The highlight of today's Dodger game is that minor league veteran John Lindsey will make his first major league start, getting the nod at first base in front of his family, flown in by the Dodgers to Houston. Of course, this first start for Lindsey just happens to be against the Astros' best pitcher.
Wandy Rodriguez has been magnificent in his last 14 starts, pitching six innings or longer in each one, going 8-2 with a 1.91 ERA, with 19 walks and 92 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings. The Dodgers beat Rodriguez back on May 17, tallying four runs in his 6 2/3 innings. The winning pitcher on that night was...John Ely.
Ely had his career high with eight strikeouts against the Astros on May 17, which was his third straight start without a walk. Ely is making his first start for the Dodgers since July 10. He has had a tale of two seasons, a pair of seven-start stretches of contrasting success: 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA in his first seven starts, 1-5 with a 7.49 ERA in his next seven.
Steve Dilbeck of the LA Times yesterday tackled the weighty issue of whether or not Jonathan Broxton should drop a few pounds:
If the Dodgers are actually going to count on it coming back again next season, is it too much to ask that Broxton report to camp in better physical condition? If nothing else, it would eliminate the possibility that his suddenly flat fastball is not the result of fatigue.
Notes
- After being optioned in July, Ely was 3-3 with a 7.38 ERA in 10 starts with Triple A Albuquerque.
- Ryan Theriot has four doubles and a home run in 29 plate appearances against Rodriguez, hitting .370/.414/.630
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Brad Ausmus is going to start Sunday at catcher, an homage to his 10 years in Houston. Perhaps Minute Maid Park will show this video again.
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Game Time: 4:05 p.m.
TV: KCAL