True Blue LA - September 23: Giants 2, Dodgers 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2017-09-23T22:05:46-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/161189332017-09-23T22:05:46-07:002017-09-23T22:05:46-07:00Puig caught stealing on perplexing final play
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8BGDFWnldMfw19wgDVNsveHsCYg=/0x0:3156x2104/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56826397/usa_today_10301882.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>OF says he’s okay after twisting ankle</p> <p id="3wLeXS">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> offense had their troubles on Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, but much of the focus after the game was on <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, who <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/posey-nabs-puig-ends-game/c-1847656783?tid=6479266">was thrown out trying to steal second for the final out of the game</a>.</p>
<p id="HoVVlp">After a one-out single by pinch-hitter <span>Curtis Granderson</span> against San Francisco closer <span>Sam Dyson</span> in the ninth inning, Puig grounded into a force play. With pinch-hitter <span>Chase Utley</span> at the plate, Puig took off for second base. </p>
<p id="y5SSWe">Puig was thrown out by catcher <span>Buster Posey</span>, a play at second base exacerbated by Puig not sliding.</p>
<p id="bgSpWC">“He went on his own, and decided not to slide. You can’t get thrown out. It can’t happen,” said a perturbed <span>Dave Roberts</span>. “It was a bad baseball play. I can’t explain it.”</p>
<p id="DK6B6N">Puig said he thought Dyson looked slow to the plate, and was trying to score the tying run, which if he was safe would have given Utley just the Dodgers’ fifth at-bat with a runner in scoring position all night.</p>
<p id="tiKN93">By not sliding, Puig arrived awkwardly at second base, and had a slight limp walking off the field. </p>
<p id="VY7OxN">“The moment I was going to slide, it felt like I twisted my ankle,” said Puig, who was evaluated by team trainers after the game. “It bothers me a little, but I’m okay.”</p>
<aside id="3m2RPh"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Dodgers fall to Madison Bumgarner in another close one with Giants","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16356238/madison-bumgarner-good-dodgers-post-clinch-giants-recap"}]}'></div></aside><p id="oM1xrn">“Plays like that, when you’re trying to win a championship, can’t happen,” Roberts said.</p>
<h3 id="8lmjMU">New delivery</h3>
<p id="NcQL7j"><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> allowed a run in three innings in his first time on a major league mound since July 20. It was just his third relief appearance in the last 11 seasons, but that wasn’t all that’s new. His windup has a hitch — not quite as pronounced as Hideo Nomo’s, but noticeable — that was added at the suggestion of pitching coach Rick Honeycutt during a bullpen session a few weeks back, something to help with pace and direction.</p>
<p id="fG8iym">“It’s a very pronounced pause in the back. It’s almost like settling there before going forward again. It takes some of the rushing out of the delivery,” McCarthy explained. “It looks weird and it feels like it takes forever, but it definitely feels comfortable.”</p>
<h3 id="EszXc0">Up next</h3>
<p id="zsQU0x"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> is on the mound as the Dodgers go for the series win on Sunday afternoon, a 1:10 p.m. PT start, facing right-hander <span>Chris Stratton</span> for the Giants.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16356560/yasiel-puig-caught-stealing-ankle-dave-roberts-bad-baseball-dodgersEric Stephen2017-09-23T21:37:23-07:002017-09-23T21:37:23-07:00Ryu suffers left forearm contusion, X-rays negative
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-xGkgN4uOLMFL0NWaoX80jO2cqw=/0x0:4599x3066/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56825073/usa_today_10301325.1506219914.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>X-rays were negative</p> <p id="SSJ2rF">LOS ANGELES — <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu left his start against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> in the third inning after taking a line drive off his pitching arm. He suffered a left forearm contusion, and was taken for X-rays, which were negative.</p>
<p id="Tc1yML">“I thought he was throwing the ball well,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “It’s a good thing the X-rays were negative, and we’ll see tomorrow how he responds to treatment.”</p>
<p id="bYlHOK"><span>Joe Panik</span> hit a 94-mph liner back to the mound that deflected directly off Ryu’s pitching hand. Ryu recovered to field the ball and throw Panik out at first base, but then immediately dropped his glove and clutched his left arm.</p>
<p id="72C4ay">After a long meeting on the infield with trainer Nate Lucero, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and Roberts. Ryu left the game. <span>Ross Stripling</span> finished the inning in relief for the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="sH5EFg">Ryu, who allowed a run on three hits in his 2⅓ innings on Saturday, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16354684/hyun-jin-ryu-starting-rotation-dodgers-giants-preview">is in the running for a postseason roster spot</a>, though it is unknown whether his October role — if healthy — would be as a starter or in relief.</p>
<p id="kLQNek">“It seems like a short amount of days [between now and the NLDS], but a lot can happen. To make a decision right now doesn’t seem responsible,” Roberts said on Friday. “[Ryu will] make his start tomorrow, then we’ll reassess.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16356162/hyun-jin-ryu-injury-dodgers-forearm-contusion-line-driveEric Stephen2017-09-23T21:03:20-07:002017-09-23T21:03:20-07:00Dodgers fall to Bumgarner, Giants in low-scoring affair
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XuSmqw_7X-gLdZhuFXGyK6bTC_o=/0x0:2054x1369/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56825947/usa_today_10301324.1506225799.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="MA4kL4">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> had little answer for <span>Madison Bumgarner</span>, who held them at bay into the eighth inning in a 2-1 <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> win on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, snapping a two-game winning streak for Los Angeles.</p>
<p id="ZqTdEU">One night after clinching their fifth National League West title, the Dodgers had regulars <span>Justin Turner</span> and <span>Cody Bellinger</span> out of the lineup, and could only muster five hits against Bumgarner.</p>
<p id="OB4WF1"><span>Kyle Farmer</span>, who was in the lineup at first base in his first major league start, was 1-for-3.</p>
<p id="rFNdO7">The Dodgers didn’t score until the eighth inning, when <span>Austin Barnes</span> hit a solo home run to pull within a run. <span>Charlie Culberson</span> followed with a double, but was ultimately stranded on third.</p>
<p id="Ul1f8c">Bellinger pinch hit against Bumgarner in the eighth inning and though his drive down the right field line had Dodger Stadium abuzz, the ball fell harmlessly into the glove of <span>Hunter Pence</span> on the warning track. <span>Chris Taylor</span> followed with an even deeper ball to the right field wall, but Pence caught that too, ending the threat.</p>
<p id="q22D4J">The Giants right-hander this season has allowed just one run in 14⅔ innings over two starts against the Dodgers, both at Dodger Stadium. He struck out five on Saturday night.</p>
<p id="LZymBe">One of the hits was a pinch-hit single by <span>O`Koyea Dickson</span> in the third inning, his first major league hit. It was Dickson’s first appearance in 13 days.</p>
<p id="czlY09">The San Francisco offense followed a simple, but effective formula. <span>Gorkys Hernandez</span> had three hits, including two doubles, and was driven home twice by a pair of two-out singles — by <span>Buster Posey</span> in the first inning, and <span>Denard Span</span> in the fifth.</p>
<p id="AX9XiK">Hyun-jin Ryu allowed the first of those runs and got hung with the loss. But he also suffered a left forearm contusion after getting hit by a line drive from <span>Joe Panik</span> in the third inning and exited his start much earlier than planned. </p>
<p id="NV5Q8y">Ryu <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16356162/hyun-jin-ryu-injury-dodgers-forearm-contusion-line-drive">during the game was taken for X-rays</a>, which were negative.</p>
<p id="vRmAt8">The Dodgers bullpen allowed just one run in 6⅔ innings in relief of Ryu, including three innings from <span>Brandon McCarthy</span> in just his third relief appearance in the last 11 years, and a scoreless inning from <span>Walker Buehler</span>, who escaped his own bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth.</p>
<p id="KP7hIv">Eight of the 18 meetings between the Dodgers and Giants in 2017 have been decided by one run, plus two more games that went into extra-innings.</p>
<h3 id="mkFcOl">Saturday particulars</h3>
<p id="j3y2Gl"><strong>Home run</strong>: <span>Austin Barnes</span> (7)</p>
<p id="4eqHLQ"><strong>WP - Madison Bumgarner (4-9)</strong>: 7⅔ IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p id="bgHkHk"><strong>LP - Hyun-jin Ryu (5-8)</strong>: 2⅓ IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout</p>
<p id="aLLOZn"><strong>Sv - </strong><span><strong>Sam Dyson</strong></span><strong> (14)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 hit</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16356238/madison-bumgarner-good-dodgers-post-clinch-giants-recapEric Stephen2017-09-23T16:57:14-07:002017-09-23T16:57:14-07:00Farmer starts at 1B, Buehler ‘in the mix’ for October
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<img alt="San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sbsRv2yVA4G3EJFdOB8oNVxp7WM=/0x447:3000x2447/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56824085/824695380.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="CI137M">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ post-clinch lineup has a few regulars getting days off, and among other things <span>Kyle Farmer</span> getting his first major league start.</p>
<p id="cEKGI4">Farmer is starting at first base on Saturday against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, his second major league position played along with two innings in reserve at third base. He is primarily a catcher, though hasn’t yet seen time behind the plate in his stints in the big leagues.</p>
<p id="IBxw4C">“Kyle, you can kind of move him around. He’s played some first, but not a whole lot. He played a lot of third base, and came up as a shortstop before morphing into a catcher,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said. “To get him in the lineup gets <span>Cody [Bellinger]</span> a day off. Ever since he came back from the disabled list, he hasn’t had a scheduled day off. It will be nice to get him off his feet.”</p>
<div id="vNm7cB"><div data-anthem-component="table:666353"></div></div>
<p id="CPw7mV">Bellinger since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 30 started 23 of 24 games, with his only game off the second game of the Sept. 2 doubleheader in San Diego against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>.</p>
<p id="G3tIxh"><span>Justin Turner</span> is also sitting on Saturday, still under the weather and unavailable per Roberts. Turner’s status for a potential Sunday return to the lineup is to be determined.</p>
<p id="3xpcVV">“He’s trying to get his strength back, and doesn’t feel great,” Roberts said. “The thumb is still point tender.”</p>
<p id="Ssqwki">In addition to 51 minor league games at catcher this season, Farmer started at every infield position for Triple-A Oklahoma City. That included six games and four starts at first base, where Farmer took extra ground balls and throws before batting practice on Saturday.</p>
<p id="v3jlcw">Farmer is 4-for-12 (.333) with a double in his first 12 games, all in reserve. If he does end up catching at some point during these final eight games of the regular season, Farmer will be <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/VhVgZ">the first Dodger to play first base, third base, and catcher all in the same year since Bill Sudakis in 1971</a>.</p>
<h3 id="PIKudM">Buehler, anyone?</h3>
<p id="G1SQpN">Farmer’s versatility could earn him a spot on a potential postseason roster should the Dodgers decide to carry three catchers — freeing up either <span>Austin Barnes</span> or <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> to be used more liberally when not starting — but another rookie is making an October push as well.</p>
<p id="uEFi0Q"><span>Walker Buehler</span>, the club’s first-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2015, has a 10.13 ERA in his first 5⅓ major league innings, but has impressed with his stuff — averaging <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/tabs.php?player=621111&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=09/23/2017&s_type=2">98.22 mph on his four-seam fastball</a>, for instance — and his ability to learn on the fly.</p>
<p id="Ear5JD">The right-hander struck out three in a scoreless inning on Thursday in Philadelphia. Buehler entered that game down a run in the sixth inning, and earned his first major league win. Roberts said Buehler is still in the mix for a postseason roster spot, and will receive more tests over the final week plus of the regular season.</p>
<p id="Lwdzdw">“He’s shown me that he’s continuing to slow the game down. The stuff really plays — the fastball, the curveball, for the most part the slider,” Roberts said. “I liked his last outing in Philadelphia. I’m going to continue to put him in higher leverage situations and see what we got.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16354914/kyle-farmer-dodgers-lineup-walker-buehler-playoff-mixEric Stephen2017-09-23T10:53:15-07:002017-09-23T10:53:15-07:00Ryu aiming for rotation spot
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q-CpuMJ4MGYFYaHMSrBeQgE4faQ=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56820941/849718648.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="yKiWBD">LOS ANGELES — In winning the National League West on Friday night, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> won their 98th game of the season. On Saturday, No. 99 takes the mound in the middle game of the series against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>.</p>
<p id="1oj5pF">Hyun-jin Ryu starts, with at least ostensibly a chance to crack the postseason starting rotation. <span>Kenta Maeda</span> made his final start of the season on Thursday, throwing 61 pitches in three innings on Thursday, and over the final week of the season will transition to the bullpen, which would be his role, if any, in October.</p>
<p id="gYv7sC">But for Ryu, that move to the bullpen isn’t planned just yet.</p>
<p id="AEW6JP">“I don’t see him going three or four [innings]. I see him going deeper. He’s throwing the baseball really well right now,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said. “It’s one of those things we’ll see how it plays out, and keep him built up.”</p>
<p id="7h5Ihy">Ryu has a 3.46 ERA in 23 games in 2017, including 22 starts, with 114 strikeouts and 44 walks in 122 innings, coming back after shoulder and elbow surgeries limited him to just one start in 2015-16 combined. Since a brief move to the bullpen in May — he notched a four-inning save on May 25 — Ryu has a 3.06 ERA in 15 starts and has allowed three or fewer runs in 12 of those outings.</p>
<p id="MMeF91">It <em>seems</em> like the Dodgers’ playoff rotation will include <span>Yu Darvish</span>, <span>Rich Hill</span> and <span>Alex Wood</span> lined up in some order after <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, but given Wood’s experience in the bullpen perhaps he could be utilized in multiple games per postseason series instead of starting once. That would allow Ryu to slot in as the fourth starter in October, a role he is more used to.</p>
<p id="2rte3N">Roberts, on Friday at least, wasn’t willing to reveal his plans.</p>
<p id="7d5M7c">“We still have [now eight] games to go. It seems like a short amount of days, but a lot can happen. To make a decision right now doesn’t seem responsible,” Roberts said. “[Ryu will] make his start tomorrow, then we’ll reassess.”</p>
<h3 id="sNlgok">Minor leaguer suspended</h3>
<p id="dF3eRk">Dodgers right-handed pitcher Oliver Polanco on Friday was suspended for 72 games for testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance enhancing drug. The 21-year-old pitcher, signed out of Santo Domingo in January 2016, posted a 2.84 ERA in the Dominican Summer League this season, with 13 walks and 12 strikeouts in 19 innings.</p>
<h3 id="ffUGdd">Game info</h3>
<p id="9TSmuh">Time: 6:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="uY8UC6">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/23/16354684/hyun-jin-ryu-starting-rotation-dodgers-giants-previewEric Stephen2017-09-22T10:59:01-07:002017-09-22T10:59:01-07:00Dodgers-Giants series snapshot
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eBumoLutvpQgkJPFYIo_L_lb37I=/0x117:3928x2736/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56807537/usa_today_10185001.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Final meeting of 2017</p> <p id="vP5cSI">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> meet up with the rival <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> for the final time in 2017, welcoming them for three games this weekend at Dodger Stadium. Here is an overview of both teams heading into the divisional matchup.</p>
<p id="9swHXC">Teams: Dodgers (97-56) vs. Giants (60-93)</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="xr0bo0"><div data-anthem-component="table:663826"></div></div></div>
<p id="UnqoJM">Split records: Dodgers 52-23 at home, Giants 24-51 on road</p>
<p id="rdEjzE">Run differential: Dodgers +167 (1st in NL), Giants -141 (15th in NL)</p>
<p id="sJapKI">Runs scored: Dodgers 4.72 per game (7th), Giants 3.94 (14th)</p>
<p id="ps7oUh">OPS+: Dodgers 101 (3rd), Giants 82 (15th)</p>
<p id="TiHBXi">wRC+: Dodgers 104 (1st), Giants 82 (15th)</p>
<p id="af8OfR">Runs allowed: Dodgers 3.63 (1st), Giants 4.86 (9th)</p>
<p id="BKqXf1">ERA+: Dodgers 122 (2nd), Giants 92 (9th)</p>
<p id="emNSnK">Last 10 games: Dodgers 5-5, Giants 4-6</p>
<p id="RTHrnk">2017 head-to-head record: 9-7 LA (4-2 LA in LA)</p>
<p id="xXqiza">2016 head-to-head: 11-8 Giants (8-2 SF in SF)</p>
<p id="aV5cg0">Dodgers clinches against Giants: 1977, 1983, 2004, 2006, 2014 and 2015</p>
<p id="kil4tY">Giants SB Nation site: <a href="http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">McCovey Chronicles</a></p>
<h3 id="xdThOZ">Pitching matchups</h3>
<p id="OvrxMO">Friday: <span>Rich Hill</span> vs. <span>Jeff Samardzija</span><br>Saturday: Hyun-jin Ryu vs. <span>Madison Bumgarner</span> (L)<br>Sunday: <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> vs. <span>Chris Stratton</span></p>
<h3 id="MqVKHX">Series schedule</h3>
<p id="UYVBCa">Friday. 7:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)<br>Saturday, 6:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)<br>Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/22/16348106/dodgers-giants-series-statistics-scheduleEric Stephen2017-09-22T06:00:02-07:002017-09-22T06:00:02-07:00Dodgers-Giants probable pitchers
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5PDCBLbbv2_Z7iuOWqNqsComLxc=/30x0:3054x2016/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56783823/usa_today_10188898.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="UKRKuG">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> return to Dodger Stadium for their final homestand of the regular season, beginning with three games against the rival <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. Here is a look at the probable pitching matchups for this weekend series in Los Angeles.</p>
<h3 id="B4cKWT">Friday, 7:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)</h3>
<p id="tP6qXH"><span>Rich Hill</span> gets the opener on Friday, making what will be the Dodgers’ 100th start by a left-handed pitcher in 2017. This is the second time in franchise history the Dodgers have had 100 starts by left-handed pitchers, trailing only the 1965 team’s 112 starts.</p>
<p id="oLyZL6">Good for the Giants: <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> leads the National League in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.79) and is second in innings pitched (197⅓), proving to be every bit the workhorse that San Francisco signed to a five-year, $90 million deal before 2016. The bad: Samardzija is tied for sixth in the NL with 28 home runs allowed and has a 4.42 ERA despite pitching his home games in one of the friendliest pitching environments in the game.</p>
<h3 id="h9GHsy">Saturday, 6:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h3>
<p id="fBcQW7">Hyun-jin Ryu continues his bid for a postseason roster spot, sporting a 2.36 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break, with opposing batters hitting .218/.303/.330 during that time.</p>
<p id="n2ZNa1">You know it’s been a rough year for the Giants when <span>Madison Bumgarner</span> is 3-9 despite a 3.48 ERA. He has 11 quality starts in his 16 outings this season — posting a 2.40 ERA in those games, averaging 6.82 innings per start — but the Giants have lost 10 of those 11 games.</p>
<h3 id="LfOUjH">Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h3>
<p id="2VVGZ6"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> enters Sunday six strikeouts shy of his seventh 200-strikeout season. He also enters the series finale with a 3.74 ERA in four September starts since his return from the disabled list, his highest ERA in any month since May 2015 (3.97).</p>
<p id="7k1Y7F">In his start last week against the Dodgers, <span>Chris Stratton</span> only lasted one batter — a strikeout — because of a nearly three-hour rain delay. Since the beginning of August, the right-hander has a 2.38 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 16 walks in 34 innings.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/9/22/16328674/dodgers-giants-starting-pitchers-game-times-tvEric Stephen