The Dodgers' last eight games have gone like this: Win. Loss. Win. Loss. Win. Loss. Win. Loss. It would be nice to continue that trend today, as the Dodgers begin a three-game series in Arizona with a Labor Day day game.
Dodger pitchers have give up more than four runs only twice in their past 26 games. In he two games they had the audacity to allow more than four runs, they allowed only five runs, and in extra innings to boot. In other words, the Dodgers have not given up more than four runs in regulation in nearly a month.
The Dodgers have won each of the last two Labor Days, in games started by someone acquired after the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline:
- In 2007, Esteban Loaiza (acquired August 29) started his first game as a Dodger, beating the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 11-3
- In 2008, Greg Maddux (acquired August 19) started and beat the Padres, 5-2 at Dodger Stadium
Today, Vicente Padilla (acquired August 19) starts his third game as a Dodger, against his original team. Padilla has done well so far in Dodger blue, allowing a total of three runs over 10.1 innings. This is a small sample size warning of course, but as a Dodger, Padilla has a 2.61 ERA and a 2.27 FIP.
The Dodgers have to face Max Scherzer, who shut them down Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Scherzer has started against the Dodgers three times in his career, giving up three earned runs, then two, then one. Let's hope that trend doesn't continue downward today. This is Scherzer's first career start against the Dodgers in Arizona.
Per the Dodger game notes, the Dodgers outscored their opponents 7-0 in the first inning on their last road trip, and they haven't given up a first inning run in their last 15 road games. The Dodgers are 57-25 in games when they score first this season.
The Dodgers have won nine of 15 games against Arizona this season, including splitting six games in Arizona. They are 38-20 against the NL West this year, including 17-11 on the road.
For those outside of the Los Angeles area, this week will bring some games you can watch. Wednesday's 7:10pm start in Arizona will be televised on ESPN, in addition to Prime Ticket, and Saturday's 6:05pm start in San Francisco, also a Prime Ticket game, will be on MLB Network.
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Check out Xeifrank's simulation of today's game here.
Don't forget to RSVP for True Blue LA Day at Dodger Stadium, on the next-to-last day of the regular season, October 3 against the Rockies.
Get your guesses in for our today's "One, Two, Three Strikes, You're Out," here.
Game Time: 12:40pm
TV: Prime Ticket