The Dodgers discovered success of their first highway journey of the second half (for probably the most half). They had been .500 on the highway within the first half of the season, however opened the second half with a troublesome nine-game stretch towards the Mets, Orioles and Rangers. They went 6-3 and had an opportunity to brush in every sequence, however managed to lose the finale of every sequence. They ended the primary half in a digital tie for first (proportion factors forward of Arizona) and coming into play in the present day at the moment are 4 up on each Arizona and San Francisco (who already misplaced to the Tigers this afternoon). The offense and bullpen are clicking whereas the rotation is… not. With the commerce deadline per week away, the Dodgers return residence for 9 video games, beginning with three towards the Blue Jays. Toronto is 55-45 this season, which is tied for the seventh greatest file in all of baseball. They’re in third within the AL East behind the Orioles and Rays, however have been struggling a bit as of late. They opened the second half with a much-appreciated sweep towards Arizona, however have misplaced 4 of six since in a really reverse Dodger-esque means. They’ve dropped the primary two video games of their sequence towards San Diego and Seattle, however prevented the sweep within the finale every time. The 2 groups final met in 2019, when the Dodgers gained 16-3 within the opener after which swept with two different walk-off wins.
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| 7:10 P.M. | Los Angeles | ||
| RF | Springer | 2B | Betts |
| DH | Guerrero Jr. | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| 1B | Belt (L) | C | Smith |
| 3B | Chapman | DH | Muncy (L) |
| 2B | Merrifield | LF | Peralta (L) |
| LF | Varsho (L) | RF | Heyward (L) |
| C | Kirk | SS | Taylor |
| SS | Espinal | CF | Outman (L) |
| CF | Kiermaier (L) | 3B | Hernandez (S) |
| P | Berrios (R) | P | Grove (R) |
Michael Grove begins coming off among the best begins of his profession. He held the Orioles to 5 hits and a run over 5 innings and got here out for the sixth, however began the inning with a double and a stroll and was pulled earlier than recording an out. All the hits he allowed had been fairly earned, as all of them got here with exit velocities over 102 MPH. He did an excellent job figuring out of some hassle within the second, as an RBI double and error put a runner on third with one out. Grove responded with a strikeout and a weak groundout. Grove seemingly added a cutter a couple of month in the past and in Baltimore he threw it 29.7 p.c of the time (all to lefties), solely throwing his four-seamer extra typically. Orioles solely had one hit on 27 of them, and he struck out two with it.
Jose Berrios will get the beginning for Toronto. He’s bounced again properly from final season, the place allowed extra hits and runs than some other certified starter. To this point this season, Berrios has been a lot better. His 3.39 ERA is the Twenty second-best amongst certified starters in all of baseball (twelfth within the AL), and since his third begin of the season it’s 2.71. He began the season ominously, with 12 earned runs allowed within the first two video games. He’s allowed 33 runs within the 18 video games since, and he’s solely failed to finish 5 innings as soon as in that span. Berrios had a mini-rough stretch to finish June, however has been glorious in three July begins. He’s allowed three runs in 18 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit in seven innings towards the White Sox to start out the month. He held the Diamondbacks to a run over 5 1/3 innings out of the break, and final day trip allowed two runs in six innings towards San Diego.
Berrios has thrown 4 totally different pitch varieties this season and makes use of them fairly evenly. He throws a slurve most frequently (29.6 p.c of the time), a sinker 29 p.c of the time, a four-seamer 21.2 p.c of the time and changeup 20.2 p.c of the time (extra typically to lefties however nonetheless will throw it to righties). Berrios has solely seen the Dodgers as soon as in his eight-year profession and it didn’t go effectively for him. He began in LA in his second yr within the Majors and shut the Dodgers out by way of three, however allowed 4 runs on 5 hits within the fourth, which ended his evening.
As promised yesterday, J.D. Martinez is out in the present day after being scratched earlier than yesterday’s recreation with a hamstring damage. He’s anticipated to be in there tomorrow and is reportedly accessible to hit tonight if wanted. Max Muncy serves because the DH tonight and Yonny Hernandez will get the beginning at third with Chris Taylor beginning at quick.
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Clayton Kershaw‘s pitching schedule replace.
Plan is for Clayton Kershaw to throw his bullpen session tomorrow.
“Until one thing adjustments,” Dave Roberts added.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) July 24, 2023
Far more ominous than you wanted to be, Dave. Kershaw was slated to throw a bullpen tonight, however yesterday they determined to additional map out his potential return.
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Kershaw will not be the one addition to the rotation within the subsequent couple weeks
“I’d be stunned,” Dave Roberts mentioned if the #Dodgers beginning rotation isn’t addressed by the commerce deadline on Aug. 1.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) July 24, 2023
Dave Roberts mentioned getting extra size from beginning pitchers is “crucial” shifting ahead.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) July 24, 2023
With per week till the deadline, the Dodgers ought to most likely be prioritizing including at the very least one starter. The beginning pitching commerce market isn’t nice this season. Shohei Ohtani is the massive fish, however the Angels are barely too in-the-race to suppose he’ll for certain be moved (4 video games out of a Wild Card spot). Blake Snell might be moved by the Padres in the event that they determine to punt on the remainder of the season, Mitch Keller‘s title began to pop up with a most likely big price ticket. Cody already wrote about Jordan Montgomery, and one other pitcher or two will certainly be popping up in our deadline sequence over the following week or so.
Nevermind, no commerce wanted.
Noah Syndergaard was throwing at Dodger Stadium earlier than Monday’s recreation. Simply checking in on his rehab project
He’s began twice for Oklahoma Metropolis and can once more on Thursday. After that, Dave Roberts mentioned, “that’s when the rubber meets the highway, and now we have to decide”
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) July 24, 2023
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and might be proven on Sportsnet LA
