True Blue LA - April 17: Dodgers 7, Padres 3 (12)Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2018-04-18T00:50:59-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/170290472018-04-18T00:50:59-07:002018-04-18T00:50:59-07:00Roberts on Kenley: ‘Right now, he’s not right’
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zBfrB5DzqOuHrYAyGZoQrHFwF8g=/0x13:2144x1442/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59429893/usa_today_10791860.1524037859.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="dhlm5I">SAN DIEGO — Throughout nearly all of his time as the closer the worry about the bullpen has been how will the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> get the ball to <span>Kenley Jansen</span> at the end of the game. But so far in 2018 the main problem has been Jansen himself, the latest a command-free ninth inning that saw him blow a two-run lead.</p>
<p id="CffVdN">“Right now, he’s not right, with the way the ball is coming out of his hand,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said after Tuesday’s extra-inning win over the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>.</p>
<p id="urEKG9">“When you have a two-run lead and have the best closer in baseball you don’t expect to use three other relievers,” Roberts said.</p>
<p id="HLqCfZ">But the problem is that Jansen, who owns a career 2.16 ERA with peripherals to match, hasn’t been the best closer in baseball this season. Far from it.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="KD1XQE"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Strong setup, blown punchline, but Dodgers get last laugh","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17250452/yasmani-grandal-kyle-farmer-rescue-kenley-jansen-struggles-again-dodgers-padres-extra-innings"}]}'></div></aside></div>
<p id="RRFudp">The problems have ranged this season for Jansen from velocity — down 3-4 mph in his first game of the season, allowing a tie-breaking home run in the ninth — to command, the latter manifesting in two walks and a three-run game-tying home run in Arizona on April 2, in what ended up an extra-inning loss.</p>
<p id="1T1wAh">On Tuesday night it wasn’t so much the pitch speed for Jansen, but rather his cutter — the bread and butter pitch <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/tabs.php?player=445276&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=04/18/2018&s_type=2">he has thrown 88% of the time in his career</a> — wasn’t cutting.</p>
<p id="l7jR8Q">“The velocity was good but the characteristics of his cutter just weren’t doing what it typically does,” Roberts said. “There were some good throws but there were others that were straight as a string. The one to Hosmer, the one to <span>Villanueva</span>.”</p>
<p id="bHdJn4"><span>Eric Hosmer</span> hit a solo home run to pull the Padres within a run, then <span>Christian Villanueva</span> followed with a near home run to center, only to have <span>Chris Taylor</span> grant Jansen a temporary reprieve with a spectacular catch.</p>
<p id="2nEFlb">“Today I missed location. I missed a lot,” Jansen said. “I just have to find it and be consistent.</p>
<p id="x1DVJa">“I just got to get better. I can’t let that get in my mind, what’s wrong with me or this and that. It’s early in the year. I’m never going to let that get to the confidence in my mind. No hitter is going to get in my mind. I have confidence in myself, I will find it. It’s a matter of time.”</p>
<p id="b1Hyty">Jansen has an 8.10 ERA and has allowed six runs so far in 2018 after allowing 11 runs all of last season. He last allowed six runs in a month in July 2015.</p>
<p id="3GirVy">Jansen said he will need to watch video on Wednesday to help deduce the problems, but he suspects he is not fully extending on his delivery to home plate.</p>
<p id="e28Axe">“Once I extend that’s when I have my best cut. Probably today that’s the one thing I misfired on,” Jansen said. “I just have to be consistent, stay behind the ball and make my spots. That’s when the ball cuts.”</p>
<p id="EmQVv3">Should the Dodgers find themselves in a position to possibly sweep San Diego on Wednesday night Roberts said Jansen would get the ball again.</p>
<p id="9eIoq6">“We’re going to need him if we want to accomplish what we need to accomplish,” Roberts said. “If the situation calls for it we’re going to run him back out there.”</p>
<p id="LdwLHo">“Tomorrow’s another day,” Jansen said. “Just gotta go back out there.”</p>
<h3 id="t09pJK">Up next</h3>
<p id="pkAYvu">The Dodgers will send <span>Kenta Maeda</span> to the mound on Wednesday looking for the series sweep in yet another 7:10 p.m. PT start. The Padres will turn to <span>Luis Perdomo</span>, back from serving a five-game suspension for his role in last week’s brawl with the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/18/17250866/kenley-jansen-struggles-cutter-pitch-execution-dodgers-worried-mechanical-adjustmentsEric Stephen2018-04-17T23:23:09-07:002018-04-17T23:23:09-07:00Strong setup, blown punchline, but Dodgers get last laugh
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QXk3vaGQdWGPYD9iZHYSTpDVyrM=/0x795:3020x2808/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59429657/947968636.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Without this great catch by Chris Taylor, there might not have been extra innings on Tuesday night. | Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="NPQjq8">SAN DIEGO — <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> and <span>Kyle Farmer</span> each hit two-run doubles in the 12th inning, helping the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> overcome yet another turbulent outing by <span>Kenley Jansen</span>, who lacked command and earned his second blown save of the season. </p>
<p id="rZVpW8">The four-run explosion in the 12th meant a 7-3 win over the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> on Tuesday night at Petco Park in San Diego, giving the Dodgers their first three-game win streak of the season.</p>
<p id="6jha0G">Tuesday was the fourth extra-inning contest in 16 games for the Dodgers this season. They have now evened their record in those games.</p>
<p id="2cPWSR">The double for Grandal against Padres pitcher <span>Tyler Webb</span> gave him three extra base hits in the two-game series, and now a team-leading 12 RBI. Farmer followed with a two-run double of his own, continuing a unique trend. Farmer has five career runs batted in, all collected on three extra-inning doubles.</p>
<h3 id="wO0QtS">Bumpy ride again</h3>
<p id="FiAM2P">Jansen, in his first game since Friday, was unable to secure a two-run lead in the ninth inning. He allowed a leadoff home run to <span>Eric Hosmer</span> in the ninth to cut the lead in half, and nearly allowed the tying home run to Christian Villaneuva, only to have <span>Chris Taylor</span> save the day by leaping at the center field wall for the second out of the inning.</p>
<p id="nFyzCC">A two-out walk to <span>Franchy Cordero</span> exposed the <em>normal</em> weakness for Jansen, who saw <span>Cordero</span> steal second and get balked to third base. Not holding runners is what we’re used to from Jansen, flaws usually swept under the rug by his excellent results on the mound.</p>
<p id="sC6jN2">But in 2018 the results have been far from excellent. <span>Chase Headley</span> ripped a two-out double off Jansen to tie the score in an inning Jansen was able to escape after 26 pitches. Jansen this season has two blown saves, three walks and three home runs allowed in just seven games, and an 8.10 ERA.</p>
<p id="tiXEqI">Last year he had one blown save all season, to go with seven walks and five home runs allowed in 65 games.</p>
<p id="0mdYHg"><span>Ross Stripling</span> loaded the bases on walks in the 10th inning, one intentional, but struck out Hunter Renfroe and <span>Christian Villanueva</span> to escape the jam. </p>
<p id="knom6k"><span>Scott Alexander</span>, who has had trouble with the strike zone to start his 2018, walked pitcher <span>Tyson Ross</span> — who was pinch hitting, with both teams out of position players — with one out in the 11th inning, but erased his mistake by inducing his team-high fourth ground ball double play to end the inning. </p>
<p id="x32sVl">Alexander got the win, and <span>Josh Fields</span> closed out the game with a scoreless 12th. Dodgers pitchers struck out 20 batters on the night, setting a new season high.</p>
<h3 id="ZP0KeK">Deja vu</h3>
<p id="L9B4nD"><span>Matt Kemp</span> struck again versus his former team, this time in the first inning with one out after a Taylor leadoff single. Kemp hit a 423-foot shot over the right center field wall for his second home run in as many days.</p>
<p id="xgSnlg">A fly ball to right field in the fifth inning was plenty deep enough to score Taylor from third base, tacking on another run. Kemp is now tied with Grandal for the team lead in home runs (three), and his 10 RBI are only two behind Grandal team-leading mark.</p>
<p id="e5uWJI">Unlike <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/16/17244964/yasmani-grandal-grand-slam-hot-start">the series opener</a>, Kemp remained in Tuesday night’s game well past the fifth inning. This time the swap with <span>Joc Pederson</span> didn’t happen until the bottom of the seventh inning, and on Tuesday Kemp got to bat in the top of the inning before getting replaced on defense in left field.</p>
<p id="9unIr3">Those three runs of support were a bounty for <span>Alex Wood</span>, who saw the Dodgers score all of one run total in his first three starts combined.</p>
<p id="SFVxlI">Wood on the night struck out seven and allowed an unearned run in his 5⅓ innings, and induced seven ground balls. He retired 11 in a row at one point.</p>
<p id="ENYJef">Things got wonky in the sixth for Wood, who after a leadoff double walked pinch-hitter <span>Matt Szczur</span>. It was the first walk of the season for Wood in his 88th batter faced, and after 22 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="0VRuWU">A one-out comebacker set Wood up for a potential inning-ending double play, but his errant throw to second base allowed a run to score and put a runner on third with only one out. That ended the night after just 77 pitches for Wood, who used a bat in the tunnel behind the Dodgers dugout to express some frustration. It was the hardest contact induced by Wood all night.</p>
<h3 id="yVuZYR">Strong setup, at least</h3>
<p id="Vzr77n">With a 3-1 lead manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> played the matchups in the sixth, using southpaw <span>Tony Cingrani</span> for the left-handed Hosmer, then turning to the right-handed J.T. Chargois for righty <span>Hunter Renfroe</span>.</p>
<p id="qtz04d">Both struck out, to squash the threat.</p>
<p id="TgfXQd"><span>Pedro Baez</span> relieved Chargois with two outs in the seventh inning and struck out all four batters he faced, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/PtHim">third time in his career he has struck out at least four in a game</a> (the other two were 2-inning appearances).</p>
<p id="UhpBqd">Cingrani, Chargois and Baez combined to record eight outs on Tuesday, including seven by strikeout, allowing just one walk. </p>
<p id="WjrNPJ">It is still super early, but here are the strikeout rates for those three relievers this season:</p>
<p id="5m0XDA">Cingrani 48% (12 K, 25 batters faced)<br>Baez 36.4% (12 K, 33 BF)<br>Chargois 31.8% (7 K, 22 BF)</p>
<h3 id="ENoVVq">Tuesday particulars</h3>
<p id="Sc7mFA"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Matt Kemp (3); Eric Hosmer (2)</p>
<p id="AKHqBp"><strong>WP - </strong><strong>Scott Alexander</strong><strong> (1-0)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 walk</p>
<p id="H8UNYb"><strong>LP - </strong><strong>Tyler Webb</strong><strong> (0-1)</strong>: ⅓ IP, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17250452/yasmani-grandal-kyle-farmer-rescue-kenley-jansen-struggles-again-dodgers-padres-extra-inningsEric Stephen2018-04-17T20:27:04-07:002018-04-17T20:27:04-07:00Dodgers acquire Ariel Hernandez from Reds
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/D8U7qWUI1itfx5W9YmRuLbs0W4Q=/0x0:3390x2260/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59428305/811003082.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Minor leaguers Zach Neal and Ibandel Isabel sent to Cincinnati</p> <p id="lur70l">SAN DIEGO — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Tuesday acquired hard-throwing right-handed pitcher <span>Ariel Hernandez</span> from the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> in exchange for pitcher <span>Zach Neal</span> and first baseman Ibandel Isabel.</p>
<p id="gHCsuB">Hernandez, 26, struck out 29 in 24⅓ innings in his 19 relief appearances with the Reds, and averaged 98.26 mph on his fastball <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/tabs.php?player=554374&b_hand=-1&gFilt=&pFilt=FA%7CSI%7CFC%7CCU%7CSL%7CCS%7CKN%7CCH%7CFS%7CSB&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=04/17/2018&s_type=2">per Brooks Baseball</a>, plus a hard curveball that averaged 87.55 mph. But he also lacked control, walking 22 batters in those 24⅓ innings while posting a 5.18 ERA.</p>
<p id="UvBsA3">He also walked 39 batters in 50 minor league innings in 2017 between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville, while posting a 3.24 ERA with 58 strikeouts.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I saw Ariel Hernandez throw this spring, his stuff was down a little bit, which means his fastball was mid-90s....breaking ball wasn't as sharp. But arm is still really special.</p>— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcoop36/status/984872119472414720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2018</a>
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<p id="igsyVo">Hernandez was designated for assignment by the Reds on Friday when Cincinnati promoted old friend <span>Dylan Floro</span>.</p>
<p id="PASqyC">The right-hander has 63 days of major league service time and two option years remaining, having used an option in 2017. The Dodgers plan to have Hernandez report to Double-A Tulsa.</p>
<div id="yBaoTG"><div style="max-width: 960px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.mlb.com/video/share/statcast-hernandezs-debut/c-1319978583?tid=240568594" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="ycsUQU">Isabel hit .259/.327/.489 with 28 home runs for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in his age-22 season last year, and was 5-for-21 (.238) with two doubles and a home run to open 2018, again with the Quakes. Cincinnati will send Isabel to Class-A Daytona.</p>
<p id="9EoiFK">Our own David Hood <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/16/17238828/walker-buehler-2018-dodgers-prospects">ranked Isabel as the Dodgers’ 33rd-best prospect heading into 2018</a>., citing “plus-plus raw power, physical build, strength” as his strengths and “huge swing and miss, poor defender, raw” as his weaknesses.</p>
<p id="dWXwFN">Neal was a non-roster invitee with the Dodgers this spring after signing a minor league contract, and pitched one game in relief in the majors, filling in in the bullpen when <span>Josh Fields</span> was on paternity leave. Neal <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/5/17203544/alec-asher-waiver-claim-dodgers-orioles">was designated for assignment on Apr. 5</a>, cleared waivers and was sent outright back to Triple-A, where he had a 3.72 ERA in two starts and 9⅔ innings with Oklahoma City.</p>
<p id="GTRyN0">Neal will report to Triple-A Louisville in the Reds system.</p>
<p id="ARasZi">With Tuesday’s transactions — pitcher Alex Asher claimed <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17248522/alec-asher-waiver-claim-brewers-dodgers">off waivers by the Brewers</a>, <span>Max Muncy</span> called <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17250000/max-muncy-called-up-dodgers-breyvic-valera-optioned-third-base-coverage">up from Triple-A</a>, and now the addition of Hernandez — the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is full once again.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17250224/ariel-hernandez-trade-dodgers-reds-zach-neal-ibandel-isabelEric Stephen2018-04-17T19:23:03-07:002018-04-17T19:23:03-07:00Muncy called up to help fill-in at third base
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5GTV4h4fqKjI2UKx_e3KMmJ2fEM=/0x445:3712x2920/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59427663/925912720.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="guLykp">SAN DIEGO — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> wanted a little more power out of their left-handed third base option with <span>Logan Forsythe</span> sidelined with right shoulder inflammation, so on Tuesday they promoted <span>Max Muncy</span> from Triple-A Oklahoma City.</p>
<p id="FDctDg">Muncy signed with the Dodgers last season and hit .309/.414/.491 with 20 doubles and 12 home runs in 109 games for Oklahoma City, and started this season 10-for-32 (.313/.421/.563) with two home runs and two doubles in Triple-A before the call up. He saw time mostly at third base and first base last year but also mixed in time at second base and both outfielder corners.</p>
<p id="9ZJcyQ">“Third and first is where he thrives, and I really like him in the box,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said.</p>
<p id="lzyyP0">That mirrors what Muncy said during spring training, when he was a non-roster invitee in big league camp.</p>
<p id="ZRnNdG">“The position I like most is hitting,” Muncy said in February. “As long as they get me out there in the field it doesn’t matter where I’m at.”</p>
<p id="fTOFqu">Muncy started his first six games this season at first base before playing third on Saturday. After Forsythe was removed from Saturday’s major league game, the Dodgers had Muncy play two more games at the hot corner with Oklahoma City before calling him up.</p>
<p id="QBpgkM"><span>Breyvic Valera</span>, who was recalled in the interim, was 0-for-1 with a walk in his two appearances as a pinch hitter. He was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday to make room for Muncy.</p>
<p id="H2YCi6">“Once we lost Logan we wanted to bring somebody quickly, and Valera was very versatile. We wanted to give Max some days at third base to get comfortable, knowing we had Kikè Hernandez and <span>Kyle Farmer</span> for coverage.”</p>
<p id="Z8B0ei">Roberts said Muncy will start at third base in Wednesday’s series finale against <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> right-hander <span>Luis Perdomo</span>, who returns from suspension. Muncy might also start Friday night when the Dodgers open their three-game weekend series at home against the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>, facing <span>Max Scherzer</span>.</p>
<p id="HB6Evq">“I’ll fit in wherever they want me to fit in,” Muncy said Tuesday. “I offer a left-handed bat and defensive versatility. That’s what I’m going for right now.”</p>
<p id="F18FR2">Muncy found out the news of his potential call-up on Monday night, after Oklahoma City won its third straight walk-off, in extra innings. The team was preparing for a roughly six-hour, overnight bus ride to Texas to begin a road trip.</p>
<p id="zBfs7M">“We were packing up the bags and the manager called me aside and said, ‘You’re not going on the bus tonight, you might be going up,” Muncy recalled. “Either way you’re going to have a plane flight tomorrow to either Round Rock or San Diego.’”</p>
<p id="rtkp2c">Muncy, 27, played parts of 2015 and 2016 with the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>, hitting .195/.290/.321 in 245 plate appearances. Now, he’s back in the majors, at least until Forsythe returns from the disabled list.</p>
<p id="rioe1V">“It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time getting the call or your 30th time, it’s always excitement getting back to the big leagues,” Muncy said.</p>
<p id="MrZ5sz">For the record, this is Muncy’s eighth call-up to the majors.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17250000/max-muncy-called-up-dodgers-breyvic-valera-optioned-third-base-coverageEric Stephen2018-04-17T15:28:00-07:002018-04-17T15:28:00-07:00Dodgers hope third time is a charm
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qRG5TvEPuyYo96uWqaEID_K8cDs=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59425711/947273256.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="BQceuJ">SAN DIEGO — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> for a third time this season try for a third consecutive win, continuing their series against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> on Tuesday night at Petco Park.</p>
<p id="zBlEPC">Everything has come in bunches so far for the Dodgers this season: lose two, win two, lose four, win two, lose three, win two.</p>
<p id="FgVqPw"><span>Alex Wood</span> is on the mound trying to extend that win streak to three, and looking to bounce back from allowing seven runs and not getting out of the fourth inning last Wednesday against the A’s. He has a 2.25 ERA in 28 career innings in San Diego, with 35 strikeouts and 11 walks.</p>
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<p id="MmiUJl">The Dodgers have scored just one total run with Wood in the game in his three starts, which is a big reason why the club is 0-3 in those games. But they have scored 17 runs in their last two games, both wins.</p>
<p id="ivYIMI">“The at-bat quality up and down the lineup was very good,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said after Monday’s win. “We took walks when we needed to and stressed those guys.”</p>
<p id="rfYBXz">Taking those walks when they need to might come a little easier on Tuesday, if the start to this season is any indication. <span>Bryan Mitchell</span>, acquired from the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> during the offseason, has a whopping 14 walks and just three strikeouts in his three starts with San Diego, and a 5.27 ERA.</p>
<p id="pHEEyV">Among the 157 major league pitchers with at least 10 innings in 2018, Mitchell ranks 157th with a 21.2% walk rate. He has more walks than strikeouts in all three starts so far this season.</p>
<p id="X1uIn2">The Padres are running the same lineup as Monday night with the exception of <span>A.J. Ellis</span> starting at catcher in place of <span>Austin Hedges</span>.</p>
<p id="t3N4tV">Ellis since leaving the Dodgers in August 2016 is 3-for-8 (.375) with a pair of doubles against his former team, with all of that coming in 2017 with Miami.</p>
<h3 id="kKtyDB">San Diego move</h3>
<p id="qgs1M0">The Padres made a roster move before Tuesday’s game, swapping left-handed relievers in their bullpen. <span>Tyler Webb</span> was recalled from the minors and <span>Kyle McGrath</span> was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. McGrath pitched an inning on Monday night and has pitched three total innings over the last two days.</p>
<h3 id="qHrSP3">Game info</h3>
<p id="TiWfa4">Time: 7:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="Tn2dvn">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
<p id="L1Rcmg"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17249340/dodgers-streaks-padres-preview-alex-wood-bryan-mitchell-aj-ellisEric Stephen2018-04-17T14:51:02-07:002018-04-17T14:51:02-07:00Kiké remembers MLB games in Puerto Rico: ‘I was in absolute awe of it all’
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<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z98YVqDRJNdN82cUhsX9GyMn9jk=/0x0:3996x2664/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59425165/946487946.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="cSQrRx">SAN DIEGO — The <a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> and <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> are in Puerto Rico to play two regular season games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan on Tuesday and Wednesday, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ Kiké Hernandez, who was born in San Juan.</p>
<p id="F43wmX">“I’m not going to lie, I’m a little bit jealous,” he said.</p>
<p id="APsJRt">Hernandez is one of 19 major leaguers born in Puerto Rico who were on opening day rosters. Among that group are <span>Francisco Lindor</span> and <span>Roberto Perez</span> of the Indians, and <span>Eddie Rosario</span> and <span>Jose Berrios</span> of the Twins, who are playing in their home for a couple of days.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best School Day EVER!: Frankie returns to his former grammar school, Escuela Villa Marina, in Gurabo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PuertoRicoSeries?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PuertoRicoSeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/izSgHXHWnA">pic.twitter.com/izSgHXHWnA</a></p>— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indians/status/985903026945822720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2018</a>
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<p id="S63x7x">This is the fifth time MLB has played regular season games in Puerto Rico, and the first time since the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> and <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> in 2010. The <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> and <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> opened the 2001 season in San Juan, when Hernandez was nine years old. </p>
<p id="tMbgAw">“From what I remember as a kid, I was in absolute awe of it all,” Hernandez said. “That was my first big league game ever. I never expected big league baseball to be played there.”</p>
<p id="TxXGBa">The Expos in 2003 and 2004, their final seasons in Montreal, played 22 and 21 home games, respectively at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.</p>
<p id="laWRD7">“With the Expos everybody was really excited about <span>Javier Vazquez</span> and Jose Vidro. When the Rangers came Pudge [Rodriguez] and <span>Juan Gonzalez</span> were there,” Hernandez said. “With the Mets there were a lot, including <span>Alex Cora</span> and Robbie Alomar.”</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="nJC4kc"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Dodgers & Padres to play 3-game series in Mexico in 2018","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2017/11/13/16642524/dodgers-padres-mexico-series-may-2018"}]}'></div></aside></div>
<p id="SOmlLg">The new collective bargaining agreement calls for major league games to also be played in Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic in 2019 during spring training and again in one of those two spots during the 2020 regular season. There are also annual games planned for Mexico every season through 2021, including the Dodgers and <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> in Monterrey from May 4-6 this season.</p>
<p id="XP2fqb">“People love it. They show up, embrace it. It’s a different atmosphere for American players. They are fun,” Hernandez said. “It’s good for the sport to go around and give people in other places the chance to watch big league baseball.”</p>
<p id="FP0iyX">The Dodgers’ Mexico trip is coming up pretty quickly, now just over two weeks away. Will playing in an unfamiliar ballpark be a challenge for either team?</p>
<p id="hfLKkG">“It’s the same as if we’re playing interleague and haven’t been to a new stadium,” Hernandez said. “The biggest thing there is your first at-bat, the visual of it all. It’s going to be a blast.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17247570/kike-hernandez-mlb-games-puerto-rico-dodgers-mexicoEric Stephen