The beleaguered Dodgers bullpen just got a major boost with the recall of catcher-turned-awesome Kenley Jansen from Double A Chattanooga. In 45 minor league innings this season, split between Chattanooga and Class A Inland Empire, Jansen amassed 78 strikeouts against 23 walks. This month, in eight innings in Double A, Jansen had 19 strikeouts against four walks in only eight innings.
Justin Miller was designated for assignment to make room for Jansen on the active roster.
As the Dodgers and Mets head into the second game of their four-game series, I am beginning to sense a trend:
- The Dodgers have pitched two straight shutouts, with their starters having thrown 17 straight scoreless innings
- Vicente Padilla has a scoreless streak of his own of 14 innings, over his last two starts
- The Mets have scored 15 runs in eight games on their current road trip, and have one win to show for it
- The Dodgers have scored just 20 runs in eight games since the All-Star break
- Johan Santana in July has allowed two runs in 31 innings
Call me crazy, but it seems like tonight will be a low-scoring game. Then again, Tuesday night featured Clayton Kershaw against Tim Lincecum and also figured to be low-scoring, but we ended up with many more runs (12), and mound visits, than originally thought.
Sherrill Update
The Dodgers asked George Sherrill yesterday to accept a minor league assignment, a source has confirmed, the second such time they have asked since Sherrill was placed on outright waivers, and the third request this season. The two sides could not agree on concessions, which were not disclosed, but believed to include a date by which the club must either add Sherrill to the active roster or release him were he to accept the assignment.
Get your guesses in for Xeifrank's game simulation here.
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket