True Blue LA - September 30: Dodgers 15, Giants 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2018-09-30T20:20:04-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/176882352018-09-30T20:20:04-07:002018-09-30T20:20:04-07:00Dodgers hand the ball to Walker Buehler for Game 163
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<img alt="Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aMnoKd1mK3ezo8spUJHLhR-gS4U=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61602497/1036216852.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="KyYR1s">When the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> were mired in a tough 16-26 stretch to open their season, manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> made a statement he believed to be true. </p>
<p id="H3oakY">“When it’s all said and done, the Dodgers will be at the top of the division.”</p>
<p id="U0BNr6">Completing the sweep of the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> Sunday gives Robert’s team the opportunity to prove him right. The <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> and Dodgers will settle the NL West Monday at 1:09 p.m. PT with the winner hosting the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> Thursday, while the loser heads to the wild card game to face either Chicago or Milwaukee.</p>
<p id="Pcu0gd">Originally slated to pitch Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park, <span>Walker Buehler</span> will now get the ball Monday in the decisive game in Los Angeles. Rich Hill filled in nicely, shutting the Giants down for seven innings in a 15-0 drubbing.</p>
<p id="8LHO4s">After Colorado lost Saturday night, the powers that be for the Dodgers made the switch to Buehler, believing the 24-year-old rookie gives them the best chance to win against a powerful Rockies offense.</p>
<p id="SN1hHy">“Our goal is to win the division,” said Roberts. “With Walker rested and having an extra day and right now, he’s our best. To win this game, to win the division, it’s in our hands -- at home.”</p>
<p id="OksBRN">Buehler hasn’t been shy about the amount of confidence he has in himself. His Dodger teammates are more than happy to have him out there after he has pitched like an ace since July.</p>
<p id="jpcMu2">Over his last 11 starts, the right-hander has allowed 15 runs (13 earned) in 68 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings, striking out 84 and allowing just 40 hits. </p>
<p id="h6s2Yx">Monday will be Buehler’s sixth start against Colorado this season. In the previous five, he yielded nine earned runs, eight of which came in two of the three starts at Coors Field. </p>
<p id="ZF4Hlq">Throwing opposite of Buehler will be <span>German Marquez</span>, a 23-year-old righty that has had success against the Dodgers. In two starts at Chavez Ravine this season, Marquez has held the Dodgers to a combined two runs in 15 innings of work.</p>
<p id="4iduso">“(Marquez) has pitched us tough,” said Roberts. “It’s going to be a battle. We’re going to grind and put together good at-bats and I’m sure they’re going to do the same. But I like our guy.”</p>
<p id="xnjdJu">It would be nice for the Dodgers to have a fresh starter in their back pocket for a potential wild card game should things go sideways Monday afternoon. But it’s a luxury they don’t have at the moment with the way <span>Ross Stripling</span> has thrown the ball, making a win in Game 163 the best case scenario.</p>
<p id="l6Rdod">“Obviously it’s not do-or-die but I think that it’s a must-win game,” Roberts added. “To win the game and get a couple days off and to host the division series is very important.”</p>
<p id="eoD11C">So they will hand the ball to their rising star, with the sixth straight division title at stake.</p>
<p id="9ZYvTQ">“He’s all in.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/9/30/17921506/dodgers-rockies-game-163-walker-buehler-german-marquezRyan Walton2018-09-30T15:28:42-07:002018-09-30T15:28:42-07:00Dodgers and Rockies both win to set up winner-take-all game 163
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<figcaption>Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Rich Hill pitches 7 scoreless and Dodgers put the game away early</p> <p id="SAqF4y">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> knew that their best chance of winning the NL West rested on their sweeping the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back as they won 15-0 in San Francisco to complete that sweep. With the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> 12-0 win over the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>, that sets up a one-game division-title tiebreaker tomorrow at Dodger Stadium</p>
<p id="A8Yz0R">The Dodgers ended any suspense in today’s game when they batted around in the third inning as they scored seven runs to take a 9-0 lead over the Giants.</p>
<p id="5va6n7">Several Dodger hitters produced today. There were home runs from <span>Brian Dozier</span>, <span>Max Muncy</span> and <span>Austin Barnes</span>. <span>David Freese</span> continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 game. <span>Matt Kemp</span> went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs driven in.</p>
<p id="c4VLVE">But this should not outshine the outstanding pitching from late-night named starting pitcher <span>Rich Hill.</span> <span>Hill</span> pitched seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. He won his 11th game and really helped out the Dodgers avoid going to their bullpen.</p>
<p id="VReCD8">The Dodgers now head for the first one-game winner-take-all division title game since 1980. Tomorrow is the first day in October, hopefully it will be the first of many wins in October too.</p>
<h3 id="djkN64">Game Notes</h3>
<p id="a76Qnx">The last time the Dodgers swept a three-game series against the Giants at AT&T Park was from July 25-27, 2014</p>
<p id="AL7kul">The Dodgers finished September with an 18-9 record, it was their best winning pct. (.667) in September since 2014 when they went 17-8 (.680).</p>
<p id="tynsxT"><span>Austin Barnes</span> home run in the ninth inning made it three home runs in the game for the Dodgers, they are now 27-1 when they hit three or more home runs in a game.</p>
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<h3 id="aZLGCh">Up Next</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Dodgers will start Walker Buehler in Monday's tiebreaker. "Our goal is to win the division," manager Dave Roberts said.</p>— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alden_Gonzalez/status/1046520994288955392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<p id="pzfAvb">The Dodgers and Rockies will play one more regular season game on Monday to decide who wins the National League West. <span>Walker Buehler</span> is scheduled to pitch, German Márquez is on schedule to pitch for the Rockies though no official announcement has been made yet.</p>
<h3 id="hkvvYe">Sunday Particulars</h3>
<p id="maAUko">Home Runs: <span>Brian Dozier</span> (21), <span>Max Muncy</span> (34), <span>Austin Barnes</span> (4)</p>
<p id="0od4Wi"><strong>WP: </strong><span><strong>Rich Hill</strong></span><strong> (11-5)</strong>: 7 IP, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts</p>
<p id="C2MgFI"><strong>LP: Andrew Suárez (7-13</strong>): 2⅓ IP, 6 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2018/9/30/17919396/mlb-playoffs-dodgers-roll-giants-rich-hill-one-more-game-163Craig Minami2018-09-30T12:00:02-07:002018-09-30T12:00:02-07:00Dodgers vs Giants Game XIX Chat
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today's Dodger lineup at Giants: <br>Taylor LF<br>Turner 3B<br>Freese 1B <br>Machado SS<br>Hernández CF<br>Kemp RF<br>Grandal C<br>Dozier 2B<br>Hill P<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Biofreeze?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Biofreeze</a> <a href="https://t.co/njdWRqA98X">pic.twitter.com/njdWRqA98X</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1046446730705690624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GR8FUL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GR8FUL</a> <br><br>First pitch - 12:05 PM PDT ⚾️<br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSAuthentic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCSAuthentic</a> <br> Stream live: <a href="https://t.co/PfA29cEaJ5">https://t.co/PfA29cEaJ5</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/KNBR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KNBR</a> <br> <a href="https://t.co/qtuPE8bUs9">https://t.co/qtuPE8bUs9</a> / <a href="https://t.co/VEBVLos8kw">https://t.co/VEBVLos8kw</a><br> <a href="https://t.co/LJDYx8B8Dh">https://t.co/LJDYx8B8Dh</a><br><br>Powered by <a href="https://twitter.com/Biofreeze?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Biofreeze</a> <br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFGiants?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFGiants</a> <a href="https://t.co/bguSFb5JA5">pic.twitter.com/bguSFb5JA5</a></p>— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1046460098170707969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<h3 id="LqRxd9">Game info</h3>
<p id="8WIr7r">Time: 12:05 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="HyStCO">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/9/30/17919422/dodgers-vs-giants-game-xix-chatCraig Minami2018-09-30T06:00:02-07:002018-09-30T06:00:02-07:00Rich Hill starts today with division title in sight
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<img alt="San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NbgzuZo4geIfSEZq01I8jsvGxls=/0x0:2289x1526/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61594795/1038182740.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Late Saturday night, Dodgers named Hill as their Game 162 starter</p> <p id="ODSOL1">On Saturday afternoon, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> won their game against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> and grabbed the last National League playoff spot. Amidst the small celebration of clinching their sixth straight postseason appearance, the Dodgers still had not announced their starting pitcher for Sunday’s season finale as they were waiting for the result from Coors Field. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rich Hill said he planned to go to dinner and wait for a text (whether he might be pitching Sunday). Walker Buehler said he’s preparing to start. Still TBD</p>— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericstephen/status/1046192196452409345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<p id="GYnC6U">The <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> ended the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> eight-game winning streak and thus, the Dodgers and Rockies were tied for first. But that wasn’t the only news from Denver. After that game was finished, word came out that the Nationals had decided not to start <span>Max Scherzer</span> against the Rockies on Sunday.</p>
<p id="uPCv4L">According to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/09/30/erick-fedde-not-max-scherzer-will-start-nationals-season-finale/?utm_term=.cf76836a2b8e">National’s beat writer Chelsea Janes</a>, <span>Scherzer</span> “was surprised the Nationals were considering starting him in the finale, but he agreed. He, Martinez, and general manager Mike Rizzo decided that if the game could eliminate a team from playoff contention, he would pitch it. If the game had playoff implications, he would probably pitch it.”</p>
<p id="bmHLXJ">However once both the Dodgers and Rockies clinched their playoff spots and the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> were eliminated, the Nationals decided to sit <span>Scherzer</span> and start <span>Erick Fedde</span>. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The logic here was if either Dodgers or Rockies could be eliminated, Scherzer would pitch. Since they’re both in no matter what, Nats won’t take the chance. <a href="https://t.co/SI3x2kEBPm">https://t.co/SI3x2kEBPm</a></p>— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) <a href="https://twitter.com/chelsea_janes/status/1046252011593891840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<p id="e1N5K7">A few hours later, the Dodgers informed the media that they had decided on Sunday’s starting pitcher.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dodgers say Rich Hill starts Sunday, by the way</p>— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericstephen/status/1046292868996841472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<p id="mNjqxi">Let’s get this out of the way, if the Dodgers win on Sunday, the worst-case scenario is a game on Monday at Dodger Stadium to determine who hosts the National League Divisional Series against the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a>. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dodgers scenarios for Game 162 <a href="https://t.co/4I6VmnM6Tw">pic.twitter.com/4I6VmnM6Tw</a></p>— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericstephen/status/1046249800641867776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a>
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<p id="zmpOJr">Given that none of the five National League playoff participants know for sure where they will be playing their first official 2018 National League postseason game, Sunday should be filled with plenty of scoreboard watching.</p>
<h3 id="npMMmj">Sunday’s Games with National League Playoff Implications</h3>
<p id="MIOtwA">12:05 p.m. PDT: Dodgers (<span>Rich Hill</span>) at Giants (Andrew Suárez)</p>
<p id="SNylp2">12:05 p.m.: Braves (<span>Kevin Gausman</span>) at <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> (Ranger Suárez)</p>
<p id="Tobfn2">12:10 p.m.: Rockies (<span>Tyler Anderson</span>) vs. Nationals (<span>Erick Fedde</span>)</p>
<p id="auKxa3">12:10 p.m.: <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> (<span>Gio Gonzalez</span>) vs. <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> (<span>Spencer Turnbull</span>)</p>
<p id="jsbXMZ">12:15 p.m.: <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> (<span>Mike Montgomery</span>) vs. Cardinals (<span>Jack Flaherty</span>)</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2018/9/30/17912994/rich-hill-starting-pitcher-giants-game-162-nl-west-division-title-at-stakeCraig Minami