The Dodgers hope to carry over their ninth inning offensive vitality into tonight's game against the Brewers and their best pitcher.
The Dodgers beat Yovani Gallardo, tonight's starter, the Sunday before the All-Star break, but since then Gallardo has reeled off three straight quality starts, going 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 20.1 innings. Gallardo currently has the best ERA+, at 134, by a Brewer pitcher 23 or younger, with a minimum of 100 innings.
Hiroki Kuroda aso appeared in that Gallardo start against the Dodgers, although he did not start. It was the first relief appearance of Kuroda's career -- he was available with the upcoming off days in the schedule -- and it didn't go as well as he would have hoped. Kuroda allowed three runs in 1.1 innings on that day. Since the All-Star break, Kuroda has pitched well, and the Dodgers have won all three of his starts, although Kuroda himself doesn't have a win to show for it, despite a respectable 3.71 ERA in 17 innings. Kuroda's last win was July 3 in San Diego.
Kuroda doesn't have enough innings to qualify, but he would rank seventh in the National League by allowing only 1.9 walks per nine innings this season.
Andre Ethier is the first Dodger with back-to-back 20 double, 20 home run seasons since Adrian Beltre from 2002-2004.
Shades of Sixto Lezcano: Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, both just 25 years old, are the two best young hitters in Brewers history, with a career OPS+ of 142 and 136, respectively.
Bill Hall started his first career game in right field Monday night, in place of Corey Hart, now sans appendix. Brewers manager Ken Macha noted the righthanded-hitting Hall will share time with lefties Frank Catalanotto and Jody Gerut until Hart returns, per Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Get your guesses in for "Just A Bit Outside" here.
Game Time: 7:10pm
TV: KCAL
Dodgers Game Notes | Brewers Game Notes