Dodger Thoughts

On June 16, 2016

In Midgame

By Jon Weisman

It’s Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles 6 entering the ninth inning. The Dodgers came back from down 3-0 and 6-3 to tie the game. Triumph or tragedy awaits. Who’s to say which?

This game has already had plenty of both. It’s been such a weird night, I’m kind of live-blogging the rest of the way as I recap what’s already come.

Van Slyke homer sets up win for Kershaw, record-tying save for Jansen

On June 15, 2016

By Jon Weisman

You’ve got Clayton Kershaw on the mound. You just want that big hit.

With two out in the sixth inning, 10 Dodgers had reached base, but that critical blow remained but a dream.

Then, Scott Van Slyke made Dodger wishes come true, following singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Howie Kendrick with a 405-foot, three-run homer to left to give the Dodgers their first lead. Kershaw made it stand up for his 7 1/3 innings and 11 strikeouts, and Joe Blanton and Kenley Jansen closed the doors and windows for a 3-2 Dodger victory at Arizona.

Dodger all-time save leaders
161 Eric Gagne
161 Kenley Jansen
129 Jeff Shaw
127 Todd Worrell
125 Jim Brewer

For Jansen, it was his 161st career save, tying the Dodger franchise record set by Eric Gagne. Jansen’s first career save was July 25, 2010, to protect a win for … Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw struck out at least 10 and walked no more than one, for the ninth time this season. Curt Schilling holds the MLB record with 13 such games in 2002.

Seager cracks top five in All-Star Game vote at SS

On June 15, 2016

In All-Star Game

By Jon Weisman

Corey Seager’s five-homer weekend against Atlanta gave him enough of a voting boost to move into the top five at shortstop for the National League All-Star team.

Seager continues to lead NL shortstops in wins above replacement and has taken over the lead in weighted runs created. He trails Colorado’s Trevor Story by two in home runs and .003 in weighted on-base average.

As was the case a week ago and the week before that, Adrian González appears in the top five in the balloting for first base. (Pitchers aren’t part of the fan vote). The current NL voting for the remaining positions:

Clayton Kershaw’s eccentric experience at Chase Field

On June 15, 2016

In Pregame

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 12:40 p.m.
Kershaw CCLVI: Kersh Off the Boat
Kiké Hernández, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Trayce Thompson, RF
Adrian González, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Chase Field has been a mixed bag for baseball’s best pitcher.

Clayton Kershaw pitches there today for the first time since April 11, 2015, when Arizona scored in four different innings — five earned runs in all — in what was his roughest outing of the season.

It was Kershaw’s worst performance since May 17, 2014, when he was knocked out with seven runs in 1 2/3 innings — also at Chase Field.

In between, however, Kershaw one of his vintage starts, striking out 10 while allowing only an unearned run over eight innings at Chase on August 27, 2014.

Overall, Kershaw has a 3.90 ERA in 67 career innings at Arizona. Exactly half of his 12 appearances there have been quality starts, and the Dodgers are 5-7 in those games. On the seven occasions Kershaw has allowed more than one run at Chase, the Dodgers are 1-6.

Pederson’s two blasts lead Dodger homer parade

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By Jon Weisman

After stoking more fears about the offense with four no-hit innings to start the game, the Dodgers traded that quartet for four home runs — two by Joc Pederson — ending their three-game losing streak with a 7-4 win at Arizona.

Line drive knocks Kenta Maeda from game

In Health/injuries, Midgame

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By Jon Weisman

On a night the Dodger bats broke out with four home runs to take a 7-4 lead into the eighth inning at Arizona, the celebratory swings were muted by a potentially serious injury to Kenta Maeda.

The good news: X-rays on Maeda’s leg were negative, and the initial diagnosis was a right lower-leg contusion.

Dodgers sign Will Venable, option Austin Barnes

In Bench, Pregame, Transactions

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Having gone without a left-handed bat off the bench since Carl Crawford was designated for assignment June 5, the Dodgers have signed outfielder Will Venable.

Austin Barnes, who was 0 for 4 with a walk since being called up to replace Crawford on the 25-man roster, was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Venable, who will wear No. 25 (which coach Mark McGwire had most recently used).

Farm Fresh: Double-A Tulsa boasts nine Texas League All-Stars

In Minor leagues

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By Jon Weisman

No fewer than nine players from Double-A Tulsa have been invited to the Texas League All-Star Game, June 28 at Springfield, Missouri.

In case you missed it: Rehab games for many, but not Ethier

In Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Minor leagues, Transactions

Andre Ethier poses with former Dodger infielder Mark Ellis prior to Monday’s game.

By Jon Weisman

Some items to catch up on …

Andre Ethier is still in limbo, as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. “It’s a little slower than we thought,” Ethier said. “At the eight-week exam, I was expecting to have the OK and go do baseball stuff and slowly progress into running. It was a little bit of a jaw dropper when you get the result. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t healed like I was hoping it was. I had to reassess that it would take a little longer. You always think you can bounce back quicker than you do.”
In his first rehab outing since going on the disabled list June 3, Yasiel Puig grounded out, homered to right center and walked.
Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu came through their weekend rehab starts without issues and remain on schedule for their next appearances — Thursday for McCarthy, Friday for Ryu. McCarthy threw two innings June 11 in his rehab debut. Ryu pitched three innings June 12.
Carl Crawford cleared waivers and was officially released by the Dodgers.
Brock Stewart, the 24-year-old righty who was a sixth-round Dodger draft pick from Illinois State in 2014, made his Triple-A debut Monday for Oklahoma City. Stewart struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings and didn’t walk anyone until his final batter, though he allowed two home runs.
Another newcomer to the Oklahoma City starting rotation is 27-year-old righty Nick Tepesch, who was picked up after being released by Texas. Tepesch has made two five-inning starts for Oklahoma City, with a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10 innings. He has 219 career big-league innings with a 4.56 ERA.
Frankie Montas isn’t exactly new to Oklahoma City, but he is officially off the Dodgers’ 60-day disabled list and was officially optioned Sunday. With 11 strikeouts against one run in his first 7 2/3 innings (two appearances), Montas has done nothing to discourage speculation that he is on the fast track to Los Angeles. He next pitches Wednesday.
Double-A Tulsa’s Trevor Oaks and Willie Calhoun each won Player of the Week honors, as did Single-A Rancho Cucamonga’s Michael Ahmed, the brother of Arizona’s Nick Ahmed.
Jose Tabata, who was acquired in exchange for barely-a-Dodger Michael Morse last summer, was released June 11 from Oklahoma City. The six-year MLB vet had a .673 OPS in Triple-A this year.

Happy 90th birthday, Don Newcombe

In History

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers celebrated legendary pitcher Don Newcombe’s 90th birthday at their most recent homestand finale six days ago, but today’s the actual day. We all wish Newk a happy 90th!

— Jon Weisman

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One run the difference again for Dodgers

On June 13, 2016

By Jon Weisman

Zack Greinke didn’t exactly dominate the Dodgers, least of all Corey Seager, who had a single, walk and career-best 440-foot home run off his former teammate.

But Greinke was one run better than Mike Bolsinger, who gave up two solo homers of his own — and then a tiebreaking score in a fifth inning that began with a Greinke single. That meant in the Dodgers’ sixth consecutive one-run game, they lost for the third straight time, 3-2.

Father’s Day ticket special: Up to 60 percent off

On June 13, 2016

In Tickets

Starting at 5 p.m. today and continuing for the next 48 hours, you can get up to 60 percent off tickets for the Father’s Day game at Dodger Stadium between the Dodgers and Brewers on Sunday.

That includes a pair of Dodger boxer shorts for the first 40,000 fans in attendance (compliments of Chef Merito Seasonings), and the opportunity to participate in a postgame catch on the field. Of course, you can begin your day by visiting Viva Los Dodgers at the Historic 76 Station behind center field.

Visit dodgers.com/fathersday through Wednesday at 5 p.m. to get your discount.

— Jon Weisman

Dodgers carry streak of one-run games into reunion with Greinke

On June 13, 2016

In Pregame, Status report

Zack Greinke on the mound against the Dodgers. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

The more things change … the more things change.

Zack Greinke faces the Dodgers tonight for the first time since he came with the Milwaukee Brewers to Los Angeles on May 31, 2012. That night, the Dodgers offered this starting lineup:

Elian Herrera, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Bobby Abreu, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B
Adam Kennedy, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Dee Gordon, SS
Chad Billingsley, P

One of those Dodgers is in tonight’s starting lineup. Another is on the bench. A third is on the disabled list. That, plus Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen, is all that remains to link that Dodger team and this one, four years later.

Urías steps up, but Dodgers step back

On June 12, 2016