Pregame – Page 14 – Dodger Thoughts

NL ERA race hotter than Southern California

On September 11, 2015

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
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.

Joe Wieland to start for Dodgers tonight

By Jon Weisman

On September 9, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

Dodgers at Angels, 7:05 p.m.
Scott Schebler, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Austin Barnes, C
(Joe Wieland, P)

By Jon Weisman

Shifting gears in their starting rotation, the Dodgers have chosen to have Joe Wieland make his second start of the season tonight against the Angels.

Mat Latos, who had originally been penciled in for the start, has neck stiffness, the Dodgers said.

Wieland led Triple-A Oklahoma City during the regular season with 113 2/3 innings, getting one more out than Zach Lee, who starts Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League American Conference best-of-five finals tonight against Round Rock. Wieland had a 4.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in Triple-A, allowing seven homers while striking out 92.

Via #Dodgers beat writers … upcoming Dodger rotation:
Friday: Wood
Saturday: Bolsinger
Sunday: Greinke
Monday: Kershaw
Tuesday: Anderson

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 9, 2015

In his only Major League start this season, Wieland allowed two two-run homers before getting an out in the first inning at Milwaukee on May 6. He ultimately lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two. Wieland told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com after the game that he couldn’t locate his fastball and began using his changeup in the second inning.

Traded to the Dodgers in the Yasmani Grandal deal last winter, Wieland had Tommy John surgery in July 2012 and returned to action 368 days ago.

“I was full go the whole time,” he told Dodger Insider in January. “My UCL, the graft they put in, never had any issues. It was the back of the elbow that I was having problems with. Fortunately, we were able to find out what was wrong and take care of that, but I never had any issues of concern, being a little conservative, trying to hold back.”

Also in tonight’s lineup: Scott Schebler (4 for 10 with a homer and two steals) becomes the Dodgers’ 10th leadoff hitter of the season, and Austin Barnes (.350 on-base percentage in 20 plate appearances) is making his sixth start for Los Angeles.

Dodger leadoff hitters in '15: Pederson (68 games), Rollins (52), Puig (7), Hernandez (5), Crawford (2), Turner, Heisey, Barney, Ruggiano.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 8, 2015

Clayton Kershaw pursuing first career innings title

By Jon Weisman

On September 8, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Angels, 7:05 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXVII: Kershawcean’s 11
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Alex Guerrero, DH
Chris Heisey, CF
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

Given his many accomplishments and reputation as a workhorse, it’s hard to believe that Clayton Kershaw has never led the National League in innings pitched. The 2015 season could change all that.

Entering tonight’s start against the Angels, Kershaw has 194 innings to his name, with a chance to extend his slim lead over teammate Zack Greinke (192 2/3), Chicago’s Jake Arrieta (191), Washington’s Max Scherzer (190) and San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner (188 2/3).

In recent years, Kershaw has lost NL innings-pitched titles to Johnny Cueto (2014), Adam Wainwright (2013), R.A. Dickey (2012) and Chris Carpenter (2011). Kershaw never had a chance in 2014 after missing all of April with an injury, but he fell short the previous three years by six innings or less each time.

Kershaw needs at least seven innings tonight to take over the MLB lead in innings from Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, in what figures to be a game of leapfrog until the end of the season.

* * *

Yasmani Grandal just told reporters that his MRI “showed inflammation and fluid in his left shoulder,” that he would have to play with for the rest of the season, according to Bill Plunkett of the Register.

However, Grandal added that he hoped to return by this weekend’s series at Arizona.

With Angels lefty Andrew Heaney on the mound, the Dodgers are going with a right-handed-hitting outfield of Justin Ruggiano, Chris Heisey and Scott Van Slyke, along with Alex Guerrero at DH. Adrian Gonzalez and Corey Seager are the only lefties in the lineup, as Jimmy Rollins takes another day to nurse an injured knuckle on his right hand. X-rays were negative on the finger.

Dodger leadoff hitters in '15: Pederson (68 games), Rollins (52), Puig (7), Hernandez (5), Crawford (2), Turner, Heisey, Barney, Ruggiano.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 8, 2015

Rollins, Grandal both in question

By Jon Weisman

On September 7, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Dodgers at Angels, 6:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
(Zack Greinke, P)

By Jon Weisman

Don Mattingly told reporters today that Yasmani Grandal’s shoulder is bothering him again, and that Jimmy Rollins is having X-rays on a finger on this throwing hand that was hurt in a slide during Sunday’s 5-1 victory over San Diego.

Grandal was originally in tonight’s starting lineup against the Angels before being scratched. He will be examined anew, and A.J. Ellis will start.

Results from Rollins’ X-rays are hoped for by tonight. Corey Seager, 5 for 15 with two doubles and a stolen base as a Dodger, will make his fourth Dodger start.

One piece of good injury news: Jose Peraza told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com that his hamstring was healed and he was able to play.

Mattingly also said that Mat Latos will start the third game of the series against the Angels, after Greinke tonight and Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday. Mike Bolsinger might get another start this weekend at Arizona.

The Dodgers enter tonight’s game with a season-high lead of eight games in the National League West, after San Francisco’s 6-1 loss at Arizona this afternoon.

Dodgers add Chris Heisey to roster, designate Daniel Coulombe for assignment

By Jon Weisman

On September 6, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

Chris Heisey has been brought back to the big leagues by the Dodgers, who designated reliever Daniel Coulombe for assignment.

Heisey went 3 for 8 after rejoining Triple-A Oklahoma City with a double and a home run. For the season, Heisey has a .350 on-base percentage and a .445 slugging percentage in the minors. As a Dodger, he has gone 5 for 26 with eight walks.

Coulombe has a 3.27 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings for Oklahoma City this season and a 6.39 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 12 2/3 career innings with the Dodgers.

* * *

Justin Turner is making his third start of the season, 10th as a Dodger and 103rd of his career at second base to give Chase Utley a day off after Utley took a hard slide in Saturday’s game. Don Mattingly also told reporters today he expects to start Turner at first base Monday against the Angels, while Adrian Gonzalez plays designated hitter.

Yasmani Grandal fights through slump

By Jon Weisman

On September 5, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Padres, 5:40 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers are having Yasmani Grandal play out of his current slump.

An All-Star this season, Grandal had a .913 OPS on August 1. Since then, he is 3 for 52 with 10 walks. Since his last hit on August 16, Grandal is 0 for 30 with six walks and 15 strikeouts.

Don Mattingly has maintained that Grandal, while struggling, is healthy and that the team has confidence he can get on a roll at any time.

Seager is Dodgers’ youngest No. 5 hitter since Beltre

By Jon Weisman

On September 4, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, 3B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Schebler, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

Scott Schebler and Corey Seager are each making their second career starts tonight for the Dodgers, who continue to weather the longer absences of Yasiel Puig and Kiké Hernandez and the shorter ones of Andre Ethier and Jose Peraza.

Ethier, who fouled a ball off his knee Wednesday, and Peraza, who has been sidelined by hamstring tightness since Tuesday, are expected back to game action soon. Second baseman Howie Kendrick is also close to a return. But Puig and Hernandez look like they’ll be out until close to the end of the regular season.

The result is an interesting lineup that features Chase Utley (.752 OPS as a Dodger, six homers in 2015) batting cleanup and Seager, who wears No. 5, hitting fifth.

At 21 years and 130 days, Seager is the youngest Dodger to start a game batting fifth since Adrian Beltre in 2000. Before Beltre, the last Dodger this young to bat fifth in the starting lineup was Derrell Griffith in 1964.

Corey Seager has arrived

By Jon Weisman

On September 3, 2015

In Pregame, Transactions

Corey Seager has OPSed .891 in his minor-league career (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Mat Latos, P

By Jon Weisman

The most anticipated minor-league prospect in baseball, Corey Seager, is coming to the Major Leagues.

Three years and three months after being taken 18th overall in the 2012 draft, the 21-year-old Seager has been added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster from Triple-A Oklahoma City and is joining the team in San Diego. Seager will wear uniform No. 5.

The Dodgers have also recalled reliever Yimi Garcia, who has a 0.99 WHIP with 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Garcia last pitched for the big-league team August 21. To make room for Seager on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated Oklahoma City infielder Andy Wilkins (18 homers, .779 OPS) for assignment.

Though fans have clamored for him for months, it’s still a fast track for Seager, who began last season at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. He reached Double-A Chattanooga by July 2014, then moved from Double-A Tulsa — where his OPS was 1.082 — to Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 1.

The Dodgers’ 2014 co-Minor League Player of the Year didn’t overwhelm the Pacific Coast League, delivering a .331 on-base percentage and .450 slugging percentage, but he had a strong finishing kick. In his final 12 games, he went 16 for 53 with six doubles, a triple and three home runs, for a .351 on-base percentage and .623 slugging percentage.

Seager is three days older than Jose Peraza, the youngest Dodger position player since Adrian Beltre.

In the minors this season, Seager has started 103 games at shortstop and 19 games at third base, so he can provide depth at two positions where the Dodgers could use it, as well as another left-handed bat off the bench, something that is always an issue for the Dodgers now that Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford are both starting against righties.

Seager is the No. 2 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, behind Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, who was called up in June. The Dodgers could arrange for him to be put on a postseason roster if they so choose, by virtue of being in the organization on August 31.

When he takes the field in the starting lineup tonight, Seager will also be the 54th player the Dodgers have used this season, breaking a franchise record set in 1944 and matched in 1998.

Corey Seager on how much sleep he got last night. "None. I looked up at the wall all night." Slept on the plane a little bit on way to SD.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 3, 2015

Dodgers recall Scott Schebler

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2015

In Minor leagues, Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXVI: Kershawk in the Woods
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Scott Schebler, who survived Triple-A Oklahoma City’s 19-inning game Tuesday, is the latest player to be recalled by the Dodgers.

Schebler had a .322 on-base percentage and .410 slugging percentage this year in the minors. He went 1 for 3 on June 5 in first only big-league game this year, and provides an extra left-handed bat off the bench.

The 24-year-old walked three times in the opening game of what became a 26-inning doubleheader in Oklahoma City. Relief pitcher Daniel Coulombe escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 19th inning, then singled with two out in the bottom of the 19th and scored the winning run on Buck Britton’s walkoff home run.

Then in the second game, Ramon Troncoso was forced to spot start and pitched four innings. Deck McGuire, who began the night in Double-A Tulsa, was told to drive over to Oklahoma City for a mid-evening promotion, and pitched three innings in the second game for the win.

By the way, Justin Ruggiano on Tuesday became the 53rd person to play for the Dodgers this year, tying a franchise record from 1944 and 1998.

Justin Ruggiano starts in Dodger debut

By Jon Weisman

On September 1, 2015

In Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”123486083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Jose Peraza, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Justin Ruggiano, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Zack Greinke, P
Joc Pederson, CF

By Jon Weisman

Tonight, Justin Ruggiano plays his first game for the Dodgers, more than 11 years after they drafted him. His reward — a Los Angeles debut against Madison Bumgarner.

In trying to find a winning combination against Bumgarner, who is undefeated against the Dodgers this year, the outfield has been is a bit of a riddle. Though there has been occasional on-base success, no Dodger outfielder has a run or an RBI against the Giants ace in 2015:

Andre Ethier, 1 for 1
Alex Guerrero, 1 for 7
Chris Heisey, 0 for 2 with a walk
Kiké Hernandez, 2 for 4 (one double)
Joc Pederson, 1 for 6 (double)
Yasiel Puig, 1 for 3 with a walk
Scott Van Slyke, 3 for 10

Hernandez and Puig, of course, are on the disabled list. Guerrero did hit a two-run home run off Bumgarner as a pinch-hitter, but is 6 for 49 with no walks since July 1.

And while Ethier has emerged as the Dodgers most productive outfielder, that has become almost exclusively against right-handed pitching. He has a .515 OPS vs. lefties this year, and has not OPSed above .650 against southpaws since 2008.

Will Ruggiano do any better? Well, hitting lefties is his calling card — an .835 OPS in 488 career plate appearances, including .823 for Seattle in 43 plate appearances this season.

In nearly the smallest of sample sizes, Ruggiano (pictured at right with the Dodgers’ Double-A team in Jacksonville in 2006) has thrived against Bumgarner, with a single, homer and two walks — along with one precious “reached on catcher’s interference” — in six plate appearances.

Another right-handed hitter Don Mattingly likes against Bumgarner? Zack Greinke. This is the second time this year that Mattingly is batting his starting pitcher eighth, but the first time that he means business with it. Yimi Garcia batted eighth July 6 in a game the Dodgers knew they would use a pinch-hitter for him.

Greinke is 0 for 2 lifetime against Bumgarner, and has a .629 lifetime OPS against lefties. Don’t expect miracles: As Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. noted, though this is a matchup of the past two Silver Slugger winners, neither has allowed a single hit to a pitcher in 2015.

If anything, the Dodgers need to worry about Bumgarner, who is also batting eighth. Bumgarner has five home runs and an .810 OPS in what is the greatest hitting season for a pitcher since Carlos Zambrano in 2011.

Update: Hernandez to DL, Barnes activated, Bolsinger, Thomas, Peralta to join roster Tuesday

By Jon Weisman

On August 31, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Austin Barnes (Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

Austin Barnes, Mike Bolsinger, Ian Thomas and Joel Peralta are set to be the first additions the Dodgers make Tuesday when the active roster limit expands to 40 players, Don Mattingly confirmed to reporters today.

Barnes today was named to the all-Pacific Coast League team at catcher, honoring a season in which he has a .389 on-base percentage and .479 slugging percentage for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Barnes has nine homers, 12 steals (in 14 attempts), 35 walks and 36 strikeouts. As a Dodger this year, he is 4 for 15 with two walks.

Bolsinger is coming off seven innings of shutout ball with 11 strikeouts Saturday against El Paso. In 46 2/3 innings with Oklahoma City this season, he has a 2.31 ERA with 61 strikeouts, complimenting his 2.83 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 89 innings for the Dodgers.

Thomas finishes his minor-league season with a 4.19 ERA for three different teams, with 58 strikeouts in 58 innings. In the Majors this year, his ERA is 4.11 with Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Peralta, who went on the disabled list with a right neck strain August 11 for the second time this year, made three rehab appearances in the past week for Double-A Tulsa, retiring all nine batters he faced. He has a 5.40 ERA in 25 innings this season for the Dodgers.

Julio Urias, Corey Seager and Jharel Cotton, who are all in Triple-A tonight, will not join the Dodgers on Tuesday, and no statement has been made about if/when they might be added to the 40-man roster.

Update: Kiké Hernandez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, joining Howie Kendrick and Yasiel Puig. Barnes has been activated to take his roster spot.

Dodgers hope everything’s jake against Arrieta

By Jon Weisman

On August 30, 2015

In Pregame

Cubs at Dodgers, 5:08 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Kiké Hernandez, 3B
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Jake Arrieta might be the top National League Cy Young Award contender outside of Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. But if the Dodgers can top him tonight, they’ll have a 4 1/2-game lead in the NL West, which would be their biggest since July 12.

San Francisco, which lost to St. Louis today for the second consecutive time this weekend, arrives in Los Angeles on Monday for a highly anticipated three-game series.

Arrieta has a 2.22 ERA, putting him in second place in the NL between Greinke (1.61) and Kershaw (2.24). The 29-year-old righty is fourth in the NL in wins above replacement (4.9), behind Kershaw (6.6), Greinke (5.1) and the slumping Max Scherzer (4.9). In xFIP, Arrieta is in second place behind Kershaw.

Like Kershaw, Arrieta has heated up with the heat. He has a 1.17 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 92 innings since June 21, and in fact, enters tonight’s game as the frontrunner for NL Pitcher of the Month honors (33 1/3 innings, two earned runs, 0.54 ERA, 31 strikeouts).

The Dodgers counter with Alex Wood, who has allowed 27 hits with 14 walks in 29 innings as a Dodger. Wood allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings in his last start.

A win tonight would also tie the Dodgers with the Cubs for the third-best record in the NL: 73-56.

* * *

Kiké Hernandez is getting his first official start for the Dodgers at third base tonight. Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. beat me to the punch on this, so I’ll just crib from him: Hernandez is the first Dodger to start at second, short, third and all three outfield positions in the same year since Bobby Valentine in 1972.

Hernandez’s experience at third has been limited to 14 2/3 Major League innings and 25 minor-league games, but he has taken grounders there during the season and played there in winter ball, according to Don Mattingly.

Since July 24, Hernandez has a .397 batting average, .443 on-base percentage and .589 slugging percentage.

Hernandez will be batting behind Joc Pederson, whom as ESPN’s Buster Olney pointed out, is on the verge of a unique month in baseball history. No player with at least 20 walks in any calendar month has had fewer than the seven hits by Roger Maris in August 1959, but with two games to go in August 2015, Pederson is at 21 walks and five hits.

Maris went 7 for 79 with 20 walks in August 1959, at age 24. That winter, he would be traded to the Yankees, for whom he would win American League Most Valuable Player awards in 1960 and 1961, hitting 100 home runs.

Mat Latos looks to renew success against Cubs

By Jon Weisman

On August 29, 2015

In Pregame

Cubs at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Jose Peraza, 2B
Mat Latos, P

By Jon Weisman

Mat Latos makes his fourth start for the Dodgers tonight, and first since August 13.

Latos’ first outing for Los Angeles was solid in how he allowed only one run over six innings August 2 to the Angels, but that was with one strikeout. That was followed by a strikeout-free four innings August 8 at Pittsburgh.

Against the Reds on August 13, Latos struck out seven and allowed no hits in the first two innings, but Cincinnati racked up five runs (four earned) and seven hits over the next 2 2/3 frames to knock Latos out.

Pitching against the Cubs on July 5 while still with Miami, Latos threw seven innings of one-hit ball, walking two, hitting one and striking out seven.

Yasiel Puig placed on disabled list, Peraza recalled

By Jon Weisman

On August 28, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Cubs at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXV: Kershawgmalion
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Even with rosters expanding in four days, obviating the need to use the disabled list, the Dodgers are convinced enough that Yasiel Puig’s latest hamstring injury will sideline him for long enough to put him on the 15-day disabled list.

Rather than play a man down between now and Tuesday, the Dodgers have called up infielder-outfielder Jose Peraza, who has a .316 on-base percentage and .378 slugging percentage in Triple-A this year, in addition to having a walk and a triple in seven plate appearances for the Dodgers this month.

The timing for Puig’s injury is a drag, considering that he has a .975 OPS over his past 12 games and also keeps opposing baserunners at bay with his arm.

Grandal returns, but Ellis could play more down stretch

By Jon Weisman

On August 27, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Reds, 9:35 a.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Yasmani Grandal is back in the starting lineup for the first time since Saturday, but as Pedro Moura of the Register wrote, Grandal’s left shoulder isn’t 100 percent.

With A.J. Ellis three months into a hot streak off the bench, Grandal himself indicated that Ellis might play more than the typical one or two games per week as the season heads into September.

“A.J.’s doing a great job behind home plate,” Grandal told Moura. “Why not give him a shot at playing more games in a row, getting him a little more comfortable back there on back-to-back days? You never know what can happen.”

No one’s looking to put Grandal out to pasture, especially if he can heal up. According to Fangraphs, the 26-year-old is No. 4 among Major League catchers in wins above replacement and is tops among everyday catchers in offense. He has a .383 on-base percentage and .471 slugging percentage, despite going 3 for his last 30 (with five walks).

But after two seasons of injury-plagued decline, Ellis has been reborn at age 34. His .736 OPS in 2015 is his best since 2012, and from May 26 through August 26, he has a .435 OBP while slugging .521, including a homer, single and walk in Wednesday’s 7-4 win over the Reds.

“I don’t know if it was just health, or bad swing mechanics,” Ellis said in explaining his surge to Moura. “I was hitting a lot of ground balls to the left side of the infield on pitches I should have traditionally stayed up the middle on or hit the other way. I worked hard on staying up the middle.”

Given their side-by-side success, we should see the Dodgers be able to take advantage of Grandal and Ellis not only down the stretch but if they reach the playoffs, especially given how often in their friendly partnership Grandal has caught Zack Greinke while Ellis has caught Clayton Kershaw.

It doesn’t hurt that in his postseason career, Ellis is hitting .386/.481/.682 for a 1.163 OPS in 53 plate appearances (yes, small sample size warning). He has a 10-game hitting streak in the playoffs and has a hit in all but one of his 14 career playoff games.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Pregame (Page 14 of 32)

NL ERA race hotter than Southern California

Joe Wieland to start for Dodgers tonight

Clayton Kershaw pursuing first career innings title

Rollins, Grandal both in question

Dodgers add Chris Heisey to roster, designate Daniel Coulombe for assignment

Yasmani Grandal fights through slump

Seager is Dodgers’ youngest No. 5 hitter since Beltre

Corey Seager has arrived

Dodgers recall Scott Schebler

Justin Ruggiano starts in Dodger debut

Update: Hernandez to DL, Barnes activated, Bolsinger, Thomas, Peralta to join roster Tuesday

Dodgers hope everything’s jake against Arrieta

Mat Latos looks to renew success against Cubs

Yasiel Puig placed on disabled list, Peraza recalled

Grandal returns, but Ellis could play more down stretch

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