True Blue LA - July 23: Dodgers 7, Cardinals 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2016-07-23T19:12:05-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/120274972016-07-23T19:12:05-07:002016-07-23T19:12:05-07:00Toles, Dodgers cruise over Cardinals
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><span>Andrew Toles</span> had three hits and scored two runs in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>' balanced attack to beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> 7-2 on Saturday night at Busch Stadium.</p>
<p>Toles reached on an infield single in the third inning and eventually scored on a squeeze bunt by <span>Kenta Maeda</span>, a bunt to no man's land leaving first base open allowing Maeda to reach on a single.</p>
<p>That opened the door for a big inning, and the Dodgers took advantage, with an RBI single by <span>Corey Seager</span> and a two-run double by <span>Justin Turner</span> for a 4-0 lead.</p>
<p>Toles also doubled in the fourth inning, then singled in the sixth, the latter a part of a three-run inning by the Dodgers that included Toles scoring from first on a single despite running through a stop sign, thanks to <span>Matt Adams</span> botching a relay.</p>
<p>It has been a remarkable rise for Toles, the former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> prospect who was <a target="_blank" href="http://newsok.com/article/5508850">out of baseball in 2015 after dealing with anxiety</a>. He got a second chance with the Dodgers, and made the most of it, starting the year in Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and working his way up level by level, through Double-A Tulsa then Triple-A Oklahoma City before reaching Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Saturday was the 10th major league game for Toles, who is 9-for-23 (.391) with two doubles and two walks, sporting a .440 on-base percentage.</p>
<p>He wasn't alone on offense for the Dodgers, who saw all nine starters collect at least one hit. The only one not to either score or drive in a run was <span>Howie Kendrick</span>, who was 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.</p>
<p>The RBI single for Seager extended <i>his</i> hitting streak to seven games, hitting .400 (14-for-35) during that span. With a five-run lead and Seager having missed three games this week with a stomach bug and after playing 16 innings on Friday night, he was pulled after six innings as a precaution on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Dodgers' three-run rally in the sixth inning began with a solo home run by <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, his eighth of the season. Gonzalez in July is hitting .304/.388/.464 and with seven extra-base hits in 18 games matches total for all of June, in 27 games.</p>
<p>Armed with a lead, Kenta Maeda cruised into the fifth inning, when Adams hit his second home run in as many days to put the Cardinals on the board.</p>
<p>Two singles in the sixth, plus an error by Toles in right field, helped St. Louis add a run in the sixth. A third single in the inning ended Maeda's night perhaps a little earlier than he expected, but he earned the win with three strikeouts and no walks in his 5⅔ frames.</p>
<p>Maeda has walked zero or one batter in 10 of his 20 starts.</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The Dodgers go for the series win on ESPN <i>Sunday Night Baseball</i> in the road trip finale, with <span>Scott Kazmir</span> on the mound, with pickle juice and mustard at the ready. The Cardinals are expected to call up right-hander <span>Mike Mayers</span>, their third-round draft pick in 2013, to start Sunday night, making his major league debut.</p>
<h4>Saturday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Adrian Gonzalez (8); Matt Adams (12)</p>
<p><b>WP - Kenta Maeda (9-7)</b>: 5⅔ IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 3 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - <span>Mike Leake</span> (7-8)</b>: 6 IP, 12 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 4 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/23/12264240/andrew-toles-dodgers-offense-cardinals-recapEric Stephen2016-07-23T13:39:37-07:002016-07-23T13:39:37-07:00Puig out of lineup again, as expected
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><span>Yasiel Puig</span> remains out of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>' starting lineup on Saturday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, as expected, two days after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring.</p>
<p>Manager Dave Roberts told reporters before Friday's game that Puig, who entered as a reserve on Thursday but played only one defensive out against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>, wouldn't likely start until Sunday in St. Louis at the earliest. Before Saturday's game, it sounds like even that is a remote possibility.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Puig still testing hamstring. Roberts said there needs to be significant improvement in order for him to start tomorrow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a></p>— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/756960075676135424">July 23, 2016</a>
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<p>Puig did appear in Friday night's marathon, popping out in the infield in the 13th inning.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table border="0" align="center" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table">
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<tr>
<td bgcolor="#1e90ff" align="center" width="125" colspan="2"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td bgcolor="#c41e3a" align="center" width="125" colspan="2"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Cardinals</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Utley (L)</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Garcia (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Seager (L)</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Diaz</td>
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<td>3B</td>
<td>Turner</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Piscotty</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Adams (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Kendrick</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Gyorko</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Grandal (S)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Hazelbaker (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Toles (L)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Grichuk</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Pederson (L)</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Rosario</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Maeda</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Leake</td>
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<span><b>Location</b>: Busch Stadium<br><b>Time</b>: 4:15 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA<br><b>Radio</b>: AM 570</span>
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<p><span>Andrew Toles</span> gets the call in right field for the Dodgers on Saturday, his fifth start in 11 games since joining the club on July 8. The leff-hander has started three games in center field and this is his second start in right field.</p>
<p>Toles is 6-for-19 (.313) with a double so far in nine games in his major league career, with two walks and a .381 on-base percentage to date. He has stolen one base in his only attempt.</p>
<p>Toles appeared in Friday's game as well, with a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning.</p>
<p>The only real change in the lineup on Saturday is Toles in right field in place of <span>Scott Van Slyke</span>, who started Friday, and the flip with <span>Joc Pederson</span>, who batted seventh on Friday night but bats eighth on Saturday.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/23/12263378/yasiel-puig-sits-dodgers-cardinals-lineups-andrew-tolesEric Stephen2016-07-23T12:34:21-07:002016-07-23T12:34:21-07:00Dodgers recall fresh arm in Stripling
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<figcaption>Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> added a fresh arm to their bullpen before Saturday's game against the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a>, recalling pitcher <span>Ross Stripling</span> from Triple-A Oklahoma City.</p>
<p><span>Grant Dayton</span>, who made his major league debut on Friday, pitched two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in extra innings in the first game of the series. He threw 32 pitches.</p>
<p>The Dodgers used seven relief pitchers and starter <span>Bud Norris</span> in relief in Friday's 16-inning contest, one day after using seven relievers in Thursday's nine-inning win in Washington D.C.</p>
<p>Six of the eight Dodgers relievers have each pitched in the last two days.</p>
<p><span>Stripling</span> has a 4.53 ERA in nine games for the Dodgers this season, including eight starts, with 34 strikeouts and 18 walks in 45⅔ innings. In his one relief appearance in the majors, Stripling pitched three scoreless innings in a 17-inning win in San Diego on May 22.</p>
<p>After spending a month in Arizona basically just conditioning, as a way to limit innings after returning from Tommy John surgery, Stripling had a 4.61 ERA in four appearances with Oklahoma City, with 14 strikeouts and two walks in 13⅔ innings.</p>
<p>Stripling was scheduled to start on Friday night for Oklahoma City, but was scratched in favor of Seth Frankoff. Now we know why.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/23/12263274/ross-stripling-recalled-dodgers-grant-dayton-optioned-triple-aEric Stephen2016-07-23T11:30:31-07:002016-07-23T11:30:31-07:00Dodgers bullpen could use a rest on Saturday
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>As is usually the case with a 16-inning game, the impact goes much deeper than the results of the contest itself. For the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a>, after the pitcher usage of Friday night, will have the rest of their weekend series affected. The Dodgers' bullpen is especially taxed after its unprecedented use of pitchers over the last <i>two</i> days.</p>
<p>After Julio Urias lasted four innings in his spot start Thursday in Washington D.C., the Dodgers used seven relief pitchers for the final five innings. They used eight relievers on Friday night, including starter <span>Bud Norris</span> for the final two.</p>
<p><span>Norris</span> allowed the walk-off winner for St. Louis but after 23 pitches he <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/756731868066840576">will still start for the Dodgers on Tuesday at home against Tampa Bay</a>, manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> told reporters after Friday's game.</p>
<p>But with eight pitchers on Thursday and nine on Friday, the Dodgers have used eight pitchers in consecutive games for the first time since at least 1913, and likely in franchise history.</p>
<p>Six of the eight relief pitchers in the bullpen have pitched each of the last two days, including <span>J.P. Howell</span> and <span>Louis Coleman</span>, who have each pitched in the last three days.</p>
<p><span>Grant Dayton</span> didn't pitch the last two days, but he did throw two innings on Friday in his major league debut. <span>Luis Avilan</span> was the only relief pitcher who didn't pitch Friday, but that was after he pitched the previous two days.</p>
<p>Avilan and <span>Pedro Baez</span> were both scheduled to be down on Friday, Roberts told Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA during Friday's game, but Baez ended up pitching a scoreless inning anyway. In other words, expect several relievers to be unavailable or with limited usage on Saturday night for the Dodgers.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> likely will have a fresh arm in bullpen tonight.</p>
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) <a href="https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/756913709578985472">July 23, 2016</a>
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<p>For the Cardinals, the biggest effect of Friday was using <span>Tyler Lyons</span> for 4⅔ innings. Lyons was a candidate to start on Sunday, but that obviously won't happen now. But before Sunday, we have Saturday to deal with.</p>
<p>It's safe to say both teams would like extended outings from their starting pitchers in the middle game of the series.</p>
<p><span>Mike Leake</span> has lasted at least six innings in each of his last four starts and in 12 of his last 13 outings. In his last two, Leake has racked up the strikeouts at an unprecedented rate for him, notching the third and fourth double-digit strikeout games of his career, allowing two total runs in 13 innings.</p>
<p>The Dodgers will turn to <span>Kenta Maeda</span>, who has been a Jekyll and Hyde of late. After lasting at least six innings in each of his first six major league starts, Maeda has gone six or more innings just five times in his last 13 starts, averaging 5.38 innings per start since May 11.</p>
<p>Maeda's three July starts have been 4, 7 and 4⅓ innings.</p>
<h4>Game info</h4>
<p>Time: 4:15 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/23/12263166/dodgers-bullpen-tired-cardinals-previewEric Stephen2016-07-22T11:29:02-07:002016-07-22T11:29:02-07:00Dodgers-Cardinals series snapshot
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> meet the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a> for a second time this season, this time in St. Louis. Here is a brief overview of the two teams heading into their three-game weekend series at Busch Stadium.</p>
<p>Teams: Dodgers (54-43) vs. Cardinals (51-44)</p>
<p>Split records: Dodgers 24-25 on road, Cardinals 24-28 at home</p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>Run differential: Dodgers +57 (fifth in NL), Cardinals +102 (third in NL)</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th colspan="4">Dodgers vs. Cardinals 2016 </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><u><b>Day</b></u></td>
<td align="left"><u><b>Date</b></u></td>
<td align="left"><u><b>Location</b></u></td>
<td align="left"><u><b>Time (PT)</b></u></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Fri</td>
<td align="left">May 13</td>
<td align="left">Los Angeles</td>
<td align="left"><a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/5/24/11765332/dodgers-cardinals-results-may-13" target="new">8-4, LA</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Sat</td>
<td align="left">May 14</td>
<td align="left">Los Angeles</td>
<td align="left"><a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/5/24/11765344/dodgers-cardinals-results-may-14-scott-kazmir" target="new">5-3, LA</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Sun</td>
<td align="left">May 15</td>
<td align="left">Los Angeles</td>
<td align="left"><a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/5/24/11765374/dodgers-cardinals-may-15-espn" target="new">5-2, StL</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Fri</td>
<td align="left">Jul 22</td>
<td align="left">St. Louis</td>
<td align="left">5:15 p.m. PT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Sat</td>
<td align="left">Jul 23</td>
<td align="left">St. Louis</td>
<td align="left">4:15 p.m. PT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Sun</td>
<td align="left">Jul 24</td>
<td align="left">St. Louis</td>
<td align="left">5:08 p.m. PT</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>Runs scored: Dodgers 4.29 per game (ninth), Cardinals 5.18 (first)</p>
<p>OPS+: Dodgers 95 (eighth), Cardinals 108 (second)</p>
<p>wRC+: Dodgers 94 (ninth), Cardinals 110 (first)</p>
<p>Runs allowed: Dodgers 3.70 (fourth), Cardinals 4.11 (sixth)</p>
<p>ERA+: Dodgers 110 (fourth), Cardinals 107 (fifth)</p>
<p>Last 10 games: Dodgers 6-4, Cardinals 7-3</p>
<p>2016 head-to-head record: 2-1 LA</p>
<p>2015 head-to-head: 5-2 StL (2-1 StL at home)</p>
<p>Cardinals SB Nation site: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva El Birdos</a></p>
<h4>Series Schedule</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/21/12248482/dodgers-cardinals-schedule-starting-pitchers"><i>Pitching probables</i></a></p>
<p>Friday, 5:15 p.m. PT: <span>Brandon McCarthy</span> vs. <span>Michael Wacha</span> (SportsNet LA)<br>Saturday, 4:15 p.m.: <span>Kenta Maeda</span> vs. <span>Mike Leake</span> (SportsNet LA)<br>Sunday, 5:08 p.m.: <span>Scott Kazmir</span> vs. TBD (ESPN)</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/22/12227692/dodgers-cardinals-series-statisticsEric Stephen2016-07-21T21:42:16-07:002016-07-21T21:42:16-07:00Dodgers-Cardinals probable pitchers
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<figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> conclude their road trip with three games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> in St. Louis. Here is a look at the schedule and probable starting pitching matchups for the weekend series.</p>
<h4>Friday, 5:15 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> has 22 strikeouts and four walks in 16 innings since returning from the disabled list, allowing no runs in two of his three starts. Right-handed batters are 4-for-37 (.108) with two walks and 15 strikeouts against McCarthy this season.</p>
<p>The Dodgers tagged <span>Michael Wacha</span> for six runs at Dodger Stadium on May 13, the start of a five-start skid that saw him allow 27 runs in 23 innings. But since then, Wacha has a 3.35 ERA in his last seven starts, with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 42 innings.</p>
<h4>Saturday, 4:15 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p><span>Kenta Maeda</span> looks to rebound from allowing a season-worst five runs on Sunday, now facing the Cardinals for the first time. This will be a lucrative start for Maeda, who <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/10/21/4861112/los-angeles-dodgers-payroll#maeda" target="_blank">will receive $1 million for making his 20th start</a> and once he's able to complete two innings will earn another $250,000 for reaching 110 innings on the season.</p>
<p><span>Mike Leake</span> had 66 strikeouts in 104 innings in his first 17 starts, a 15-percent strikeout rate. But he enters this weekend with consecutive double-digit strikeout starts, giving him four total such games in his career. With 21 strikeouts and two walks in 13 innings in those two starts, Leake has a 1.38 ERA to go with his 42-percent strikeout rate.</p>
<h4>Sunday, 5:05 p.m. (ESPN)</h4>
<p><span>Scott Kazmir</span> is coming off one of his best starts of the year, with eight strikeouts and no walks, allowing just a run while reaching seven innings. He has a 2.25 ERA in three July starts, with 23 strikeouts and just three walks in 16 innings.</p>
<p>The Cardinals haven't yet announced their Sunday starter. The spot came open with Tuesday's rainout, which moved <span>Carlos Martinez</span> up to Wednesday to pitch in a doubleheader, taking him out of commission for Sunday unless the club wants to start him on short rest.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash">#Cardinals</a> are not contemplating bringing <span>Carlos Martinez</span> or <span>Jaime Garcia</span> back on short rest to pitch Sunday vs. LAD.</p>
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) <a href="https://twitter.com/markasaxon/status/756241862495731712">July 21, 2016</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Top <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardinals?src=hash">#Cardinals</a> prospect Alex Reyes is pitching in the third inning for Memphis so it looks like Sunday starter vs LAD will be <span>Tyler Lyons</span></p>
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) <a href="https://twitter.com/markasaxon/status/756303844926193666">July 22, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Lyons, a 28-year-old left-hander, has a 3.54 ERA in 27 games in relief for St. Louis this season, with 42 strikeouts and 12 walks in 40⅔ innings. He faced two batters, throwing 10 pitches on Wednesday, his only outing since the All-Star break.</p>
<p>Lyons has had four relief appearances of at least three innings this season, topping out at 4⅔ on June 25.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/21/12248482/dodgers-cardinals-schedule-starting-pitchersEric Stephen