Marred by mismanagement and kicked down (repeatedly) by the Cardinals, the Dodgers have been stuck in a state that has fluctuated between disappointment and mediocrity for almost three decades.
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San Diego (74-85) comes off a 3-1 win Thursday against Milwaukee but could be without three of its best hitters for this series. The Dodgers look to pull ahead of the Mets in the standings Friday when they begin their final regular-season series with the opener of a three-game home set against the San Diego Padres. The Giants countered with Jake Peavy. “He got a hit, and we didn’t get many”. In Dodgers annals, it is better than the best by Drysdale (2.15), Don Sutton (2.08), Orel Hershiser (2.03), Kershaw (1.77) and Koufax (1.73).
“It’s a fun mix, it’s a talented mix and hopefully it’s the right mix”, Kershaw said after pitching the Dodgers to a third straight division title in an 8-0 thumping of the defending champion Giants on Tuesday night. One, has had more play time this season than Puig.
Sometimes this game can be pretty predictable, though, and there are a lot of avenues that may lead Leake and the Giants to an agreement.
Making his last start before he’s expected to get the ball in Game Three of the playoff series, Anderson had a two-hit shutout going until he got into trouble in the eighth inning.
Despite everything, the Dodgers realize the situation and aren’t concerned.
Catcher Blake Swihart drove in five runs as the Boston Red Sox prevented the New York Yankees from inching closer to clinching a post-season berth with a 10-4 victory. Kershaw, he said, has a “very specific plan of what he’s going to do”, while “with Zack, there’s a dialogue”.
“Nobody’s told me not to play him the full nine”. Middle infield is the most glaring. He entered as a defensive replacement in the fourth inning Sunday and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts after starting and getting a hit Saturday. Puig, who is batting.
But one decision looms larger than the others and it centers around the status of outfielder Yasiel Puig. Scott Van Slyke’s sore right wrist remains in a splint and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play in the first round of the playoffs. Can Justin Turner continue to be a consistent bat against the team that let him walk away and will Adrian Gonzalez find his swing? They’re postseason history has not followed their regular season performances.
Greinke struck out eight, giving him 200 for the season and marking the fifth time in his career he reached that mark. He did pitch seven shutout innings in his only start a year ago.
A starter with an ERA under 2.50 and a WHIP of 1 or lower is fairly unusual. For Sunday’s game the Padres start James Shields who has allowed 189 hits and 81 earned runs while striking out 216 over 202.1 innings for a 13-7 record and a 3.91 ERA.
The Dodgers, despite their high profile and team salary, haven’t had recent postseason success though if you didn’t pay attention they’d lead you to believe otherwise.
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Tim Hudson left the pitching mound for likely the last time to a roaring ovation and tipped his cap to every section of the stadium as his Giants teammates waited in front of the dugout in a hug line.
