Paul Maholm, Dodgers go for sweep of Marlins

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers go for a sweep of the Marlins on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, and will end their stretch of 16 games in 15 days.

The Dodgers are 8-7 during this stretch, which was originally planned as 16 games in 16 days, but a rainout in Minnesota on April 29 changed those plans. They used seven different starting pitchers during that stretch, and have used eight different pitchers in their last 16 games, dating back to Hyun-jin Ryu's last start on April 27.

As we have seen the last few years with the Dodgers, any type of starting rotation speculation and planning can be futile thanks to another injury always waiting around the corner. But with Ryu getting closer to rejoining the rotation and with pending off days on Thursday and Monday, there is a chance that Wednesday against the Marlins is Paul Maholm's last start in a while.

Maholm has been serviceable so far, but as Andrew Grant wrote on Tuesday the left-hander hasn't even been as good as his mediocre 4.71 ERA. The veteran Maholm is a creature of routine and since starting regularly has a 3.94 ERA in five starts, but with just 12 strikeouts and 13 walks is also carrying a 5.44 FIP during that span.

There have been 360 pitchers to throw at least 10 innings in 2014. Maholm's strikeout rate of 8.9 percent of batters faced ranks 356th. There hasn't been a pitcher in baseball to strikeout under 10 percent of batters faced to put up an ERA+ of even 90 in at least 100 innings since 2007, when six pitchers did so.

Maholm threw a quality start against the Marlins on May 3 in Miami, allowing three runs in six innings in a no-decision.

Anthony DeSclafani will be called up from Double-A to make his major league debut for the Marlins on Wednesday, starting in place of the injured Jose Fernandez. DeSclafani, 24, was profiled on Wednesday morning by John Sickels at Minor League Ball:

He’s made good strides with his slider and changeup, giving him three solid pitches, and his command is also an asset. Although he gets his heater up to 95-96 MPH, he’s not generally overpowering in terms of strikeouts and is more of a ground ball type.

Since 2000 the Dodgers are 5-9 in games against starters making their major league debut, though they have won the last two and four of the last seven. Those pitchers since 2000 have a 5.53 ERA and just 32 strikeouts with 28 walks in 70 innings, averaging exactly five innings per start.

After Tuesday night's game, the Marlins optioned reliever Dan Jennings and designated Henry Rodriguez for assignment. Rodriguez walked four batters in relief in the fifth inning on Monday. In addition to DeSclafani, the Marlins signed left-hander and old friend Randy Wolf on Wednesday.

Notes

The Dodgers are 2-0 so far this season when given the chance to sweep a three-game series. Both opportunities came on the road.

The Marlins own baseball's worst road record at 3-15, including five straight losses. They also have the best home record, at 17-5.

The Dodgers stretch of 15 games in their last 14 days coincides with Yasiel Puig's 13-game hitting streak, interrupted only by a two-game rest after colliding with the right field wall in Miami. Puig is hitting .423/.516/.712 with four doubles, three doubles, 16 runs batted in and 10 walks during his streak.

Dee Gordon is 10-for-22 (.455) against the Marlins this season.

Game info

Time: 7:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA