second base in the first inning. The 32-year-old lefty retired the final 17 batters he faced, finishing his night on 75 pitches.

Kazmir mixed in changeups as slow as 72 mph, but finished his night with 91 mph fastballs to strike out Melvin Upton Jr. and Jon Jay in the sixth.

In two nights, Dodger starting pitchers have thrown 13 shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out 14.

“A lot was made of his spring,” Roberts said of Kazmir, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, “but he knew what it took to get ready for a Major League season. The fastball, the cutter, he threw great changeups tonight. He really executed the scouting report. I couldn’t have scripted it any better.”

Said Kazmir (via Gurnick): “I just wanted to have a good start to the season, get outs early and get us to the dugout as quick as possible. Location was the key, being able to get ahead. I was happy with my fastball location and worked the other pitches off that.”

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Category: Pitching (Page 4 of 16)

Dodger pitching continues to play numbers game

Stripling, Hill projected to start this weekend

Starting pitching remains in flux for Dodgers

Thinking out loud: If MLB games were seven innings

Ryu feels no pain after start, looks to increase velocity

Clayton Kershaw heads to 15-day disabled list

How the Dodgers’ starting rotation is like the family from the 1994-2000 Fox television series ‘Party of Five’

Strasburg-Kershaw showdown at Dodger Stadium

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

Late-inning dominance: Jansen and Kershaw

We’re getting more Clayton Kershaw than ever before

Alex Wood: The most extreme home-road Dodger

Starting pitching notebook: Kershaw, Kazmir, Stripling, Ryu

Maeda, Stripling to join rare group of 26-and-older starting pitchers to debut with Dodgers

Kazmir matches Kershaw with one-hit start

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