True Blue LA - April 23: Dodgers 2, Marlins 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2018-04-23T22:30:39-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/170468672018-04-23T22:30:39-07:002018-04-23T22:30:39-07:00Late rally gives Dodgers seventh win in the last eight games
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<figcaption>Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="hkjtLC"><span>Cody Bellinger</span> delivered a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to lift the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> to a 2-1 over the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>. The win is the seventh in the last eight games for Los Angeles as they climb above the .500 mark for the first time all season at 11-10.</p>
<p id="WbzIOJ">With the game knotted at one apiece, the Dodgers had runners on the corners with one out for <span>Bellinger</span>. The Dodger first baseman smacked a line drive to right field that was more than enough to get <span>Chris Taylor</span> home with the go-ahead run.</p>
<p id="NDP9Uc">The Marlins had tied the ballgame in the top half of the inning on a Brian Anderson RBI-single, taking advantage of a hit batter and a throwing error earlier in the inning. Anderson snuck a slow roller up the middle to score <span>Starlin Castro</span> from second easily.</p>
<p id="lQGjGB">It was the Kiké Hernandez show early on in the game as the super-utility man on the roster made a pair of spectacular plays and clubbed his their homer of the year.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's <a href="https://twitter.com/kikehndez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kikehndez</a>'s world, we're just living in it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://t.co/0fa03Rryws">pic.twitter.com/0fa03Rryws</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/988621763079737344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a>
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<p id="APTJKt">Hernandez has come alive at the plate recently, going 7-for-10 with with two homers, four singles, a double and two walks in his las 11 plate appearances.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh, <a href="https://twitter.com/kikehndez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kikehndez</a> knew. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://t.co/lWRExCQX4P">pic.twitter.com/lWRExCQX4P</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/988624846387998725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a>
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<p id="eQBr2a"><span>Josh Fields</span> nailed down the ninth inning for his first save of the season with <span>Kenley Jansen</span> unavailable after closing down the last two wins against the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>.</p>
<h2 id="ll3dGF">First Things First</h2>
<p id="LunYyQ"><span>Walker Buehler</span> made it through five scoreless innings in his first career start. The right-hander struck out five while giving up four hits and three walks.</p>
<p id="GYOFN1">The Marlins loaded the bases in the first inning with a pair of singles and a walk but wouldn’t score as Buehler struck out J.B. Shuck to end the frame on a 99-mph fastball.</p>
<p id="uvlNh0">The 23-year-old Buehler is not expected to make an extended stay in the big leagues but could make another start as the 26th man on the roster for the Dodgers-<a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> doubleheader in San Francisco this weekend.</p>
<h3 id="X8LTtB">Monday particulars</h3>
<p id="xOwAzh"><strong>Home run</strong>: Kiké Hernandez (3)</p>
<p id="6A4ldv"><strong>WP - </strong><span><strong>Adam Liberatore</strong></span><strong> (1-0)</strong>: 2/3 IP</p>
<p id="hf4sI2"><strong>LP - </strong><span><strong>Kyle Barraclough</strong></span><strong> (0-1)</strong>: 1 IP, 2 hit, 1 run, 1 strikeout</p>
<p id="gGmasQ"><strong>Sv - </strong><strong>Josh Fields</strong><strong> (1)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 hit</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/23/17274146/dodgers-win-again-i-know-its-just-the-marlins-keep-it-goingRyan Walton2018-04-23T16:29:01-07:002018-04-23T16:29:01-07:00Font DFA’d by Dodgers to make room for Buehler
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1J8Pei2ZydIjP_u7WcuSMDm-eZU=/0x0:4764x3176/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59492799/943143914.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="Y4tPRX">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Monday designated pitcher <span>Wilmer Font</span> for assignment, making room on the active roster for <span>Walker Buehler</span> to be recalled to make his first major league start against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>.</p>
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<p id="sHH6cQ">Font is a starter by trade but is also out of options and, with no room in the Dodgers’ rotation made the major league opening day roster in the bullpen. The right-hander, who turns 28 in May, posted an 11.38 ERA in six relief appearances for the Dodgers including a pair of extra-inning losses. </p>
<p id="T6fQ5R">Font allowed 13 runs on 18 hits in 10⅓ innings, including five home runs allowed, with one walks and seven strikeouts.</p>
<p id="8Uavlx">In 2017 Font won the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year honors with Triple-A Oklahoma City, with a 3.42 ERA in 25 starts and 178 strikeouts in 134⅓ innings.</p>
<p id="2TLy5N">Buehler, who wore number 64 last September and during spring training this year, has switched to number 21.</p>
<p id="lvze2W">With the move the Dodgers have 39 players on their 40-man roster.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/23/17273096/wilmer-font-dfa-dodgers-walker-buehlerEric Stephen2018-04-23T13:54:10-07:002018-04-23T13:54:10-07:00Buehler joins small Dodgers draft group with first MLB start
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zXYQl3mD6nATILQG8cJonp1jEyE=/0x223:2118x1635/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59490861/usa_today_10711504.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="cwMGmT"><span>Walker Buehler</span> makes his first major league start in the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>’ series opener against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="O5i3sa">Buehler faces a terrible Marlins team that comes in with four straight losses, seven losses in their last eight games, and a 5-16 record. With 69 runs scored in 21 games, Miami ranks 27th in MLB at 3.29 runs per game. The Marlins have scored two or fewer runs in almost half (10) of their games.</p>
<p id="nHsAEB">This, possibly followed by a Saturday start against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> (3.14 runs/game, 29th in MLB), make this week a perfect time for Buehler — the club’s first-round pick in 2015 and <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/16/17238828/walker-buehler-2018-dodgers-prospects">their top prospect heading into 2018</a> — to make his first major league start(s).</p>
<p id="OsVAH8">With his brief stint in the Dodgers bullpen last September, Buehler already has major league experience. But Monday is his first start. Just by making the start Buehler is already setting himself apart in the universe of pitchers drafted in the first round by the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="Adqkiv">In the last 40 years the Dodgers have drafted and signed 27 different pitchers in the first round of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB draft</a> (<span>Luke Hochevar</span> and Kyle Funkhouser, who were drafted but didn’t sign, don’t count). A little fewer than half (13) made the majors, and Buehler will be just the eighth to even make a major league start, and the fifth to make a start with the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="pjCOYi">Here is the full list of first-round Dodgers pitchers in the last 40 years, beginning with Steve Howe and Steve Perry in 1979. It has been quite a journey.</p>
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<h3 id="C0NL9h">Game info</h3>
<p id="opbHse">Time: 7:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="rk5pUI">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/23/17272548/walker-buehler-dodgers-first-round-draft-pitchers-history-first-major-league-startEric Stephen2018-04-22T14:37:58-07:002018-04-22T14:37:58-07:00Buehler to make first major league start Monday
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<img alt="MLB: Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wvjC97S-2ilLKne81n14tJipN0U=/0x0:4240x2827/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59478879/usa_today_10274005.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="z3gNHm">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> announced on Sunday that <span>Walker Buehler</span> will be recalled from Triple-A on Monday to make his first major league start in the series opener against the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="pmoMto">Buehler was originally slated to start on Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City but that wasn’t going to happen one way or another, with OKC rained out Sunday in New Orleans.</p>
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<p id="Kaz7qk">The 23-year-old right-hander, the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2015, had a 2.08 ERA in three start in Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 16 strikeouts and four walks in 13 innings. He made his major league debut last September with eight relief appearances, posting a 7.71 ERA with 12 strikeouts and eight walks in 9⅓ innings.</p>
<p id="FnETUS">“The bullpen was something we tried and I think I could be successful there as well but I’m a starter,” Buehler said during spring training. “I’m excited to get back to it and hopefully have some success.”</p>
<p id="kgI02G">The Dodgers had an open spot in their rotation with <span>Rich Hill</span> landing on the 10-day disabled list with a cracked fingernail. This could be a two-start stint for Buehler with the Dodgers having a doubleheader next Saturday in San Francisco. Manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> wouldn’t commit on Sunday <a href="https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/988161455101898752">to Buehler making another start</a>, only saying Buehler was <a href="https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/988163524248522753">an option for one of the doubleheader games</a>.</p>
<p id="JDmqcy">Where it gets interesting, at least from a roster shenanigans standpoint, is that the Dodgers could in theory option Buehler back to the minors after Monday’s start, at least on paper, and utilize an extra player for a few games, depending on when Hill is activated (that seems likely for Friday, with <a href="https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/988160583168966656">Kenta Maeda and Clayton Kershaw starting Tuesday and Wednesday respectively against the Marlins</a>). Under normal circumstances Buehler would not be able be recalled for 10 days unless replacing an injured player, but the 26th-man rule for doubleheaders allows for such a player to be called up, provided that he be optioned back to the minors after the one temporary day back up.</p>
<p id="8FbWqb">But that is next weekend. For now, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/16/17238828/walker-buehler-2018-dodgers-prospects">the club’s top prospect</a> gets to make his first major league start, and it’s hard to ask for a smoother landing spot for such a debut than facing the Marlins followed potentially by a game against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, two of the five lowest-scoring offenses in baseball.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/22/17268742/walker-buehler-first-major-league-start-dodgers-marlinsEric Stephen