For the second straight night, the Dodgers start a pitcher who made his major league debut in Petco Park. Tonight, Hiroki Kuroda takes the hill, looking to keep up the tremendous run of Dodger starting pitching. Dodger starters have given up just one unearned run in their last 43 innings, including eight scoreless innings last Friday by Kuroda. He has given up one run over 14 innings in his last two starts.
Clayton Richard was the centerpiece of the Jake Peavy trade with the White Sox, and I don't think even the Padres expected things to work out as well as it has for them. Since the trade last July 31, here are their numbers:
- Richard: 32 starts, 190 innings, 3.9 BB/9, 7.1 K/9, 12-7, 3.74 ERA, 98 ERA+, 2.0 WAR
- Peavy: 20 starts, 127 innings, 2.8 BB/9, 7.9 K/9, 10-6, 4.11 ERA, 108 ERA+, 2.5 WAR
Considering that the Peavy has made roughly $13 million more than Richard since the trade, I'd say the Padres did alright by that deal.
In the 12 games since the All-Star break, the Dodgers leader in OPS is Blake DeWitt, who is hitting .310/.333/.448 during that time.
Get your guesses in for Xeifrank's game simulation here.
Game Time: 7:05 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket