True Blue LA - April 4: Padres 4, Dodgers 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2017-04-04T23:02:36-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/149503732017-04-04T23:02:36-07:002017-04-04T23:02:36-07:00Maeda plays catch up after slow start
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<img alt="MLB: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xgmsOsXSiW8mGMJ-HeKp948JyFU=/0x0:2652x1768/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54083449/usa_today_9993729.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>RHP settled down after 2-run first inning</p> <p id="oH4QVC">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> offense, or lack thereof, was certainly the main culprit in Tuesday night’s 4-0 loss to the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, but they were also forced to play from behind after a slow first inning by starter <span>Kenta Maeda</span>.</p>
<p id="kAoJwN">San Diego had three hits and scored twice in the first inning against Maeda, but the key to the 29-pitch frame was a leadoff walk to <span>Travis Jankowski</span> after starting him with two strikes.</p>
<p id="4nH47w">“The fastball command really wasn’t where it should have been,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said. “To look back at that first hitter, to get ahead 0-2 then lose him to a walk.”</p>
<p id="ZHXIb7">Maeda called the leadoff walk regrettable.</p>
<p id="yQ3isL">“I was a little excited, and as a result I couldn’t throw as many strikes as I wanted to,” Maeda said. “It was the season opener, the first hitter. You want to start out on a good note.”</p>
<p id="ZoAhzW">Maeda settled down after the first, and allowed three runs in five innings. He was pulled after just 75 pitches because his spot in the batting order came up in the fifth, and <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> lined out as a pinch hitter.</p>
<p id="x9tBPx">Roberts said that even if Maeda’s spot, which was due up fourth in the inning, hadn’t come up, he was leaning toward calling for the bullpen anyway, though Maeda wanted to pitch the sixth. </p>
<p id="xT40Yn">Maeda was three batters into his third time though the Padres’ order. Opposing batters hit .338/.387/.500 the third time through against Maeda in 2016.</p>
<p id="BnygwA">“Each game you try to evaluate and watch within its own sample of that one game. He gave up a hard-hit ball to Janikowki, then got a soft ground ball to get out of the inning that third time through,” Roberts said. “I appreciated how Kenta felt, that he could keep going and get another inning.”</p>
<h4 id="AoGpJV">Short hops</h4>
<p id="5uyF5j"><span>Corey Seager</span>, who had two errant throws including one throwing error on Monday, bounced another throw in the first inning on Tuesday, though this was a pretty clear infield single by <span>Hunter Renfroe</span>. Roberts downplayed the oblique injury Seager suffered in spring — on a throw — but not the four weeks lost because of it.</p>
<p id="0phTRw">“As I understand it, he’s healthy. I think a little bit right now is that he’s out of sync. Just the rhythm out there defensively, he doesn’t seem like he’s where he needs to be,” Roberts said. “But we’re going to keep running him out there.”</p>
<h4 id="ordeMa">Up next</h4>
<p id="pkq6o7">The Dodgers and Padres continue their series on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium with another 7:10 p.m. start. This time, <span>Rich Hill</span> will take the mound, facing <span>Trevor Cahill</span> for San Diego.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/4/15187932/kenta-maeda-slow-start-dodgers-padres-corey-seager-throwsEric Stephen2017-04-04T21:54:45-07:002017-04-04T21:54:45-07:00Richard keeps Dodgers grounded
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<img alt="MLB: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j44XNdtLeV-loMRsfKsY_nl3-qc=/44x0:2630x1724/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54082803/usa_today_9993623.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LA hits into 4 double plays in shutout loss</p> <p id="litPqk">LOS ANGELES — After a high-flying offensive outburst on opening day, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> offense was grounded by <span>Clayton Richard</span> in a 4-0 <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> win on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="7PYaT1">Fourteen runs on Monday included four home runs and four doubles by the home team, but on Tuesday the Dodgers could manage just five singles and two walks in eight innings against the Padres left-hander. That offense wasn’t even station-to-station, because Richard made sure any Dodgers’ ride around the bases didn’t have many stops.</p>
<p id="rIlJuQ">The Dodgers hit into 12 ground ball outs against Richard on Tuesday night, and four of those were double plays, one shy of the club record. They missed out on a chance to tie or break the record because Padres pitchers retired the final 11 batters of the game.</p>
<p id="M6KWos">“His goal is to put the ball on the ground. He’s a high-percentage sinker, and that’s what he did,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He threw strikes, and got head of our guys. If he’s doing that, he’s going to be tough.”</p>
<p id="T1u7dh">No Dodger even reached scoring position. The only time anyone reached second base was sliding into the first out of a twin killing.</p>
<p id="nEPtQA">Richard struck out five in his eight innings, and became the second Clayton in as many days to win a game at Dodger Stadium. He needed just 99 pitches.</p>
<p id="l7BSot">Just like they did on Monday, San Diego struck first again on Tuesday, stringing together a walk and three singles for a pair of first-inning runs against <span>Kenta Maeda</span>. The second run scored on a pop fly behind third base in short left field by Ryan Schmipf, caught by <span>Corey Seager</span>, technically a sacrifice fly to shortstop.</p>
<p id="MDAMBD">If that sounds rare, it’s because it is. Last season, there were only eight sacrifice flies all season that were caught by an infielder — <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/5p4U0">three by a second baseman</a>, <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/lTyUd">three by a shortstop</a>, and <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/Rej41">two by a first baseman</a>.</p>
<p id="pp9x9q"><span>Yangervis Solarte</span>, who singled home the Padres’ first run in the first inning, delivered a towering fly ball over the wall in right center field in the third inning for a solo home run and a 3-0 San Diego advantage.</p>
<p id="YfUiXC">The Padres might have added even more, thanks to a leadoff double by <span>Erick Aybar</span> in the second inning, but when he was on third base with one out, a popped-up squeeze bunt by <span>Travis Jankowski</span> turned into a gift double play to kill the scoring chance.</p>
<p id="wcC7Bw">In addition to the bunt pop-up double play, the Padres also grounded into two double plays of their own. So the Dodgers have that going for them, which is nice.</p>
<h4 id="D2pR9D">Tuesday particulars</h4>
<p id="r1GaUx"><strong>Home run</strong>: Yangervis Solarte (1)</p>
<p id="3xTAZ4"><strong>WP - Clayton Richard (1-0)</strong>: 8 IP, 5 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p id="7DVa8I"><strong>LP - Kenta Maeda (0-1)</strong>: 5 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/4/15186314/clayton-richard-ground-balls-dodgers-offense-wtf-padres-recapEric Stephen2017-04-04T18:11:07-07:002017-04-04T18:11:07-07:00Urias to start next for Triple-A Oklahoma City
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<img alt="Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M1M4D56Uf3iCKZVXZFqctynF6rM=/0x0:4840x3227/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54080205/648342168.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="9ClTMm">LOS ANGELES — A 20-year-old pitcher opening the season on an advanced Class-A roster in the California League is perfectly normal, exceptional even. After all, the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=851a83ec">average age for pitchers in the Cal League last year was 23</a>.</p>
<p id="MAkYH1">But when that 20-year-old is <span>Julio Urias</span>, it’s a little weird, especially since the left-hander is three years removed from dominating in the hitter-friendly circuit.</p>
<p id="63JHWW">In a season designed to specifically and artificially limit his innings, Urias began 2017 <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/4/15180122/dodgers-rancho-cucamonga-2017-opening-day-roster">artificially on the roster of the Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes</a>, for whom he last pitched (in a non-rehab setting) in 2014 as a 17-year-old. You see, there are no plans to actually have Urias pitch for the Quakes.</p>
<p id="u9dt8C">Instead, he will next start in Triple-A, likely added to that roster this weekend.</p>
<p id="6SOL5w">“Julio will make his next start for Oklahoma City,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said. “He will start in the next few days.”</p>
<p id="GZdWY3">How long Urias will pitch is in question, though it will probably be a short stint. Urias, who threw a side session on Tuesday, hasn’t pitched more than three innings in any outing since spring training began.</p>
<p id="wCLRVy">“This is more of just where he’s at and built up,” Roberts said. “He’s abbreviated.”</p>
<p id="yLG7Z7">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are in a bit of a weird spot with Urias, wanting to make sure he still has plenty in the tank for September and October in the major league rotation, but knowing that given his age and previous workload he can’t remain on schedule for the entire season.</p>
<p id="8jObi6">But rather than completely shut Urias down for however long he will be held in the minors, the club plans to keep him reasonably active, pitching at least semi-regularly before they call him up to join the Dodgers, presumably for good.</p>
<p id="6fyjOU">“We have a lot of people who have studied the biomechanics of pitching and the arm,” Roberts said last week. “With the medical staff, we feel that’s what is the best thing for Julio.” </p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/4/15185612/julio-urias-start-triple-a-oklahoma-cityEric Stephen2017-04-04T15:05:28-07:002017-04-04T15:05:28-07:00Gutierrez gets first start with Dodgers
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o_hPxnnAgL9zCHojzE8b7XJeFeE=/0x0:3520x2347/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54078165/usa_today_9924763.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="juSyl4">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> face their first left-hander of the season in <span>Clayton Richard</span> of the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, and have adjusted their lineup accordingly.</p>
<p id="LYD3OB"><span>Franklin Gutierrez</span> makes his first start as a Dodger, after striking out as a pinch-hitter on Monday. He bats cleanup, in left field.</p>
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<p id="QEXEit">Gutierrez hit .293/.368/.548, a 151 wRC+ against southpaws over the last two seasons combined, with 20 home runs and 14 doubles in 329 plate appearances.</p>
<p id="ndFuaB">“We got him here to hit left-handed pitching,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said of Gutierrez during spring training.</p>
<p id="0ugkmC">Gutierrez is 8-for-15 (.533) with a home run and a double in his career against Richard, though the two haven’t faced each other since 2012.</p>
<p id="ctSfaJ"><span>Joc Pederson</span> sits against Richard as well, with the right-handed <span>Kiké Hernandez</span> getting the start in center field instead. Richard is one of three left-handers the Dodgers are expected to face this week.</p>
<p id="vlMsLA">“Joc’s not in there tonight, but he will see more left-handed pitching this season,” Roberts said. </p>
<p id="fEuI0t">Pederson started nine of the Dodgers’ 46 games against left-handed pitching in 2016, a number Roberts said will increase in 2017. I asked Roberts if there was a particular type of left-handed pitcher more suited for Pederson.</p>
<p id="JkqE8o">“I think velocity doesn’t affect Joc, as opposed to a left-hander who can spin it more,” Roberts said. “A lot of it depends on how Joc is swinging the bat, and days prior rest.</p>
<p id="cuJ5tZ">“Today it was more getting Kiké involved, though I guess I could make the same counter of why Scott Van Slyke should be in there, though Adrian has good numbers against Clayton.”</p>
<p id="Qd7F6h"><span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, 10-for-17 (.588) with a walk in his career against Richard, was moved from fourth to sixth in the order, with <span>Yasiel Puig</span> moved up from eighth to fifth.</p>
<p id="RIMnBm">Roberts said Van Slyke would also see some time at first base.</p>
<p id="EJN5Uy">“I do see Adrian getting more days off, and it just makes sense to get him those days off against lefties,” Roberts said.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/4/15182196/franklin-gutierrez-starts-dodgers-padres-lineupsEric Stephen2017-04-04T13:30:01-07:002017-04-04T13:30:01-07:00Maeda gets the ball in Game 2
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<img alt="Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/m7DNiu5Tv9KRphZSOCaiJ98PtKw=/0x0:4200x2800/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54074279/646030938.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="XYNdWy">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have started each of their last seven seasons with a win on opening day. On Tuesday night, they try to keep that momentum going against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> in the second game of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="8Se5hF">The Dodgers are 4-2 in their second game of the season dating back to 2011, losing in 2013 and 2015. <span>Kenta Maeda</span> gets the ball on Tuesday night for the Dodgers, and will be hard pressed to match his 2016 debut.</p>
<p id="nlb73Q">Maeda <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/4/6/11382716/kenta-maeda-scoreless-mlb-debut-home-run-dodgers-padres-recap">pitched the third game for the Dodgers last year</a>, and all he did was toss six scoreless innings, allowing only five singles and no walks while striking out four. At the plate, he homered in his second big league plate appearance.</p>
<p id="XQ5zPr">It was a great major league debut.</p>
<p id="IOn5rr">The Dodgers won three of Maeda’s four starts against the Padres last season, and the right-hander struck out 27 against only two walks in those outings. That included a career-high 13 strikeouts on July 10, Maeda’s only start against San Diego at home.</p>
<p id="MpyKUl"><span>Clayton Richard</span> starts the second game for the Padres, giving the Dodgers their first crack at a left-handed starting pitcher in 2017. The Dodgers’ struggles against southpaws were well chronicled last season, last in the majors in most offensive categories against left-handed pitching.</p>
<p id="JmixrP">The Dodgers were 22-24 (.478) in games against left-handed starting pitchers in 2016, after going 51-35 (.593) in the previous two seasons combined.</p>
<p id="c7jYnU">After scoring 14 runs on Monday, the Dodgers are within striking distance of the franchise’s <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/tE4jb">most prolific two-game offense to start a season in the last 105 years</a>. During that span, dating back to 1913, the most runs scored by the Dodgers in their first two games is 21, by the 1935 Brooklyn team. The Dodgers teams in Los Angeles in 1983 and 2000 each scored 20 runs in the first two games of the year.</p>
<p id="tJPWJt">The Dodgers have won 10 of their last 11 home series against the Padres, winning 26 of their last 36 against San Diego at Dodger Stadium dating back to 2014.</p>
<h4 id="2Tkm0e">Game info</h4>
<p id="OJgiIF">Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p id="QzOexg">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/4/15180728/kenta-maeda-dodgers-padres-previewEric Stephen2017-04-02T15:00:02-07:002017-04-02T15:00:02-07:00Dodgers-Padres pitching matchups
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<img alt="Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WIVf6FnaU4W5JbRNwM8ZCHG5csw=/0x0:4200x2800/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54030455/646030946.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="WCJa8y">For the third year in a row, and for the fourth time in the last six seasons, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> open their season against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>. To start 2017, these two teams will battle in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. Here are the details and pitching matchups for the contests.</p>
<h4 id="gGKYiP">Monday, 1:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, ESPN)</h4>
<p id="bgDKE6"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> starts his seventh consecutive opening day for the Dodgers, who not so coincidentally are looking for their seventh straight opening day victory. The Dodgers have also <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/kloii">won Kershaw’s last nine starts against the Padres</a>, dating back to 2013, and he has allowed nine total runs in those games.</p>
<p id="UpPiBi"><span>Jhoulys Chacin</span> gets the opening day nod for the Padres, in a spot he has usually done well in. The longtime <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> right-hander in nine career games at Dodger Stadium, including eight starts, has a 2.94 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 23 walks in 49 innings.</p>
<p id="arch83">Dave Flemming, <span>Eduardo Perez</span> and <span>Dallas Braden</span> will call the game for ESPN, though that telecast will be blacked out in the Los Angeles television market.</p>
<h4 id="RMrtOp">Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p id="fiI0aI"><span>Kenta Maeda</span> had 27 strikeouts and just two walks in four starts against the Padres in 2016. <span>Clayton Richard</span> is back with the Padres and will be the first left-handed starting pitcher the Dodgers face in 2017.</p>
<h4 id="KMrO3B">Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, KTLA)</h4>
<p id="nSfmF5"><span>Rich Hill</span> gets the ball in Game 3 of the season, with the Dodgers deciding to break up the left-handers at the top of their rotation. Hill has made five career starts at Dodger Stadium — one in 2007 with the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, three during the regular season last year, and once in the NLCS — and has a total of one run in 29 innings, with 27 strikeouts and seven walks in 29 innings.</p>
<p id="ZKCSkv"><span>Trevor Cahill</span> made seven starts in the Dodgers organization in 2015, including six games for Triple-A Oklahoma City. After a successful stint in the Cubs bullpen in 2016, the veteran right-hander is back in a starting rotation after four major league starts in the last two years.</p>
<p id="BSMzyV">This game is the first of <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2017/3/8/14771234/dodgers-television-ktla-april-may-schedule">10 games in April and May simulcast on KTLA</a>, making the game more widely available in the Los Angeles market.</p>
<h4 id="xObPRe">Thursday, 12:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h4>
<p id="diJm3h"><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> starts the series finale for the Dodgers, a daytime start on getaway day. <span>Jered Weaver</span> makes his Padres debut after 11 years and 322 starts with the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/2/15151078/opening-day-2017-dodgers-padres-pitching-matchups-television-timesEric Stephen