If the ball hit by Matt Kemp last night didn't hit the scoreboard, there is a decent chance it would still be in the air today, maybe landing by the time tonight's game starts. It was the third straight game for Kemp with a home run, the fourth streak of such length in his career.
Matt Kemp Home Run Streaks | ||
Dates | Games | Victims |
Aug 29-Sep 1, 2009 | 4 | Carlos Fisher, Bronson Arroyo, Doug Davis, Yusmeiro Petit |
Apr 13-16, 2010 | 4 | Ian Kennedy, Rodrigo Lopez, Aaron Heilman, Todd Wellemeyer |
June 1-3, 2006 | 3 | Gavin Floyd, Ryan Madson, Clay Condrey |
Aug 21-24, 2010 | 3 | Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, Dave Bush |
Hiroki Kuroda has a relatively benign 3.86 ERA in his last nine starts, one out shy of averaging six inning per start. Yet, his record in those games is 1-6, thanks to 18 Dodger runs in those nine games. Kuroda has a 25-28 record in his three years in Los Angeles despite an above average adjusted ERA.
Kuroda has one of the best ERA+ ever by a Dodger with a losing record.
Highest Dodger Career ERA+, Under .500 | |||
Pitcher | W-L | Win% | ERA+ |
Ned Garvin | 21-34 | .382 | 121 |
Mike Morgan | 33-36 | .478 | 117 |
Mike Marshall | 28-29 | .491 | 114 |
Larry Cheney | 38-42 | .475 | 113 |
Jesse Petty | 54-59 | .478 | 113 |
Jumbo Elliott | 26-38 | .406 | 111 |
Hiroki Kuroda | 25-28 | .472 | 110 |
minimum 50 decisions (Baseball-Reference.com) |
Old friend (twice removed) Randy Wolf is struggling in the first season of a three-year, $29.75 million contract with the Brewers. He is not getting the same fortune as last season (a .290 batting average on balls in play this season after a .257 BABIP last year), but he is also contributing to his own demise by walking 3.9 batters per nine innings, compared to a career low 2.4 last season.
Wolf has allowed 15 home runs in 80 2/3 innings in Milwaukee this season, compared with nine home runs in 81 1/3 innings on the road.
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Manny Ramirez has been placed on waivers today, per Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com. Morosi further explains that teams have until Friday to claim Manny, and will have Til Tuesday to make a deal.
In addition to Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have also placed Casey Blake, Scott Podsednik, and Jay Gibbons on waivers, per Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
I will be a guest tonight on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio with Jeff Rickard and Steve Phillips, just after 6 p.m.
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Get your guesses in for Xeifrank's game simulation here.
Game Time: 5:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket