True Blue LA - September 18: Phillies 4, Dodgers 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2017-09-19T06:00:11-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/160915732017-09-19T06:00:11-07:002017-09-19T06:00:11-07:00Seager’s elbow continues to linger
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9PLcuYuIcpcqKCSNc-bUq7W8rmI=/799x153:2285x1144/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56746571/usa_today_10276056.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="cfbzo5"><span>Corey Seager</span> was out of the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ starting lineup on Monday against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, with manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> telling reporters before the series opener that his shortstop was getting a day of rest. But, elbow soreness will likely be something Seager has to deal with for the rest of the 2017 season.</p>
<p id="inpavt">Seager has been able to hit while dealing with his elbow, but he is affected more on throws when in the field. He was held out of the starting lineup for 11 games from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7, appearing as a pinch hitter five times during that span.</p>
<p id="Ee10XN">Ken Gurnick <a href="http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/254930198/dodgers-corey-seager-out-of-lineup-monday/">of MLB.com has more</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="RLpjkF"><em>"I think there's a little bit of preservation, understanding where his arm is at," said Roberts. "I don't think it's 100 percent. I think he's doing a little guarding and protecting. He knows when to let it go and when not to. But I think it's clear that he's doing some protecting. He's not showing the arm strength he has had because he's trying to manage it."</em></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dave Roberts talks with <a href="https://twitter.com/alannarizzo">@alannarizzo</a> about getting <a href="https://twitter.com/coreyseager_5">@coreyseager_5</a> a day off & <a href="https://twitter.com/YasielPuig">@YasielPuig</a> hitting cleanup for the series opener in Philly. <a href="https://t.co/336x9Ksaav">pic.twitter.com/336x9Ksaav</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/909898173396557824">September 18, 2017</a>
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<p id="T1gVNZ">Seager did enter Monday’s game as a pinch hitter, striking out swinging against closer <span>Hector Neris</span> in the ninth inning. <span>Kiké Hernandez</span> got the start at shortstop.</p>
<p id="Rkm9yo">It has been a weird seven weeks for Seager, who has reached base by hit or walk in 30 straight starts and since Aug. 1 is hitting .300, but during that time his slugging percentage is just .379, with five doubles and two home runs in 153 plate appearances.</p>
<p id="t4RunK">On the season, Seager is hitting .303/.382/.487 with 32 doubles and 20 home runs. In two full seasons, he <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/15/16166162/corey-seager-20-home-runs-dodgers-shortstops">has two of the three Dodgers seasons in franchise history with 20 home runs by a shortstop</a>.</p>
<p id="8da5wq">Seager started the Dodgers’ previous nine games — over a 10-day span — before Monday, and figures to start several more to close out the season, per Roberts. </p>
<p id="axPkdk">Bill Plunkett of <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/18/corey-seagers-arm-not-100-percent-and-dodgers-shortstop-must-manage-pain-for-rest-of-season/">the Orange County Register has more</a>:</p>
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<p id="xCowu1"><em>Roberts said it is his understanding from the medical staff that a cortisone injection or something of that sort would not help Seager “given the location” of the pain. And he doesn’t plan to give the shortstop another day off because “the rest doesn’t necessarily help” the elbow,</em></p>
<p id="oWgh1q"><em>“The activity, keeping it warm is a benefit,” Roberts said. “That’s the understanding I get from Corey and from the doctors. I actually don’t even see him taking a day after we clinch.”</em></p>
<p id="MaH4Os"><em>Seager had an MRI on the elbow in late August and said it showed issues that he would need to “address more” in the offseason. </em></p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/19/16332090/corey-seager-elbow-not-100-percent-manage-pain-dodgersEric Stephen2017-09-18T18:49:26-07:002017-09-18T18:49:26-07:00Phillies don’t follow Dodgers’ script in opening scene
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Upq0n_IM5MYXWrS9Ot9RFU3EYe4=/0x0:4563x3042/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56743773/usa_today_10291224.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>First grand slam allowed by Kershaw turns game around</p> <p id="Z3Vh3j">One of <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16318572/clayton-kershaw-rhys-hoskins-dodgers-phillies-preview">the largest pitching mismatches</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/truebluela/status/909650346728812544">of the season</a> did not turn out as expected, with rookie <span>Nick Pivetta</span> out-dueling <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on Monday night, lifting the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> to a 4-3 win over the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.</p>
<p id="A3K4vc">The loss lowered the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West to nine games over the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, with Arizona playing Monday night in San Diego. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/17/16320638/dodgers-magic-number-national-league-west-mlb-playoffs-clinch-best-record">magic number to clinch the division remains four</a>.</p>
<p id="IWbXuW">Kershaw was breezing through five innings, allowing just two singles, one an infield bouncer that deflected off his glove. But a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter <span>Ty Kelly</span> — a .200/.260/.353 hitter in 100 plate appearances entering Monday — proved a harbinger of doom.</p>
<p id="SwJHQ1">A broken-bat single with one out by <span>Freddy Galvis</span> was followed by a two-out walk to red-hot rookie <span>Rhys Hoskins</span> to load the bases. All that stood in the way of getting out of the inning was <span>Aaron Altherr</span>, but a Kershaw slider that didn’t slide was instead deposited into the second deck in left field, turning the game around.</p>
<p id="DAXvjh">Down a pair, the Phillies were now up two runs thanks to the first grand slam Kershaw has allowed in his career, in his 1,923rd career inning.</p>
<p id="6vmUDc">The slam snapped a streak of 32 consecutive scoreless innings for Kershaw against the Phillies, his first runs allowed to Philadelphia since <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2012/7/18/3167817/matt-kemp-dodgers-win">July 18, 2012</a>, when <span>Carlos Ruiz</span> singled home <span>Shane Victorino</span> in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="PRNYCv">That the Dodgers only had two runs when Altherr hit the home run was a bit of a surprise, for a few reasons.</p>
<p id="ADRqk1">Pivetta brought a 6.75 ERA into Monday night’s contest, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/50lpp">ranking dead last among the 126 major league pitchers with at least 100 innings in 2017</a>. </p>
<p id="OVCtcF">That ERA looked like it would go up on Monday, with <span>Chris Taylor</span> and <span>Justin Turner</span> each hitting home runs within the game’s first five pitches. Taylor’s was hit 390 feet but never cleared the fence, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16331084/chris-taylor-inside-the-park-home-run-dodgers-trent-oeltjen-2011">club’s first inside-the-park home run since 2011</a>.</p>
<p id="IajT9P">Turner’s <em>did</em> clear the wall, in left field, but traveled 358 feet, 32 feet shorter than Taylor’s home run.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Since 1958 the Dodgers have started only 1 other game w/ B2B HRs. Tom Goodwin/Mark Grudzielanek vs ARI, Apr 5 2001.<a href="https://t.co/nuKIzz4n6C">https://t.co/nuKIzz4n6C</a></p>— Doug Kern (@dakern74) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/909934635970367488">September 19, 2017</a>
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<p id="FVs5QI">But after the two home runs to open the game, Pivetta retired 17 of his 21 batters faced, and no more runs. The rookie right-hander struck out eight, lowering his ERA to 6.57.</p>
<p id="uB8cEY">Taylor, who was hitless in his last 15 at-bats entering Monday and hitting just .190/.215/.270 in his first 16 games in September, was 2-for-3 with a walk in the series opener.</p>
<p id="NoQVXr"><span>Curtis Granderson</span> hit a solo home run to pull within one in the ninth inning — the fourth home run the Dodgers hit in two games against Phillies closer <span>Hector Neris</span> this season — but couldn’t push across the equalizer.</p>
<h3 id="tQm5Q3">Up next</h3>
<p id="rV3JvX"><span>Yu Darvish</span> gets the start for the Dodgers on Tuesday, another 4:05 p.m. PT start, facing <span>Aaron Nola</span> for the Phillies.</p>
<h3 id="IgRXXE">Monday particulars</h3>
<p id="rsNC6q"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Chris Taylor (20), Justin Turner (21), Curtis Granderson (24); Aaron Altherr (17)</p>
<p id="pyr2HO"><strong>WP - Nick Pivetta (6-10)</strong>: 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts</p>
<p id="tOzWlq"><strong>LP - Clayton Kershaw (17-4)</strong>: 6 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts</p>
<p id="4YIMMm"><strong>Sv - Hector Neris (22)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 3 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16331016/clayton-kershaw-grand-slam-aaron-altherr-dodgers-lose-nick-pivetta-phillies-recapEric Stephen2017-09-18T16:49:28-07:002017-09-18T16:49:28-07:00Taylor hits Dodgers’ 1st inside-the-park HR in 6 years
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rESrQCVBjRNQM1cSM_sL4mTGlo8=/0x155:2479x1808/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56742363/849179076.1505778567.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>5th Dodger with 20+ HR in 2017, tying franchise record</p> <p id="BeKJjt"><span>Chris Taylor</span> found a creative way to break out of a slump on Monday against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>. Mired in an 0-for-15 slump entering the series, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder hit the second pitch of the game high off the left center field wall, then the ball caromed into left field, allowing Taylor to score easily, a rare <em>stand-up</em> inside-the-park home run to open the scoring.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Off the wall and off to the races!<a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers">@Dodgers</a> leadoff man Chris Taylor circles the bases in 15.40 seconds, 3rd-fastest time on a HR in 2017. <a href="https://t.co/FeepPfZkEm">pic.twitter.com/FeepPfZkEm</a></p>— #Statcast (@statcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/statcast/status/909921749667631104">September 18, 2017</a>
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<p id="FNedAb">Taylor’s home run was the first inside-the-park home run by a Dodger since <span>Trent Oeltjen</span> on Aug. 20, 2011, a <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2011/8/20/2374776/dodgers-lose-dexter-fowler">line drive past a diving Dexter Fowler in center field at Coors Field</a>.</p>
<div id="QwqyPK"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sQC9YpPDHQc?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">From <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo">@ESPNStatsInfo</a>: The last <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> player to hit a leadoff inside-the-park homer in 1st inning was Dave Roberts on Aug. 9, 2003.</p>— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/909924513655218177">September 18, 2017</a>
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<p id="3BdQob">It was the 20th home run of the season for Taylor, making him the fifth Dodger with 20 or more home runs in 2017, <a href="https://bbref.com/pi/shareit/AgKjG">tying the franchise record set in 1979 and matched in 2000</a>.</p>
<p id="YONvGY"><span>Justin Turner</span>, one of that quintet this season, followed with his 21st home run of the season, this one of the more traditional variety, into the seats in left field against Phillies starter Nick PIvetta.</p>
<p id="fCHIye"><span>Yasmani Grandal</span> has 19 home runs on the season, one away from giving the Dodgers a club record six players with 20 or more.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16331084/chris-taylor-inside-the-park-home-run-dodgers-trent-oeltjen-2011Eric Stephen2017-09-18T13:39:06-07:002017-09-18T13:39:06-07:00Chase Utley returns to Philadelphia, again
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G_6CazsdR9xIkX9--8ZXVaD2Ucc=/0x0:2323x1549/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56739545/usa_today_9500975.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="n6Eb04">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are in Philadelphia, which means another return to the city that former <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> great <span>Chase Utley</span> called home for 13 seasons. Utley starts at second base in Monday night’s series opener at Citizens Bank Park.</p>
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<p id="8rnKCb">It will be hard to top <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2016/8/16/12509468/chase-utley-the-man-dodgers-phillies-recap">Utley’s <em>first</em> return to Philly last August</a>, when he hit a pair of home runs, including a grand slam in the series opener, and even received a curtain call from the home fans as a visiting player.</p>
<p id="2dxhhV">This was from a city that booed Mike Schmidt, and Santa Claus!</p>
<p id="ojRzGb">He had just one more hit in the rest of that three-game series, but the first impression was out of sight. Utley is <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/7elPy">second all-time in Citizens Bank Park history in hits (812)</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/2SCCa">doubles (163)</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/Vo3Mm">home runs (129)</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/0lPLG">runs scored (489)</a>, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/xmZbm">RBI (465)</a>.</p>
<p id="mB21GO">Utley, acquired by the Dodgers in August 2015 and subsequently re-signed to a pair of one-year free agent deals to return, was <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/17/dodgers-notes-things-could-get-a-little-weird-for-chase-utley-if-dodgers-clinch-in-philadelphia/">asked on Sunday by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register how long he planned to continue playing</a>:</p>
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<p id="tcwvZL"><em>Utley acknowledges he has been taking it one season at a time for awhile now.</em></p>
<p id="nkf8UC"><em>“It’s been beneficial to me to kind of stay in the moment,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always done and I feel like I succeed that way. So why change it up now?”</em></p>
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<p id="ZN985x">The 38-year-old Utley is hitting .234/.324/.406 on the season, including .253/.320/.440 since the All-Star break. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.</p>
<p id="ZYI9hW">Once Utley decides to stop playing, what might his future hold in baseball? David Laurila at FanGraphs <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/sunday-notes-oaklands-chris-smith-rides-a-rollercoaster/">in his weekly notes column got a suggestion from Utley’s former general manager</a>:</p>
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<p id="7LgE6t"><em>I was talking to Ruben Amaro earlier this week when the subject turned to players with excellent knowledge of the game. The </em><a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/"><em>Red Sox</em></a><em> first base coach brought up the name of someone he knows well from their days together in Philadelphia.</em></p>
<p id="OWSEgV"><em>“Chase Utley is a very inquisitive guy,” volunteered Amaro. “You would think that he’s more old-school, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he hasn’t adapted, and understood, analysis — what data can bring to an evaluation process.”</em></p>
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<p id="8mDJAN">In nine games against his former team, Utley is hitting .242/.306/.545 with three home runs, a double, three walks, six RBI, and six runs scored. He was 2-for-7 with a double and a walk against the Phillies at Dodger Stadium in the three-game series from Apr. 28-30, starting two of the three games.</p>
<p id="Os20bO">Counting Monday’s game, the lefty Utley will have started nine of the 18 games at second base in September, the same number as the right-handed <span>Logan Forsythe</span>. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is roughly the same split used in the postseason; not a strict platoon, but more of a 50/50 share.</p>
<p id="IZYRd1">Utley has only had 27 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers in 2017, with 91.8% of his plate appearances coming with the platoon advantage. </p>
<p id="Cq2ubq">Finally, just in case you haven’t already seen this, Utley was also busy earlier on the road trip, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/chase-utley-jheri-curl-four-letter-word-25-year-old-baseball-cards-223524647.html">catching up with Mike Oz at Yahoo Sports to open up an old pack of 1992 baseball cards</a>. It’s worth it for the Dave Hollins story alone.</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16324970/chase-utley-phillies-return-dodgers-lineupEric Stephen2017-09-18T12:00:01-07:002017-09-18T12:00:01-07:00Dodgers finish road trip with 4 against Phillies
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uMkDjtdQdLPksufwciUaTGcyBsQ=/0x0:4386x2924/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56725827/176717241.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="2wPGsr">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have won the first two series on their 10-day road trip, and now are set to play the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> in Philadelphia, where they have won each of their last five series.</p>
<p id="YloWFA">Dropping all five road playoff games at Citizens Bank Park in the 2008 and 2009 National League Championship Series was the focal point of a four-year stretch of dismal Dodgers play in the city of brotherly love. From 2008-11, the final four years of five straight division-winning seasons for the Phillies, the Dodgers were 4-14 in Philadelphia.</p>
<p id="UotemJ">Since the start of 2012, they are 12-4 at Citizens Bank Park.</p>
<p id="lPLbND"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> takes the mound on Monday looking to continue the recent trend, in one of the most lopsided pitching matchups of late. Kershaw leads the majors in ERA (2.12), has 188 strikeouts in his 157 innings, is tied for the major league lead in wins (17), and ranks fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.71).</p>
<p id="dVilVW">Phillies rookie right-hander <span>Nick Pivetta</span> ranks dead last in ERA (6.75) among the 126 major league pitchers with at least 100 innings in 2017, is averaging just 5.04 innings per start. Pivetta has recorded an out in the sixth inning just once in his last eight starts, and since the All-Star break has allowed 58 runs on 76 hits in 57 innings, covering 12 starts.</p>
<p id="kuYQFq">Kershaw has allowed 58 runs in his last <em>36 starts</em>, covering 236 innings.</p>
<p id="q5Arm1">Kershaw hasn’t pitched in Philadelphia since 2014, but in his last two starts at Citizens Bank Park he has allowed no runs in 14 innings, with 17 strikeouts and four walks.</p>
<p id="rH5Zjw">But baseball has a tendency to baseball, and after all, that’s why they play the games.</p>
<p id="0MFXWU">The Phillies are bad — at 58-91, only the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> have a worse record in MLB — but they have been frisky of late, winning four of six games on their current 10-game homestand.</p>
<h3 id="dpDnwr">Power up</h3>
<p id="qEV8ZM">Philadelphia has been buoyed of late by the arrival of <span>Rhys Hoskins</span>, who has burst onto the MLB scene on fire. The first baseman and outfielder has 18 home runs and 39 RBI in his first 37 major league games, hitting a whopping .287/.415/.736.</p>
<p id="tlT4Wy">For comparison, in <span>Cody Bellinger</span>‘s first 37 games earlier this season, he hit .252/.327/.568 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI.</p>
<h3 id="Mi41Db">Sweeportunity</h3>
<p id="JLzHAr">There are still four games remaining, but the Phillies represent the last opportunity for the Dodgers to sweep another season series in 2017, having won all three games at Dodger Stadium from Apr. 28-30 — including <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/29/15490318/dodgers-home-runs-cody-bellinger-yasiel-puig-justin-turner-comeback-wtf-wow">the three-homer “absolute madness” ninth inning comeback</a> in the middle game of the series.</p>
<p id="qbll0j">So far this year, the Dodgers have swept five season series. They were 7-0 against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, 6-0 against the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>, 4-0 against the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>, and 3-0 against both the <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> and <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>.</p>
<h3 id="pL0efZ">Game info</h3>
<p id="8Qo3Fi">Time; 4:05 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="3PLY4B">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16318572/clayton-kershaw-rhys-hoskins-dodgers-phillies-previewEric Stephen2017-09-18T10:00:02-07:002017-09-18T10:00:02-07:00Dodgers-Phillies probable pitchers
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KVaR-McAC_S4Xig2y49_1JaMXis=/0x0:4929x3286/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56712631/usa_today_10278594.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="NhFXSJ">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> conclude their 10-game road trip with four games in Philadelphia against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, beginning Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. Here is a look at the starting pitching matchups and schedule for the series.</p>
<h3 id="YCW860">Monday, 4:05 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)</h3>
<p id="A9uKro"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> is five innings shy of 162 on the season, which would ensure he qualifies for a potential fifth major league ERA title at the end of the season. At 2.12, Kershaw has a third of a run lead over his closest competitor (<span>Corey Kluber</span>, 2.44). Kershaw is also 12 strikeouts shy of becoming the first Dodgers pitcher with seven seasons of 200 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="JTKqLy"><span>Nick Pivetta</span> made his major league debut on Apr. 30 at Dodger Stadium, allowing two runs in five innings in a loss. The rookie right-hander has gotten his head kicked in since the All-Star break, posting an 8.84 ERA in 57 innings, allowing five or more runs in seven of his 12 starts during that span.</p>
<h3 id="KRnV70">Tuesday, 4:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, KTLA)</h3>
<p id="9e1eTy"><span>Yu Darvish</span> has faced the Phillies just once in his career, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out nine in a win for the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> on May 16 earlier this season in Arlington.</p>
<p id="4cQ8RH"><span>Aaron Nola</span> is 8-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 12 home starts in 2017, with 94 strikeouts and 20 walks in 80⅔ innings. The right-hander had a streak of 10 straight starts of at least six innings allowing two or fewer runs earlier this season. He struck out 11 in seven innings in a win over the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> in his last start, on Wednesday in Philadelphia.</p>
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<h3 id="SmuNPb">Wednesday, 4:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h3>
<p id="y5LDhi"><span>Alex Wood</span> has a 2.18 ERA in 12 road starts this season, with 68 strikeouts and 19 walks in 70⅓ innings. He has a 3.06 ERA in seven career games at Citizens Bank Park, including five starts, though he hasn’t pitched in Philadelphia since 2015.</p>
<p id="rFvxk1">Part of the return in the 2015 <span>Cole Hamels</span> trade with Texas, <span>Jake Thompson</span>’s six starts this year can be split into two groups. He has allowed seven, seven, and five runs in half of the starts, and one total run in the other three outings. </p>
<h3 id="MhGY8w">Thursday, 10:05 a.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h3>
<p id="QtMtDi"><span>Kenta Maeda</span> slots back in after an extended break between starts. He last pitched last Monday in San Francisco, allowing four runs in three innings after a pair of rain delays made him wait 3½ hours before taking the mound. </p>
<p id="WIBYpj"><span>Mark Leiter Jr.</span> has a 5.08 ERA in eight starts, with 38 strikeouts and 10 walks, with 10 home runs allowed, compared to his 4.50 ERA in his 16 relief appearances, with 29 strikeouts and 16 walks. He also shares something in common with a former two-sport star:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark Leiter Jr is the first Phils pitcher with 9+ SO in a start and a relief app in the same season since Gene Conley, 1959<br> cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst">@jaysonst</a></p>— Chris Ware (@cwarephils) <a href="https://twitter.com/cwarephils/status/908860577237422081">September 16, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16318542/dodgers-phillies-starting-pitchers-game-times-tv-scheduleEric Stephen2017-09-18T09:59:02-07:002017-09-18T09:59:02-07:00Dodgers-Phillies series snapshot
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sMVv1SqFpYgMgumVoOyw9uOg-50=/0x0:2890x1927/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56730739/usa_today_9500977.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="rcZJeD">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> make their annual trip to Philadelphia, this time for four games against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> at Citizens Bank Park. Here is a wide-view look at both teams before Monday night’s series opener.</p>
<p id="xXqiza">Teams: Dodgers (96-53) vs. Phillies (58-91)</p>
<p id="Z3OpSS">Split records: Dodgers 44-30 on road, Phillies 32-39 at home</p>
<p id="44REkX">Run differential: Dodgers +173 (1st in NL), Phillies -108 (13th in NL)</p>
<p id="oFO4YL">Runs scored: Dodgers 4.74 per game (5th), Phillies 4.23 (12th)</p>
<p id="Mldiok">OPS+: Dodgers 102 (1st), Phillies 92 (10th)</p>
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<p id="RbeLqw">wRC+: Dodgers 104 (1st), Phillies 88 (11th)</p>
<p id="cNJHM3">Runs allowed: Dodgers 3.58 (1st), Phillies 4.95 (10th)</p>
<p id="AnzRLM">ERA+: Dodgers 124 (2nd), Phillies 91 (10th)</p>
<p id="yzTkcP">Last 10 games: Dodgers 4-6, Phillies 5-5</p>
<p id="9FgEYm">2017 head-to-head: 3-0 Dodgers</p>
<p id="tGddwR">2016 head-to-head: 4-2 Dodgers (2-1 LA in Philly)</p>
<p id="OIlmm5">Phillies SB Nation site: <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">The Good Phight</a></p>
<h3 id="wqUHBJ">Series schedule</h3>
<p id="MzrcSb">Monday, 4:05 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)<br>Tuesday, 4:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, KTLA)<br>Wednesday, 4:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)<br>Thursday, 10:05 a.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</p>
<h3 id="DHQifQ">Pitching matchups</h3>
<p id="1RNjgR"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16318542/dodgers-phillies-starting-pitchers-game-times-tv-schedule"><em>More details</em></a></p>
<p id="gLzCQi">Monday: <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> vs. <span>Nick Pivetta</span><br>Tuesday: <span>Yu Darvish</span> vs. <span>Aaron Nola</span><br>Wednesday: <span>Alex Wood</span> vs. <span>Jake Thompson</span><br>Thursday: <span>Kenta Maeda</span> vs. <span>Mark Leiter Jr.</span></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/18/16320422/dodgers-phillies-series-statistics-scheduleEric Stephen