True Blue LA - Opening day: Dodgers 8, Giants 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2020-07-24T12:12:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/210943982020-07-24T12:12:00-07:002020-07-24T12:12:00-07:00How Dustin May went from being optioned to the Opening Day starter
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Quite the hectic week for the rookie </p> <p id="bBBR7H">It was a hectic week for <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> rookie pitcher <span>Dustin May</span>, to say the least. Just a few days ago, he was told he’d be optioned and would begin the 2020 season at the alternate training site, getting work in until his number would be called. </p>
<p id="N0whsD">It’s safe to say, he didn’t expect for it to be called so quickly. </p>
<p id="6VxDgf">Just days after being optioned, May was recalled as the Dodgers placed <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> on the injured list. With LA’s Opening Day starting spot vacant, the spot was given to May. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dustin May will make his first career Opening Day start and will become the Dodger rookie to start on Opening Day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.</p>— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/1286424338149695488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2020</a>
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<p id="7IFPE3">“It was nice to get the first one under the belt,” May said following the game. “It was awesome to get the nod. It’s the kind of thing you dream about growing up, throwing on Opening Day. It’s a super exciting thing. It’s great to get the ball going forward, for sure.”</p>
<p id="aeamFE">As mentioned, May wasn’t expecting to be in the starting rotation to begin the season, let alone be the starter for the Dodgers on Opening Day, especially after being optioned. He said that he was told on Wednesday that there was a real possibility he’d be getting the start. </p>
<p id="b85UNq">“He’s a very confident young man,” <span>Dave Roberts</span> said. “When a change of plans happens, Dustin adjusts very well.”</p>
<p id="QsEttB">Given the circumstances, he sure did. May threw 4 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings before being removed in the fifth. He allowed only one run while striking out four. </p>
<p id="lL5KBp">“He did amazing,” his teammate <span>Mookie Betts</span> said. “I faced him not too long ago. I knew what he had and how he was going to use it. He did an amazing job on short notice. Putting up a lot of zeroes. He allowed one. You can’t really ask for anything more. With the offense we have, we’re going to win a lot of games if they’re putting up one.” </p>
<p id="1ddvAD">As expected, May was anxious to make his first career Opening Day start. “Not being able to be in a game scenario since October, the anxiousness of wanting to get started. Once the first pitch was thrown I was all good.” </p>
<p id="QzOZB0">Though he allowed seven hits and a run, May thought that he overall had a solid outing. He said he probably could have thrown more off-speed pitches earlier in the game, but he was hitting his spots so he felt fine. </p>
<p id="DSrqHm">“I was getting ahead, guys were swinging,” May said. “They were very aggressive tonight. They hit a few where they weren’t. For the most part, I was hitting my spots and stuff was going the right way.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Celebrate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpeningDay</a> with some filthy pitches from Dustin May. <a href="https://t.co/XSuZ9YMKyp">pic.twitter.com/XSuZ9YMKyp</a></p>— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1286507081596432385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p id="nOj03T">Roberts spoke very highly of May, knowing how difficult it must be from being optioned to all of a sudden being thrown right into the fire of making the start on Opening Day. “Can’t say enough about Dustin,” Roberts said. “We knew the head, very strong of mind. Obviously the stuff speaks for itself. I said it earlier, he’s unflappable. He pitched big for us in the playoffs. To kind of get the ambush notice before Opening Day, to be unfazed was special, pretty fun to watch.” </p>
<p id="hPJEjQ">May has thrown in pretty big games for the Dodgers already, as Roberts mentioned he’s already thrown for them in the postseason. However, May showed that he can thrive under different circumstances as well. </p>
<p id="L3CXqb">Kiké Hernandez recapped May’s outing perfectly. “He wasn’t nervous or intimidated by the amount of cardboard we had in the stands tonight.”</p>
<p id="bFsBna">Oh, and just take this, for what it’s worth.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1981:<br><br>- Shortened season<br>- Rookie starts <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpeningDay</a> <br>- <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> win World Series<br><br>2020: <br><br>- Shortened season<br>- Rookie starts Opening Day<br>- </p>— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeHarrisTBLA/status/1286429921267421184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2020</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/24/21337309/dustin-may-opening-day-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-rumorsBlake Harris2020-07-24T10:09:00-07:002020-07-24T10:09:00-07:00Kiké Hernandez steals the show on Opening Day
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<figcaption>Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>He finishes with four hits and drives in five runs </p> <p id="y3TTPU">It was a four-month wait, but we finally had Opening Day yesterday. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> opened the season with an 8-1 win over the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a>. Looking at the box score and seeing eight runs and 11 hits by LA is kind of deceiving, though. Seven of those runs came in the final two innings, along with a five-spot they put up in the seventh. </p>
<p id="9SWgIE">Following the game, manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said that he thought his team didn’t have a good night offensively. Well, he obviously wasn’t talking about <span>Kik</span>é<span> Hernandez</span>. </p>
<p id="XvFtb5"><span>Hernandez</span> carried the Dodgers’ offense, as he finished the game with four hits and five runs driven in. </p>
<p id="cT8hr7">“Kiké carried us tonight, which was great.” Roberts said. </p>
<p id="hh7K5L">He got things started in the fourth inning. After a two-out double from <span>Corey Seager</span>, <span>Hernandez</span> drove him in to tie the game with a single. This wouldn’t be his only time coming up in the clutch. Later in the game, <span>Hernandez</span> stepped to the plate with two runners on and a one-run lead. </p>
<p id="6F3wup">On the second pitch he saw, he singled to right, bringing in both runs to give the Dodgers a comfortable 4-1 lead. </p>
<p id="hrvrub">In classic Hernandez fashion, he added some humor following the game to explain his approach at the plate. </p>
<p id="QAqXMk">“First three at-bats [were like] ‘Get jammed, throw a grenade out there and hope they land,’” Hernandez said with a smile. “I’ve put a lot of work in. Stay consistent and try not to do so much. That’s the approach I took tonight and it paid off. Hopefully I can have a few more of these days.”</p>
<p id="stJd2A">His night wasn’t done after that two-run hit. He stepped to the plate in the eighth inning and added on to his already incredible Opening Day performance. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Something about <a href="https://twitter.com/kikehndez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kikehndez</a> and Opening Days.<br><br>Tag us using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BudLightHomers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BudLightHomers</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sweepstakes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sweepstakes</a> or RT this post for your chance to win an authentic 2020 HR ball! <a href="https://t.co/VxLPFGxYAJ">pic.twitter.com/VxLPFGxYAJ</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1286533464540446720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p id="e6cX5M">“He’s always been a really smart, intelligent baseball player,” Roberts said. “Just really understanding what he’s really good at. He didn’t try to do too much. He got some confidence tonight. He’s a fun player to watch.”</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/24/21337219/kike-hernandez-opening-day-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-newsBlake Harris2020-07-23T22:09:32-07:002020-07-23T22:09:32-07:00Kiké & Mookie bring Dodgers to 7th heaven
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>7th-inning rally breaks open a close one with Giants</p> <p id="Jh9hM6"><span>Mookie Betts</span> made a difference in his very first game with the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, and did so with his speed and baserunning acumen. It was <span>Kiké Hernandez</span> who brought the lumber, driving in five runs with a four-hit night to beat the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, 8-1 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="Ianifm">This game was unfolding like scads of Dodgers-Giants games before it, tied late. Until the bottom of the seventh, when 11 batters saw 37 pitches against two relief pitchers, scoring five runs. The winning rally started with a one-out single from Betts, his first hit with his new team.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/mookiebetts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mookiebetts</a>' first hit as a Dodger is in the books! <a href="https://t.co/5uDDUriiAt">pic.twitter.com/5uDDUriiAt</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1286520155309092868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p id="duyGeo">Betts went to third on a double to left by <span>Cody Bellinger</span>, then with the infield in Betts dashed home on a grounder to second base by <span>Justin Turner</span>, beating the tag from catcher <span>Tyler Heineman</span> for the go-ahead run.</p>
<p id="HWzVHT">The play was reviewed, but Betts’ slide was unimpeded by Heineman’s foot, and upheld as safe.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mookie worth every last penny and then some <a href="https://t.co/5UBf17TNxU">pic.twitter.com/5UBf17TNxU</a></p>— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/CespedesBBQ/status/1286516375016615936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p id="LY9kzo">Betts <em>actually</em> reached earlier in the game, on an error by third baseman <span>Wilmer Flores</span> in the fifth, but it’s understandable if you missed it since ESPN was running a split-screen interview with A’s third baseman <span>Matt Chapman</span> during that half inning.</p>
<p id="d2Gqtk">Back in the seventh inning, Betts’ run seemed huge at the time, with runs at a premium for the first six frames. But it really just opened the flood gates.</p>
<p id="hwgsOA">Hernandez delivered two insurance runs with a two-out single off submariner <span>Tyler Rogers</span>, one three run-scoring hits on the night for Hernandez. He was 4-for-5 in all, joining <span>Raul Mondesi</span> in 1999 as the only Dodgers to collect four hits and drive in five runs on opening day.</p>
<p id="aw6MNv"><span>Dany Jimenez</span> entered in relief for the Giants, but the Dodgers greeted him with two walks to load the bases, a fielder’s choice against the shift for one run, and another walk for the fifth run of the inning.</p>
<p id="756O7P"><span>Adam Kolarek</span> was the beneficiary of that rally, but he earned his win in relief. He retired the final two batters of the seventh inning on two pitches, then with a lead in the eighth he struck out two in another scoreless frame.</p>
<p id="paMsai">Four Dodgers relievers — <span>Caleb Ferguson</span>, <span>Pedro Baez</span>, Kolarek, and <span>Brusdar Graterol</span> — retired 12 of 13 batters they faced to close this one out.</p>
<h3 id="wqYZqs">Big red</h3>
<p id="PX69ny"><span>Dustin May</span> was pressed into duty on short notice, scratched from a planned simulated game Wednesday in case he was needed to fill in for <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, who was scratched from his start Thursday with back stiffness <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21336451/clayton-kershaw-injured-back-stiffness-dodgers">and placed on the injured list</a>.</p>
<p id="744Sae">“This was kind of sprung on him a little last minute, which might actually benefit him,” Turner said of May before the game. “You know, he’s not spending two, three days leading up to this with all the anxiety and whatnot of being the opening day starter.”</p>
<p id="4gbbIQ">May’s stuff was electric in his fifth major league start, hitting 100 mph with his two-seam fastball and averaging 95.8 mph on the 40 times he threw it on Thursday, two-thirds of his pitches, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?game_pk=631377&game_date=2020-7-23&type=home_pitchers&chart_view=pitch&chart_type=call_name&inning=&count=&batter_hand=&pitcher_hand=&filter=&player=home-pitchers_669160&view=Umpire&coloring=Pitch%20Type">per Baseball Savant</a>. He allowed seven hits, all singles, three of them of the infield variety.</p>
<p id="6l5FPE">The only run against May came in the fourth, when three of those singles came in a row, followed by a sacrifice fly. May left with one out in the fifth inning after 60 pitches, with runners on the corners. </p>
<p id="xqhRll"><span>Caleb Ferguson</span> was the first Dodgers reliever used this season, and promptly induced <span>Pablo Sandoval</span> to ground back to the box. Ferguson whirled and threw to second for one out, then second baseman Hernandez caught catcher <span>Tyler Heineman</span> off third base, running at him and eventually throwing to third to finish the unconventional 1-4-5 double play to end the threat.</p>
<h3 id="lG3h7G">Kerplunk</h3>
<p id="xLDRPB">Turner led off the second inning getting hit by a pitch from <span>Johnny Cueto</span>, reaching a painful milestone. It was Turner’s 73rd hit by pitch since joining the Dodgers in 2014, tied for the most in franchise history with Zack Wheat. Thursday was Turner’s 755th career game with the Dodgers. Wheat played in 2,322 games with Brooklyn.</p>
<h3 id="fumFPi">Game particulars</h3>
<p id="zgc0uc"><strong>Home run</strong>: Kiké Hernandez (1) </p>
<p id="FE5Qnv"><strong>WP — </strong><span><strong>Adam Kolarek</strong></span><strong> (1-0)</strong>: 1⅔ IP, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p id="JyWSxg"><strong>LP — Tyler Rogers (0-1)</strong>: ⅔ IP, 3 hits, 4 runs</p>
<h3 id="XPhmbj">Up next</h3>
<p id="2wxRJr">These two teams are back at it on Friday night, a 6:40 p.m. PT start that will mark SportsNet LA’s first broadcast of the regular season. With Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser in the booth, <span>Ross Stripling</span> will start on the mound.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21336755/kike-hernandez-mookie-betts-dodgers-opening-day-winEric Stephen2020-07-23T20:18:20-07:002020-07-23T20:18:20-07:00Mookie Betts kneels during anthem before first game with Dodgers
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>“I have talked to our guys about kneeling, and for me it was more of an individual choice,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game</p> <p id="MQ1VKW">During the pregame Opening Day festivities at Dodger Stadium, several players on the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> kneeled as part of a coordinated effort with The Players Alliance to promote unity throughout Major League Baseball.</p>
<p id="BV2vu7">Players on both teams after kneeled along the foul lines and jointly held a black ribbon that stretched from left field all the way around to right field.</p>
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<p id="PgLqBU">The gesture, which will take place league-wide on Opening Days both Thursday and Friday, was spearheaded by The Players Alliance, a group whose board includes <span>Andrew McCutchen</span>, C.C. Sabathia, <span>Edwin Jackson</span> and Cameron Maybin. Their <a href="https://theplayersalliance.com/about/">group mission is</a> “building equitable systems in order to change the directory of diversity throughout baseball.”</p>
<p id="RG7zrf"><span>Dave Roberts</span> talked about the moment before the game.</p>
<p id="ANkV7E">“The plan is for us to hold it up to show unity, to support social justice and talk about racial injustice,” Roberts said. “It’s going to be great.”</p>
<p id="Oow53o">After holding the ribbon, most players stood up for the national anthem. Several Giants, including <span>Hunter Pence</span>, <span>Pablo Sandoval</span>, and manager <span>Gabe Kapler</span>, kneeled during the anthem. <span>Mookie Betts</span> was the only Dodger seen kneeling, doing so with <span>Cody Bellinger</span> and <span>Max Muncy</span> each putting a hand on his shoulder.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">United. <a href="https://t.co/ZnFyqyMNm3">pic.twitter.com/ZnFyqyMNm3</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1286483621792997377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p id="2JrGNq">After the game, Betts talked about his kneeling.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mookie Betts said he isn’t sure if he will kneel again moving forward. <br><br>I think kneeling is definitely something that shows we need change but also I have to put some actions into play away from MLB and that’s my primary goal. Today was just to unify both teams, both sides.”</p>— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/jorgecastillo/status/1286537455684866053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mookie Betts said in 2016 he would never kneel during the national anthem because his father served in the Air Force. He kneeled tonight in protest of racial injustice. He said he knows now that kneeling does not disrespect the military.<br><br>“I wasn’t educated,” he said. “My fault."</p>— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) <a href="https://twitter.com/pedromoura/status/1286538117663428609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2020</a>
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<p id="cTZc4O">“I have talked to our guys about kneeling, and for me it was more of an individual choice,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “Collectively, we really haven’t settled on anything. I think for me, I just want to encourage each and every man to make their own decision.”</p>
<p id="IQObaH">Over the years, Roberts has changed his stance on kneeling during the anthem. In 2017, when A’s catcher <span>Bruce Maxwell</span> was the only player to kneel during the anthem, Roberts initially said <a href="https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-news-dave-roberts-respects-individual-decisions-would-have-issue-players-kneeling-national-anthem/2017/09/25/">he had a problem with it because his father served in the Marines for 30 years</a>.</p>
<p id="QJjaLa">“I realized that standing at attention is not mutually exclusive to your thoughts on on social justice, police brutality, and things that Colin Kaepernick and Maxwell, what he felt,” Roberts said Thursday. “As I’ve learned, I just believe that you’re not trying to disrespect the soldiers, men and women that serve our country and that lay their lives on the line every single day, my father included. </p>
<p id="XNwxZX">“So yeah, I have evolved and change,” he added.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21336709/mookie-betts-kneels-national-anthem-dodgers-opening-dayEric Stephen2020-07-23T18:45:00-07:002020-07-23T18:45:00-07:00Opening Day game thread
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<img alt="San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gDAA6ZlfHAy6k_BYdUpsPxzPnyQ=/0x0:3518x2345/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67100950/1257862630.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Dodgers vs. Giants, Game 1</p> <p id="5UzIrW">Game 1 of 60.</p>
<p id="S6MGJi"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> vs. <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>.</p>
<p id="stjSKA"><span>Mookie Betts</span> is signed.</p>
<p id="Pf4VP0"><span>Dustin May</span> is on the mound, against <span>Johnny Cueto</span>.</p>
<p id="Vsp8O9">Here is SportsNet LA’s season-opening essay, voiced by Joe Davis:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back, old friend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpeningDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpeningDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/WtukO6iAyk">pic.twitter.com/WtukO6iAyk</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1286367513110962176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2020</a>
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<h3 id="fjzOLQ">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="XNwcln">Time: 7:08 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="Ah8ZNY">TV: ESPN</li>
<li id="cqEIK6">Streaming: <a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/">Watch ESPN</a>
</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21336348/opening-day-dodgers-giantsEric Stephen2020-07-23T16:32:00-07:002020-07-23T16:32:00-07:00Mookie Betts hitting second in his first game as a Dodger
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<img alt="MLB: JUL 20 Diamondbacks at Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OvnHNPQHZfFKxCduo3d0Eu0QSD0=/0x461:2018x1806/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67100639/1227713691.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Starting lineups for Opening Day against the Giants</p> <p id="gsJIyr">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> opened their 2020 season by signing outfielder <span>Mookie Betts</span> to a <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/22/21334399/mookie-betts-contract-dodgers-perfect-fit">12-year contract extension</a>, and in his first game, Betts bats second.</p>
<p id="IDnKJE">Max Muncy is leading off for the Dodgers, with Betts following in Thursday’s opener against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> (7 p.m. PT, ESPN), a bit of a departure since leadoff figured to be Betts’ customary spot throughout the season. Betts batted first in every spring training and summer camp played this year.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"><div id="LyWe69"><div data-anthem-component="table:9325432"></div></div></div>
<p id="qpnXTd">With the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>, Betts batted leadoff in 72 percent of his starts, and had his most starts there in all six years in Boston. His second-most career starts at any spot in the batting order was batting second, with 78 starts.</p>
<p id="eDSIyq">The Dodgers alternated left- and right-handed hitters in the first eight spots of the lineup, something at least at the top of the order <span>Dave Roberts</span> said he plans to do for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p id="6ZAgrf">“The way that the Giants, or any other team potentially, could try to deploy relievers to get matchups,” Dave Roberts said Thursday, “staggering left and right throughout the lineup I think protects us and poses some more challenges, and doesn’t give other teams a runway.”</p>
<p id="b5r7lH"><span>A.J. Pollock</span> is the Dodgers’ first-ever designated hitter against a National League opponent, batting eighth. </p>
<p id="jiSivC">The first start of the season at second base goes to <span>Kiké Hernandez</span>, making his third straight Opening Day start at the position. He’s the first Dodger to start three straight Opening Days at second base since <span>Jeff Kent</span> started four straight from 2005-08.</p>
<p id="N8jICI">Manager Dave Roberts this week said Hernandez and <span>Chris Taylor</span> would see the bulk of the time at second.</p>
<p id="TrJBa3"><span>Dustin May</span> makes a surprise start for the Dodgers, filling in for an injured <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, who <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21336451/clayton-kershaw-injured-back-stiffness-dodgers">was placed on the injured list Thursday with back stiffness</a>. and scratched from what would have been his ninth career Opening Day start.</p>
<p id="U9KvS3"><span>Johnny Cueto</span> starts for the Giants. </p>
<p id="YRubge"><span>Austin Barnes</span> starts behind the plate in the opener. Roberts <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-16-opening-day-special-dodgers/id902521814?i=1000485839456">on the Off Air podcast with Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser yesterday</a> said Will Smith would start three of the first five games.</p>
<p id="oDPajW">The two Dodgers who have faced Cueto the most have hit him quite well. <span>Corey Seager</span> is 12-for-34 (.353) with three home runs and a double against him, while <span>Justin Turner</span> is 11-for-31 (.355) with a home run and three doubles off Cueto.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21335517/dodgers-lineup-opening-day-mookie-bettsEric Stephen2020-07-23T15:17:34-07:002020-07-23T15:17:34-07:00Kershaw placed on injured list with back stiffness
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers-Workouts" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yXbKQoPDJOnjGuH1yjRnn1lK1i0=/0x180:4000x2847/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67100369/usa_today_14510693.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Dustin May recalled, will start instead</p> <p id="zUEg6i">Opening day for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> already hasn’t gone as planned. <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> was placed on the injured list before Thursday night’s opener, with back stiffness. He won’t be making the start, which would have been his ninth Opening Day start.</p>
<p id="AvSv5U">Instead, that nod goes to <span>Dustin May</span>, who wasn’t on the club’s Opening Day roster released earlier Thursday. May was recalled, and will start against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> instead.</p>
<p id="dT3Dm7">Kershaw’s back stiffened during workouts in the weight room Tuesday, <span>Dave Roberts</span> said Thursday.</p>
<p id="aHt89X">“This morning, the training staff, just to make sure we erred on the side of caution, didn’t feel it was prudent to start him,” Roberts said.</p>
<p id="rSqX1b">May was scheduled to pitch a simulated game in a voluntary workout on Wednesday’s off day, but that was put on hold while the club decided what to do with Kershaw. May last pitched last Friday, throwing four scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ intrasquad game. </p>
<p id="yGwPyU">At 22 years, 321 days old, May is the youngest Opening Day starting pitcher for the Dodgers since Fernando Valenzuela (22 years, 155 days) in 1983.</p>
<p id="RXpG6P">“He’s just very unflappable. He’s a very confident young man, who’s got very good stuff,” Roberts said. “When a change of plans happens, Dustin adjusts very well.”</p>
<p id="tAghGN">As of now there is no timetable for when Kershaw might return, but the injured list move was backdated to July 20 (the maximum allowed), meaning the earliest Kershaw would be eligible to pitch is against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> next weekend in Phoenix.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21336451/clayton-kershaw-injured-back-stiffness-dodgersEric Stephen2020-07-23T12:08:00-07:002020-07-23T12:08:00-07:00Series preview: Dodgers host Giants to begin season
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i7KSjQKafVVrxTpDetak7nWjY6M=/1x0:3703x2468/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67099118/1204817985.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Adam Glanzman/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Let the season begin!</p> <p id="lLjGYA">As it should be every year, the 2020 MLB season will kick off with a matchup of the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. LA hosts their rival for four games to begin the year. For the Dodgers, they’ll be competing for a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> championship this season. The Giants? Well, they’ll be competing to make sure they don’t finish with the worst record in baseball. </p>
<p id="hswS0G">Regardless of how good both teams are, anything can happen anytime these two teams face each other. </p>
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<h3 id="afHhdp">Thursday: (<span>Clayton Kershaw</span> vs. <span>Johnny Cueto</span>)</h3>
<p id="rGYQFl">As expected, <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> will make yet another Opening Day start for LA. This will be his ninth career start on Opening Day, and very well could be his last. Take advantage of it, Dodgers fans! This will be the fourth time Kerhsaw has opened the season against the Giants. </p>
<p id="O3U341">In his three Opening Day starts against the Giants, <span>Kershaw</span> has thrown 22 innings. He has 23 strikeouts and has only allowed one run. Safe to say, he’s the guy that LA wants on the mound to kick off the season against the Giants. </p>
<p id="eT2Rjr"><span>Johnny Cueto</span> gets things started for the Giants. For Cueto, he hopes this will be his first healthy year since 2017. He has made only 13 starts over the last two seasons, as he underwent Tommy John surgery. This will be the 11th career start for him at Dodger Stadium, a place in which he’s thrived throughout his career. Cueto owns a 2.36 career ERA at Chavez Ravine. The only stadium in which he owns a better ERA is at PNC Park. </p>
<p id="fIDhNg">Although he hasn’t pitched much over the years, Cueto is the kind of starter who can bring his A-Game on any given night. </p>
<p id="UtEoRp"></p>
<h3 id="EZEZvC">Friday: (<span>Ross Stripling</span> vs. TBD)</h3>
<p id="UeU4SO">The Dodgers will go up against TBD for the next three games. Bold move on the Giants’ part. Getting the start for LA will be <span>Ross Stripling</span>, who will finally get an opportunity as a full-time starter in 2020. </p>
<p id="V8zJOm">He’s never started more than <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> of his outings during his career. It looks like we’ll see that change this season. For his career, <span>Stripling</span> has made 52 career starts. He’s 13-15 with a 3.71 ERA. In 257 innings, he has 250 strikeouts and 55 walks. <span>Stripling</span> has made four career starts against the Giants, along with coming out of the bullpen 10 times. He owns a 3.55 career ERA against them. </p>
<h3 id="AL0XML"></h3>
<h3 id="XYwWwB">Saturday: (<span>Julio Urias</span> vs. TBD)</h3>
<p id="bzI87Q">Finally. After what seems like forever, <span>Julio Urias</span> will finally enter the season as a full-time starter for the Dodgers. He made his debut all the way back in 2016, and now it’s finally time to see if he has what it takes to be a solid member of the starting rotation.</p>
<p id="arkobT">He’s still only made 28 starts during his career. <span>Urias</span> has gone 5-5 with a 3.66 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. </p>
<p id="jsSz3y">His six starts against the Giants are actually the most he’s made against any other team. He’s also appeared in 12 games against them, the most of any club. In addition to facing them the most, he has dominated San Francisco. His 1.34 ERA against them is the lowest against any team he’s thrown at least 10 innings against. </p>
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<h3 id="ENFEPl">Sunday: (<span>Alex Wood</span> vs. TBD)</h3>
<p id="tNIZBg">He’s back! After spending a (disastrous) season in Cincinnati, <span>Alex Wood</span> returns to the Dodgers’ starting rotation. <span>Wood</span> hopes to recapture what he did during his final two seasons in Los Angeles, where he was an All-Star and had a Top 10 finish in Cy Young Award voting. </p>
<p id="pz6eTk">For <span>Wood</span>, this will be his 10th start in his career against the Giants. He’s 4-3 with a 3.90 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.31. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="0jugNa">
<p id="o8SOyS">We don’t know exactly who will be facing the Dodgers aside from Cueto, but here are some potential names we can see:</p>
<ul>
<li id="bB7kK7"><span>Jeff Samardzija</span></li>
<li id="p0QwWA">
<span>Drew Smyly</span> </li>
<li id="b2FXm9"><span>Kevin Gausman</span></li>
</ul>
<p id="tctja7"></p>
<h3 id="1pJXLr">Notable injuries for the Giants: </h3>
<ul>
<li id="CBfDf4">
<span>Evan Longoria</span> (oblique)</li>
<li id="Y7gGL6">
<span>Brandon Belt</span> (heel)</li>
<li id="XVDbG9">
<span>Trevor Cahill</span> (finger)</li>
<li id="ducxQo">
<span>Tyler Beede</span> (elbow)</li>
<li id="fhaOOi">
<span>Buster Posey</span> (sitting out season) </li>
</ul>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Vm8lft">
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https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/23/21335693/los-angeles-dodgers-san-francisco-giants-mlb-news-rumors-opening-dayBlake Harris