True Blue LA - September 12: Astros 7, Dodgers 5Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2020-09-12T20:27:07-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/211983212020-09-12T20:27:07-07:002020-09-12T20:27:07-07:00Kenley Jansen implodes, Astros stun Dodgers
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<img alt="Houston Astros v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/52hBV5xomAx2jrRmG_0ShKNyLFA=/0x0:3876x2584/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67397237/1272183369.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>5 runs in the 9th inning shocks LA</p> <p id="csdCZe">So much of the talk about what could derail the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> this October focused around the added, best-of-three wild card round in which seemingly anything could happen. That’s still a concern, but a bigger threat is looming in the back of the bullpen.</p>
<p id="BOwdzk"><span>Kenley Jansen</span> imploded on Saturday, allowing five hits and five runs in six batters faced, giving the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> a stunning, 7-5 comeback win. </p>
<p id="VgcHy4">Jansen did not retired any of his six batters faced. <span>George Springer</span> had the lone non-hit, but he hit the ball the hardest, a 101.4-mph drive off <span>Max Muncy</span> that was ruled an error. Jansen was ahead of five of the six hitters, and got to two strikes on four of them.</p>
<p id="3iVhZj">“It was a nightmare, man,” Jansen said after the game. “I’m executing, I’m ahead in the count on everyone. I just didn’t execute well like I used to, just to put them away.”</p>
<p id="v3jP0U">The five runs allowed matched Jansen’s career high, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201104190.shtml">set on April 19, 2011</a>, in his first full year in the majors. He also allowed three runs on Tuesday in Arizona, though manager Dave Roberts characterized that outing as more losing command than in this game, when Jansen threw 18 of his 21 pitches for strikes. Very hittable strikes.</p>
<p id="LnX6eh">“I think it’s more magnified because it’s his last two outings,” Roberts said on a conference call. “But I know he’s in a good headspace, and his body feels good. He’s healthy. We just have to continue to give him confidence and expect to go out there and close out games for us.</p>
<p id="bdOUEA">“As far as a leash, he’s our closer. But obviously performance matters, it does. And everyone in that clubhouse knows that.”</p>
<p id="2m8SLR">The Dodgers led this one 5-1 in the eighth inning, but the Astros began their comeback with a run against <span>Blake Treinen</span> in the eighth. Houston had four hits in the first seven innings, and seven hits in the last two frames to snatch victory from defeat.</p>
<p id="2r2IBX">It spoiled what was looking like a rather formulaic win for the Dodgers, hitting the ball hard to back strong starting pitching.</p>
<p id="tyRMlF">Back-to-back home runs by <span>Chris Taylor</span> and <span>Kiké Hernandez</span> got the Dodgers the lead in the second inning off left-hander <span>Framber Valdéz</span>, part of the <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?game_pk=631331&game_date=2020-9-12">seven balls hit off Valdez with a 99-mph exit velocity or higher</a>.</p>
<p id="X4YDEu"><span>Corey Seager</span>, who’s been hitting balls hard all season, scalded two balls against Valdez. He ripped a 105.2-mph triple in the third inning and scored on a sacrifice fly, then Seager’s 103.1-mph single in the fifth drove home <span>Mookie Betts</span>, who walked with two outs and advanced on a wild pitch.</p>
<p id="J97ZDS">It turns out, the Dodgers didn’t tack on <em>enough</em> runs.</p>
<p id="LDWROa">Injuries <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433972/dustin-may-injury-foot-contusion-dodgers">have reduced the Dodgers rotation</a> at the moment to three healthy starters, a used gum wrapper, and a paper clip. With a bullpen game on the docket for Sunday, it was imperative for <span>Julio Urías</span> to eat some innings on Saturday.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="d23605"><div data-anthem-component="table:9428171"></div></div></div>
<p id="3ZcF4A">He delivered, even after a leadoff double and two-out single tallied his eighth first-inning run in nine starts. After that, Urías allowed only one more hit and worked around four walks to keep the Astros off the board for any more damage through six innings.</p>
<p id="JRsVvH">After the first inning this season, Urías has allowed nine runs in 34⅓ innings, a 2.36 ERA.</p>
<p id="IJIzEl">Urías has lasted at least six innings four times this season, <a href="https://stathead.com/sharing/xud8B">tying Clayton Kershaw for the team lead</a>. His 96 pitches were the third-most of his career, and his most since August 21, 2016.</p>
<p id="yh2XYL">“It was a well-played baseball game,” Roberts said. “We just didn’t finish it out.”</p>
<h3 id="SurDFH">Saturday particulars</h3>
<p id="J98lbt"><strong>Home runs</strong>: <span>Chris Taylor</span> (4), Kiké Hernandez (5)</p>
<p id="GnBOKf"><strong>WP — </strong><span><strong>Josh James</strong></span><strong> (1-0)</strong>: 1⅓ IP, zeroes</p>
<p id="SeABbp"><strong>LP — </strong><span><strong>Kenley Jansen</strong></span><strong> (3-1)</strong>: 0 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs (4 earned)</p>
<p id="RR56Q8"><strong>Sv — </strong><span><strong>Ryan Pressly</strong></span><strong> (9)</strong>: 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 strikeout</p>
<h3 id="kd3Ypb">Up next</h3>
<p id="zf17q1">Sunday is another evening start (5:08 p.m., ESPN), with the Dodgers going with a bullpen game against old friend <span>Zack Greinke</span>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21434399/kenley-jansen-implodes-dodgers-astrosEric Stephen2020-09-12T16:44:00-07:002020-09-12T16:44:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Astros Game III chat
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<img alt="Colorado Rockies defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zCGWu2Eev1nz0kZd4FnMSD3ZDFc=/0x0:2356x1571/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67396810/1270885068.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Game 46 of 60</p> <p id="g6z2nY">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> start their second two-game series of the season, this time at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="DuwCtd"><span>Julio Urías</span> starts Saturday for the Dodgers, against <span>Framber Valdéz</span> for Houston.</p>
<h3 id="3EIfFW">Pregame reading</h3>
<aside id="F7fl2n"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"It’s Dodgers-Astros national TV weekend","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433912/dodgers-astros-preview-national-tv"},{"title":"May day to day with foot contusion, next start TBD","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433972/dustin-may-injury-foot-contusion-dodgers"},{"title":"Báez back in bullpen","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433964/pedro-baez-activated-dodgers-roster-dennis-santana"},{"title":"Air quality a concern this weekend at Dodger Stadium","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21434095/dodger-stadium-air-quality-los-angeles"},{"title":"Joe Kelly visits his mural in Los Angeles","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/11/21431835/joe-kelly-visits-his-mural-in-los-angeles-dodgers-n"},{"title":"Should the Dodgers be concerned with their starting rotation? ","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433468/los-angeles-dodgers-clayton-kershaw-tony-gonsolin-julio-urias-mlb-news-rumors"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="8LH6lR">Game info</h3>
<p id="DfdgII">Time: 5:07 p.m.</p>
<p id="019J6L">TV: Fox</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21434019/dodgers-astros-game-threadEric Stephen2020-09-12T16:01:02-07:002020-09-12T16:01:02-07:00Báez back in bullpen
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Seattle Mariners" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JbLWOVQpsmyP1tZhWynvN9ynhyo=/0x0:4124x2749/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67396703/1267374379.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Dennis Santana optioned to make room on the active roster</p> <p id="ekqIrO">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> activated <span>Pedro Báez</span> from the injured list, adding one of <span>Dave Roberts</span>’ most trusted arms back into the bullpen. Báez missed 19 games with a right groin strain, having last pitched on August 19. </p>
<p id="az6t1Q">Báez has a 3.97 ERA and 5.40 FIP In his 11 appearances this year, both rates the highest of his career. That coincided with an average fastball (94.4 mph) about a mile and a half below last year, and Báez allowed runs in three straight appearances before getting placed on the injured list, including home runs allowed in his last two games.</p>
<p id="5KK14G">“I don’t think he has been 100-percent physically right, for me,” Roberts said on August 21. “Hopefully this could be a good thing in the sense of getting his body back, getting this groin thing taken care of. And once we get him back, we can ride him throughout the postseason.”</p>
<p id="ZxYQli">Báez’s 23 postseason relief appearances <a href="https://stathead.com/sharing/MNufB">rank second in Dodgers history</a>, behind <span>Kenley Jansen</span>’s 41. Dating back to 2014, that duo <a href="https://stathead.com/sharing/EOqBe">ranks first and tied for seventh in most playoff relief games in MLB</a>.</p>
<p id="GnGhpH">To make roster room for Báez, the Dodgers optioned pitcher <span>Dennis Santana</span> to the alternate training site at USC. Santana has a 5.29 ERA and 5.72 FIP in 12 games this season, with 18 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 innings. He pitched once in the previous nine games.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433964/pedro-baez-activated-dodgers-roster-dennis-santanaEric Stephen2020-09-12T15:28:36-07:002020-09-12T15:28:36-07:00Air quality a concern this weekend at Dodger Stadium
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<img alt="Poor Air Quality over Los Angeles due to the Bobcat and the El Dorado fires." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-HVR5DDwONwpVWA36AOKNykbTqg=/0x84:3645x2514/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67396632/1272040412.jpg.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Good enough for a team photo though</p> <p id="zukp0O">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> canceled batting practice and most of their pregame on-field activity at Dodger Stadium on Saturday amid concerns of poor air quality with the recent fires in and around Los Angeles. As for whether the game will be postponed, that remains to be seen.</p>
<p id="xW3Diz">“I don’t know. I mean it doesn’t look great out there,” manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> said on a conference call Saturday. “But until we hear otherwise, we’re going to move forward as planned.”</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="Ro8t0l"><div data-anthem-component="table:9427957"></div></div></div>
<p id="Km8B9b">The Air Quality Index in the immediate vicinity of Dodger Stadium <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqair.com%2Fus%2Fair-quality-map%3Flat%3D34.0669%26lng%3D-118.2417%26zoomLevel%3D10%26placeId%3DxwJyTC4tyag4svdTe&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truebluela.com%2F2020%2F9%2F12%2F21434095%2Fdodger-stadium-air-quality-los-angeles" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">has varied between 160 to 203 at times on Saturday</a>. Any AQI rating between 151-200 is considered unhealthy, and over 200 is considered very unhealthy. </p>
<p id="VKXgCF">Major League Baseball has no official policy on a specific AQI number that would postpone a game. Jared Diamond and Andrew Beaton at the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-wildfires-add-to-safety-worries-for-mlb-nfl-11599833655">reported that the A’s this week played during a game that saw the AQI at the Oakland Coliseum reach 195</a>.</p>
<p id="64iWZx">“The experts on when you’re outdoors and doing physical activity should give us some insight, and that’s what I’d like to think the players and Major League Baseball is leaning on,” Roberts said. </p>
<h3 id="rjbQHD">More concerns</h3>
<p id="eQcQCE">Air quality isn’t the only thing that could potentially threaten the Dodgers schedule. MLB postponed Friday and Saturday games between the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> and <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> in San Diego after a Giants player tested positive for COVID-19. Those are the first two games in the NL West for COVID-related purposes this season.</p>
<p id="K4DKHs">The Dodgers are scheduled to begin a series at Petco Park on Monday.</p>
<p id="vG23cu">“You’re looking at the clubhouse staff in San Diego, and the clubhouse itself,” Roberts said. “I know Major League Baseball is on top of it, just to make sure we don’t put ourselves in harm’s way going down south. But it’s just another reminder that it could happen at any point and time.”</p>
<h3 id="ozVEFb">Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li id="VoivXX">Roberts said that <span>Joe Kelly</span> will pitch a simulated inning before Saturday’s game, just about the only on-field activity before the game. The right-hander is eligible to return from his five-game suspension on Wednesday.</li>
<li id="HsCmKZ">
<span>Justin Turner</span>, sidelined since August 29 with a left hamstring strain, was going to face live pitching on Saturday but that was scrapped due to the poor air quality. He’ll face pitching on Sunday instead. “As I understand it, every day is getting better,” Roberts said. “Realistically, early next week would probably be the best-case scenario [for his return].”</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21434095/dodger-stadium-air-quality-los-angelesEric Stephen2020-09-12T14:46:17-07:002020-09-12T14:46:17-07:00May day to day with foot contusion, next start TBD
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UAVBrWzeZzZDeJ7DonLt-kic3Pc=/0x0:4437x2958/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67396511/1271854045.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LA has 3 healthy starting pitchers at the moment</p> <p id="SmYGAe">A CT scan on the left foot of <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> pitcher <span>Dustin May</span> showed no fracture, which manager <span>Dave Roberts</span> called a best-case scenario, though whether the right-hander avoids a stint on the injured list remains to be seen.</p>
<p id="nRs5XJ">“It’s sort of a day-to-day thing,” Roberts said on a conference call Saturday. “As far as when he’s going to pitch, or the IL situation, we still have some time to make a decision.”</p>
<p id="j5yx3h">On his second pitch of Thursday’s game in Arizona, May was hit by a liner that deflected off his left foot, off the bat of Josh Rojas. After conferring with a team trainer and manager <span>Dave Roberts</span>, May stayed in and completed a scoreless inning. But his was removed after throwing a few warmup pitches in the second inning.</p>
<div id="6oCLad"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/dustin-may-exits-after-one-inning" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="cFrbvo">The injury was first described as a left foot contusion, though Roberts said after Thursday’s game that X-rays were inconclusive. </p>
<p id="m2ihLJ">May said the swelling in his foot was mostly the same Friday as it was Thursday, and he didn’t know what to expect from the CT scan. He was in a walking boot after Thursday’s game and for part of Friday, and said that the swelling has subsided.</p>
<p id="bKKFzj">“Today it went down a lot, after I got treatment and walked around a little bit,” May said on a conference call. “It feels a lot better.”</p>
<p id="8SfzLe">May, who started opening day for the Dodgers this season, leads the team in starts (nine) and innings (41⅔). He’s allowed no more than two runs in any start, posting a 2.81 ERA.</p>
<p id="MJNQUg">But now his status is to be determined. With <span>Walker Buehler</span> already on the injured list for a second time, dealing with a blister on his right hand, the starting rotation is quite thin.</p>
<p id="YI0DIC">The Dodgers at the moment have three healthy starters — <span>Julio Urías</span>, who starts Saturday), plus <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, and <span>Tony Gonsolin</span>, who will start the first two games in San Diego. Sunday will be a bullpen game, and the earliest May would start is Wednesday, if he’s not placed on the injured list first.</p>
<p id="viRmsH">“You don’t want to compromise the delivery, which would put the arm at risk in come capacity,” Roberts said. “That’s why it’s day to day. We just don’t know until each day’s playing catch, then the flat ground we’ll get a little better idea, and potentially see how he is going down a slope.”</p>
<p id="cm3Hze">As of now, there isn’t yet a plan for when May will throw again, though he said he’s confident he’ll pitch again during the regular season.</p>
<p id="jHZMXN">“I feel pretty confident that I can get back out there, but I’m going to talk to our training staff and the coaches, and kind of see their thoughts on it, and go from there,” May said.</p>
<p id="4XSmUP">If May is unable to pitch this week, and with nine games over the next nine days the Dodgers would need to fill in at least two other starts besides Sunday, whether by another bullpen game, or a call-up. For the latter category, <span>Mitch White</span> is on the 40-man roster, but the club also has two open spots should they wish to add someone like a Josiah Gray, for example.</p>
<p id="SFhRGK">“We’re going to have some options,” Roberts said.</p>
<p id="5TScvU">The earliest Buehler is eligible to return is next Saturday when the Dodgers are in Denver. Roberts said Buehler has been playing catch, but only with his right index finger covered so far.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433972/dustin-may-injury-foot-contusion-dodgersEric Stephen2020-09-12T11:09:00-07:002020-09-12T11:09:00-07:00It’s Dodgers-Astros national TV weekend
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A7FU6RpoQ2g6guIEAlx0hA_4rg8=/0x0:4265x2843/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67395873/usa_today_14628573.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Have both sides cooled off in 6½ weeks? Let’s find out</p> <p id="bKx0rF">After a weird scheduled Friday off day, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> get another crack at the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>, with a pair of nationally televised games this weekend. Saturday is on Fox, Sunday on ESPN, both broadcasts exclusive.</p>
<p id="ut6hLy">Going into the first series between these two teams this year, the Dodgers’ first trip to Houston since the tainted 2017 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>, beforehand <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/7/28/21344646/dodgers-astros-preview-animosity-dampended-world-series-cheating-scandal">the Dodgers talked about looking forward and not back</a>. But then all hell broke loose when <span>Joe Kelly</span> threw near the head of <span>Alex Bregman</span>, and afterward — a two-game sweep by Los Angeles — the Dodgers <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/3/21348293/dodgers-week-2-clayton-kershaw-mookie-betts-corey-seager">admitted that the tension was building for several months</a>.</p>
<aside id="hHTR8j"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Joe Kelly & the Dodgers-Astros bench-clearing incident","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/9/21361452/joe-kelly-suspension-dodgers-astros-alex-bregman-carlos-correa-dave-roberts"}]}'></div></aside><p id="ZVdX9L">Whether that animosity still exists remains to be seen, at least in how it might manifest during a game. One would think, with a little over two weeks left in the regular season, and with <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433468/los-angeles-dodgers-clayton-kershaw-tony-gonsolin-julio-urias-mlb-news-rumors">the Dodgers rotation razor thin and hurting at the moment</a>, and with the Astros under .500 and fighting tooth and nail to even make the playoffs, that these two games at Dodger Stadium won’t see another benches-clearing incident. But logic is rarely the driving factor in these encounters.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"><div id="A0O3Fu"><div data-anthem-component="table:9427646"></div></div></div>
<p id="6dihc9"><span>Julio Urías</span> looks to regain consistency, after allowing four runs in two of his last three starts. The Astros offense will be without <span>Jose Altuve</span>, on the injured list with right knee sprain, but they got back <span>Alex Bregman</span> last week. Houston has a 113 wRC+ against left-handers this season, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2020&month=13&season1=2020&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2020-01-01&enddate=2020-12-31&sort=16,d">11th in MLB</a>.</p>
<p id="elzhmL">The Dodgers are up to .234/.332/.373, a 95 wRC+ against southpaws this season, which is an improvement from earlier in the year. Based on batted ball data, the Dodgers <em>expected</em> batting average against lefties is .273 and their expected slugging percentage is .460, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfBBT=&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfGT=R%7C&hfC=&hfSea=2020%7C&hfSit=&player_type=batter&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=L&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfPull=&metric_1=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=0&group_by=team&sort_col=xba&player_event_sort=api_h_launch_speed&sort_order=desc&min_pas=0&chk_stats_xba=on&chk_stats_xbadiff=on#results">per Baseball Savant</a>. </p>
<p id="ErZwd2">The Dodgers are also 9-3 in games started by left-handers despite the below-average offense. They will get a second look at southpaw <span>Framber Valdéz</span>, who allowed three runs in 4⅓ innings to Los Angeles on July 28.</p>
<h3 id="x4GQXU">TV assignments</h3>
<p id="5spGd7">Joe Davis is on the call for Fox on Saturday, virtually alongside John Smoltz, with reporter Ken Rosenthal on the broadcast as well. On Sunday for ESPN, Matt Vasgersian and Alex Rodriguez will call the game, with reporter Buster Olney a part of the crew.</p>
<h3 id="LrHpb6">Game info</h3>
<p id="AtKpL5">Time: 5:07 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="A4Z3RE">TV: Fox</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2020/9/12/21433912/dodgers-astros-preview-national-tvEric Stephen