Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Grant Dayton

Dodger bullpen runs deep heading into NLDS

Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andrew Toles, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P
Nationals
Trea Turner, CF
Bryce Harper, RF
Jayson Werth, LF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
Danny Espinosa, SS
Pedro Severino, C
Max Scherzer P

By Jon Weisman

Any Dodger game that starts with Clayton Kershaw on the mound ideally ends with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

But with seven relievers who have performed strongly down the stretch, the Dodgers can be as aggressive with their playoff bullpen as they have been in years.

Of the six relievers the Dodgers would use to preserve a lead, none had a September ERA higher than 2.00, and only Joe Blanton had a September WHIP above 1.03.

Kenley Jansen, of course, is the primary candidate for the ninth inning, and if necessary could be drawn into the eighth inning. This year, Jansen entered six games in the eighth and saved five of them.

In the set-up roles, the Dodgers can mix and match righties Joe Blanton, Pedro Báez and Josh Fields with lefties Grant Dayton and Luis Avilán, with Ross Stripling held back for extra innings.

That means even if Kershaw only goes six innings, the Dodgers could go batter-to-batter against a Washington starting lineup that goes R-L-R-L-R at the top.

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How lefty Grant Dayton found the feel in 2016

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Grant Dayton is a 28-year-old rookie who had a 9.26 for Triple-A Oklahoma City last summer.

Since then, something wicked this way came.

Making his Major League debut July 22, Dayton has a 2.05 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings for Los Angeles, putting him on everyone’s shortlist for the postseason roster. It’s not exactly something one would have easily predicted 12 months ago.

“I don’t know what happened to me last year, to be honest,” Dayton said during the Dodgers’ last homestand. “I was having a great year, and then I got traded. And then I lost feel for all my pitches. It was definitely mental, but I have no idea why it happened.

“Looking back on it, I don’t know if I’d be here if it didn’t happen.”

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Dodger momentum snapped in Philly

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers’ good-time roll hit a rock in their series finale at Philadelphia.

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González provides sock, Dodgers’ lead hops

Adrian Gonzalez connects for a three-run home run in the fourth inning. (Tom Mihalek/AP)

Adrian Gonzalez connects for a three-run home run in the fourth inning. (Tom Mihalek/AP)

By Jon Weisman

Just like Tuesday, the Dodgers erased a 1-0 midgame deficit tonight with one swing of the bat.

It’s a fine formula.

Tonight’s hero was Adrián González, who — doing his best Howie Kendrick — hit a lead-changing homer in the fourth inning, and then — doing his best Chase Utley — hit his second homer of the night in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over Philadelphia.

Los Angeles now leads the National League West by 1 1/2 games, their biggest margin since April 26. The Dodgers have gained 9 1/2 games on the Giants in 52 days.

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Big hits betray Dodgers in loss to Phillies

[mlbvideo id=”1033861483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Nothing reverses fortunes like baseball.

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Stripling passes big test in Dodgers’ shutout of Sox

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Tie game, bases loaded, two out, full count.

Sometimes, the biggest moment of the game comes in the bottom of the ninth. For Ross Stripling and the Dodgers today, it was the top of the first.

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Dodgers recall Grant Dayton, option Brock Stewart

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Left-handed reliever Grant Dayton will return to the Dodger bullpen, with Brock Stewart being optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Dayton retired six of seven batters July 22 at St. Louis on July 22 in his Major League debut, which took place during extra innings. Since then, he has allowed a run in four innings with Oklahoma City while striking out six.

Overall, in 36 1/3 Triple-A innings this year, the 28-year-old Dayton has a 0.83 WHIP and 63 strikeouts.

Dodgers recall Urías, promote Grant Dayton

By Jon Weisman

Left-handed reliever Grant Dayton has joined the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Julio Urías was also officially recalled to start today’s game at Washington.

To make room, Charlie Culberson and Zach Walters are returning to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Chris Hatcher was moved to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Dayton.

The 28-year-old Dayton has a 2.51 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP with 57 strikeouts (15.9 K/9) against seven walks in 32 1/3 innings since being promoted to Oklahoma City from Double-A Tulsa.

Culberson went 1 for 3 with an RBI single in the Dodgers’ 8-1 loss Wednesday to Washington.

Farm Fresh: June 21 Dodger minors highlights

Cal League Hall of Famer Gary Sheffield gets inducted by president Charlie Blaney. (Ben Sandstrom/MiLB.com)

Former Dodger Gary Sheffield was inducted into the California League Hall of Fame. League president Charlie Blaney made the presentation. (Ben Sandstrom/MiLB.com)

By Miranda Perez

Highlights from the Dodger farm system for June 21

  • The Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers defeated Round Rock 2-1, as right-hander Logan Bawcom (four innings, no hits, three walks, one strikeout) and left-hander Grant Dayton (two innings, one hit, four strikeouts) combined to hold the Express hitless through the first five innings. Dayton recorded the win and lowered his ERA to 2.41 ERA on the season.
  • In the Single-A Midwest League All-Star Game, right-hander Dennis Santana (2.96 ERA) represented the Great Lakes Loons for the East, tossing one shutout inning. Santana allowed one hit and struck out one in the East’s 11-10 comeback victory.
  • The Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes had three players selected to the Carolina/California League All-Star Game, including outfielder Kyle Garlick (.306, 11 HR, 37 RBI), right-hander Andrew Sopko (7-1, 3.41 ERA) and righthander Joshua Sborz (7-3, 2.58 ERA). Sborz was the lone Quake used in the game (won by Carolina, 6-4), throwing one scoreless inning with one strikeout.
  • The Rookie League AZL Dodgers had no shortage of offense in their 14-6 win over the AZL White Sox, racking up 16 hits, including five doubles, one triple and three homers. First baseman Luke Raley and shortstop Jefrey Souffront each had three-hit games, as the Dodgers improved to 2-0 to open the season.

Dodgers acquire reliever Grant Dayton from Marlins for Chris Reed

Grant DaytonBy Jon Weisman

Chris Reed, the 2011 Dodger first-round draft choice who was designated for assignment July 10, has been traded to the Miami Marlins for left-handed pitcher Grant Dayton.

Dayton has a 2.83 ERA at Triple-A New Orleans, with 35 strikeouts in his 35 innings against only five walks. His WHIP is 0.86, which would lead the Pacific Coast League if he had enough innings to qualify.

The 27-year-old has always been a strikeout pitcher in the minors, but this is the first season in which he has harnessed his walks. In his minor-league career, he has a 1.16 WHIP and 3.7 strikeout-walk ratio. Left-handed batters have gone 6 for 33 (.182) against him this year.

Dayton, who is not on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, will be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was originally drafted in the 11th round of the 2010 draft out of Auburn.

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