True Blue LA - June 5: Braves 6, Dodgers 4Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-06-05T19:51:50-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/222844992021-06-05T19:51:50-07:002021-06-05T19:51:50-07:00Big inning goes against LA this time
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yKKzUsovmZkLrGB0fjfx2D1KXnE=/0x0:4838x3225/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69412240/usa_today_16213800.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Kershaw allows 5 runs for his second straight start in loss</p> <p id="mkEzrG">It was the Braves’ turn to ride the carousel around the bases on Saturday, scoring five runs with two outs in the third inning of a 6-4 win over Clayton Kershaw and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in the middle game of a weekend series at Truist Field in Atlanta.</p>
<p id="xBhZ6W">Kershaw got through six innings for the fifth straight start, and struck out nine. Five of those innings on Saturday were scoreless, but the third inning was a doozy. With two outs and a runner on first base, Kershaw issued a seven pitch walk, his only one of the night, to Ronald Acuña Jr., and then the floodgates opened.</p>
<p id="ZgmaVV">“You can’t do that,” Kershaw said of his walk to Acuña. “I was pitching him as tough as I could, but he’s a great hitter, obviously. With two outs, you don’t want to walk him to get to Freddie no matter what.”</p>
<p id="1NHTm2">Freddie Freeman singled home a run with a 96.4-mph that was the softest of the hard-hit parade. The next three hits all had exit velocities of at least 100 mph — a two-run double by Ozzie Albies, a single in the hole at shortstop by Austin Riley, and a two-run double by Dansby Swanson.</p>
<p id="lBaMNk">Five runs is the most Kershaw has allowed in an inning since the Marlins got him for five runs on April 26, 2016, when Giancarlo Stanton <a href="https://youtu.be/K2cH8oWp_54">absolutely punished a baseball for a three-run home run at Dodger Stadium</a>.</p>
<p id="pvmBj6">Kershaw has allowed five runs in three of his last six starts, and since the start of May has a 5.26 ERA, though his FIP in that span is just 3.24 thanks to a 30.5-percent strikeout rate and mostly keeping the ball in the park. San Francisco also tagged Kershaw for five runs on Sunday, making this just the fourth time he’s allowed five runs in consecutive starts. The <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/4tTYy">other three times came in Kershaw’s first four seasons</a>.</p>
<p id="BZOuXe">“I’m just not pitching well,” Kershaw said. “I don’t know what to tell you.”</p>
<p id="nVp1Zj">On offense, the Dodgers took advantage of a sloppy Braves defense a few times. They scored in the first inning without a hit, thanks to errors by Austin Riley and pitcher Charlie Morton. In the third, Los Angeles answered Atlanta’s five-run frame immediately with three runs in the top of the fourth, the third scoring after a throwing error by shortstop Dansby Swanson.</p>
<p id="AKbljs">It was on that errant throw in the fourth that catcher Austin Barnes reached first base, but after eluding a tag by Freddie Freeman, Barnes rolled his ankle at the front of the bag. After several minutes with Dave Roberts and the team trainer, Barnes stayed in the game and even caught the rest of the way.</p>
<p id="YJwH9d">Roberts said Barnes suffered a mild ankle sprain that mostly affected him while hitting. In his only at-bat following the injury, Barnes hit a 94-mph grounder that ate up Swanson at shortstop, but he recovered to throw out Barnes at first.</p>
<p id="R14Ujz">Will Smith is expected to start at catcher on Sunday, but Barnes’ availability is unknown.</p>
<p id="oUBdwb">“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Roberts said.</p>
<p id="2SmTEo">The fourth-inning rally pulled the Dodgers to within a run, and Morton was done after five. But despite reaching base in each of the first three innings against Atlanta’s bullpen — again with some help, with an error and a hit by pitch mixed in — the Dodgers were unable to score again.</p>
<h3 id="jNvatx">Notes</h3>
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<li id="z59px5">Kershaw began the night in 29th place on the all-time strikeout list, but ended up in 27th, now with 2,612 in his career. Kershaw passed Tom Glavine (2,607 strikeouts) in the fourth inning and Chuck Finley (2,610) in the fifth. Up next on the list is David Cone, in 26th place with 2,668 strikeouts.</li>
<li id="3Cdbb7">Much to the consternation of Riley and first base coach Eric Young Sr., Kershaw was not called for a balk for leaning toward home plate before <a href="https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/1401330609054572547">throwing to first base in the second inning</a>. Instead, it was Kershaw’s fourth pickoff of the season, his most since he picked off nine runners in 2015.</li>
<li id="5zL2Fz">We got another Will Smith vs. Will Smith matchup to start the ninth, with the Dodgers trailing by two. This time, the Braves pitcher prevailed with a three-pitch strikeout.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="IBHJTK">Saturday particulars</h3>
<p id="QX5iS4"><strong>Home run</strong>: Abraham Almonte (1)</p>
<p id="IWZ2t4"><strong>WP — Charlie Morton (5-2)</strong>: 5 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p id="ZWGKPB"><strong>LP — Clayton Kershaw (7-5)</strong>: 6 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts</p>
<p id="fsxyPS"><strong>Sv — Will Smith (10)</strong>: 1 IP, 3 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="xtHLay">Up next</h3>
<p id="ZGeso0">Trevor Bauer starts Sunday morning’s series finale (10:20 a.m. PT; SportsNet LA, MLB Network), facing Atlanta left-hander Max Fried.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520759/clayton-kershaw-five-run-inning-dodgers-bravesEric Stephen2021-06-05T15:56:00-07:002021-06-05T15:56:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Braves Game II chat
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<img alt="MLB: AUG 17 Dodgers at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QqCV5QeFXIf97m1hRBj089Kx68s=/3x0:2123x1413/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69411811/1162237752.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LA goes for 3rd straight win</p> <p id="sJnQzj">Clayton Kershaw and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> look for a third straight win on Saturday night against the Braves in Atlanta. Kershaw enters the game <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_career.shtml">in 29th place on the all-time strikeout list</a>, with 2,603. Within striking distance are Braves legend Tom Glavine (2,607) and Chuck Finley (2,610).</p>
<p id="Tvbpq7">Charlie Morton starts for the Braves, meaning Saturday’s game features pitchers who started in three Dodgers wins during last year’s <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>.</p>
<h3 id="qQ3xBb">Pregame reading</h3>
<aside id="7zmFH8"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The Dodgers lineup is getting long again","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520269/dodgers-lineup-depth-production-strike-zone-contact-walks"},{"title":"Muncy day to day with right ankle pain","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520248/max-muncy-right-ankle-pain-dodgers-lineup-braves"},{"title":"Graterol optioned to Triple-A OKC","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520284/brusdar-graterol-optioned-dodgers-roster-triple-a-oklahoma-city"}]}'></div></aside><div id="WeQsmG"><div data-anthem-component="table:10592679"></div></div>
<h3 id="cwFOzv">Game info</h3>
<p id="xI5Umd">Teams: Dodgers (34-23) at Braves (26-29)</p>
<p id="mhmhlG">Location: Truist Park, Atlanta</p>
<p id="zSYr2H">Time: 4:15 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="OuMrJW">TV: Fox (Adam Amin on play-by-play, with analyst A.J. Pierzynski)</p>
<p id="ce0wi8"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520364/dodgers-vs-braves-game-ii-chatEric Stephen2021-06-05T12:17:52-07:002021-06-05T12:17:52-07:00Muncy day to day with mild ankle sprain, X-rays negative
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<img alt="MLB: JUN 04 Dodgers at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZzVv3GXL5xHLCTpPGAnqONA-fk8=/0x0:3881x2587/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69411346/1233287143.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Muncy left Friday’s game in 4th inning; Saturday X-rays on his ankle were negative</p> <p id="FWUqPh">Max Muncy is out of the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> lineup on Saturday night against the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, one night after leaving the series opener with right ankle pain.</p>
<p id="gbfXZq">Muncy grounded into a double play in the fourth inning on Friday, and felt pain in the ankle on his way back to the dugout. Dave Roberts said Muncy couldn’t recall any specific incident that caused the pain. On Saturday, Roberts characterized Muncy’s injury as a mild ankle sprain. </p>
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<p id="5dF4hj">“He tried to go back out there and take the field, and it didn’t respond well,” Roberts said Friday night. “We’d be more concerned if it was hitting the bag or something like that, but he didn’t feel it then.”</p>
<p id="gUlhTC">Muncy, who leads the Dodgers in games played (54), plate appearances (231), and defensive innings (467⅓), was replaced at first base in the bottom of the fourth by Matt Beaty.</p>
<p id="T7GC9e">Roberts said that Muncy was day to day, though with Monday’s off day it’s possible he is held out of the final two games against the Braves to get three days of rest. X-rays later on Saturday on Muncy’s ankle were negative.</p>
<p id="JWSetn">“Today is was more stiffness, not any pain,” Roberts said. “We just felt to give him another day of treatment, and hopefully we’ll know more tomorrow.”</p>
<p id="Bxy9M3">Matt Beaty gets the start at first base for the Dodgers on Saturday, and coupled with Zach McKinstry in left field gives the Dodgers four left-handed position players in the lineup against Braves right-hander Charlie Morton.</p>
<p id="DIfyeT">Left-hander Max Fried starts on Sunday for Atlanta.</p>
<p id="nqAdIo">Saturday marks Clayton Kershaw’s second career start at what is now called Truist Park. He allowed one run in 7⅔ innings with eight strikeouts and no walks in a win in Atlanta in 2018, in the second season of what was then named SunTrust Park.</p>
<h3 id="eTr0Hp">Atlanta roster move</h3>
<p id="8gKLQt">Before Saturday’s game, Atlanta placed left-hander Grant Dayton, who recorded four outs on Friday night, on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation, and recalled right-hander Jacob Webb from Triple-A Gwinnett.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520248/max-muncy-right-ankle-pain-dodgers-lineup-bravesEric Stephen2021-06-05T10:02:25-07:002021-06-05T10:02:25-07:00The Dodgers lineup is getting long again
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<img alt="MLB: JUN 04 Dodgers at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hz_XqD2ojSr1nviSvT3NfoQXXq0=/0x0:2380x1587/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69411029/1233287380.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Bellinger, McKinstry, and Pollock back add a dimension to LA’s offense</p> <p id="wWR0wV">With AJ Pollock activated from the injured list on Friday, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> were able to put together a lineup full of position player regulars for only the third time all season. The lineup has gotten longer in the last week, and the results are showing.</p>
<p id="lEpACj">The Dodgers scored 11 runs in the first inning on Wednesday, then put up an eight-run fifth inning on Friday. Having such outbursts so close apart is quite rare.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dodgers</a> are the first MLB team to have an 11+ run inning in one game and then an 8+ run inning in their next game since the Astros did it in a doubleheader at Shea Stadium on July 30, 1969.</p>— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsBySTATS/status/1401000216103370752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2021</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="0bnjiY">The first wave of reinforcements came last Saturday, when Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry were activated after missing 46 and 33 games, respectively. Then Pollock was back Friday after missing 18 games. It was Pollock’s first complete game in one month, and only his third start since then.</p>
<p id="fcsy0U">Going into the season, I’m counting 10 position player regulars for the Dodgers, with both catchers meriting this status, plus Chris Taylor perhaps without a set position but with playing time clearly carved out for him. Since opening day, the Dodgers have fielded a lineup with eight of those 10 regulars just three times — the first two games of the season, and Friday night. If you want to count McKinstry as a regular, the total is 12 such games with eight regulars. Out of 57 games.</p>
<p id="IXlFoU">Despite the various losses, which still include Corey Seager, who is with the Dodgers on this road trip while rehabbing his broken hand, the Dodgers lead the majors in runs scored (5.39 per game). The big outbursts aren’t skewing the totals as much as you might think, especially of late, having scored at least four runs in 10 of their last 12 games.</p>
<p id="6ILgeF">The Dodgers’ biggest advantage on offense is in walks (258), with 26 more than any other team, and a walk rate (11.5 percent) well above the next-best teams (10.6 percent). They had five walks, and only three hits, in Friday night’s eight-run frame.</p>
<p id="HOxo9u">The free passes are a product of the approach and performance, and not the goal.</p>
<p id="TwaZU8">“When guys are aggressive in the strike zone, the idea of scaring a pitcher out of the strike zone is what we’re shooting for,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “When they’re throwing it over the plate, we want to take aggressive swings, and if they don’t, be willing to take the walk. I don’t think passivity and looking for a walk bodes well for production.”</p>
<p id="ItszN4">This is borne out in the numbers. The Dodgers’ modus operandi in recent years has been to lay off pitches outside the strike zone, which they’ve done to great aplomb this season. LA’s <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=5&season=2021&month=0&season1=2021&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2021-01-01&enddate=2021-12-31&sort=2,d">26.4-percent chase rate is second-lowest in MLB</a>, but that they are surrounded by the Padres (26.3 percent) and Giants (26.5 percent) is one of the reasons those three division mates have the three best records in the National League.</p>
<p id="TkX66M">Punishing pitches <em>inside</em> the zone, though, was a problem for a while, including during the Dodgers’ 5-15 stretch earlier this season. On the season, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/league?season=2021#statcastHitting">the Dodgers’ 80.7-percent is tied for 11th in MLB</a>.</p>
<p id="Nfzc2E">The last three position players optioned by the Dodgers — DJ Peters, Sheldon Neuse, and Luke Raley — had the three lowest contact rates in the strike zone on the team. Among the 463 major league players with at least 25 plate appearances this season, Peters (53.1 percent) <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/custom?year=2021&type=batter&filter=&sort=10&sortDir=desc&min=25&selections=xba,xslg,xwoba,xobp,xiso,exit_velocity_avg,launch_angle_avg,barrel_batted_rate,iz_contact_percent,&chart=false&x=xba&y=xba&r=no&chartType=beeswarm">ranks 461st in zone contact rate</a>, Neuse (67.1 percent) ranks 442nd, and Raley (70.7 percent) is 403rd.</p>
<p id="KWoeyf">With so many regulars out, those three were getting regular playing time for a while, which is why the acquisitions of Albert Pujols (89.7-percent zone contact rate) and Yoshi Tsutsugo (77.8 percent) made some sense, even with their subpar production. They make even more sense now with more regulars back, now that those two are mostly bench options, with the occasional start mixed in.</p>
<h3 id="cwFOzv">Game info</h3>
<p id="xI5Umd">Teams: Dodgers (34-23) at Braves (26-29)</p>
<p id="mhmhlG">Location: Truist Park, Atlanta</p>
<p id="zSYr2H">Time: 4:15 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="OuMrJW">TV: Fox (Adam Amin on play-by-play, with analyst A.J. Pierzynski)</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520269/dodgers-lineup-depth-production-strike-zone-contact-walksEric Stephen2021-06-05T08:41:11-07:002021-06-05T08:41:11-07:00Graterol optioned to Triple-A OKC
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tN4ufVwfiXHAV-VHmQpwDuui5ow=/0x0:4343x2895/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69410822/usa_today_15927841.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Graterol was on the injured list with right forearm tightness since April 29</p> <p id="vbVJya">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> reinstated relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol from the injured list on Friday, then optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City, ending his minor league rehab assignment with the same team.</p>
<p id="xecYBe">Graterol had been sidelined since April 29 with right forearm tightness, and only pitched two games with OKC on his rehab assignment. He retired all six batters he faced in those outings, but in the first he threw more balls than strikes then on Thursday he struck out the side while throwing only three outside the strike zone.</p>
<p id="JIvW8J">After that first rehab outing Monday, which followed Graterol throwing to rehabbing Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry in batting practice on May 28 in El Paso, Dave Roberts was asked about Graterol’s timeline for a return to the majors.</p>
<p id="0dYXVt">“Some of it is contingent on the build-up. Some of it is contingent on performance. Some of it is contingent on need here. We really could go in a couple different directions,” <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/2/22463407/aj-pollock-home-run-rancho-cucamonga-dodgers-road-trip-braves">Roberts said Tuesday</a>. “I think it’s keep him on the rehab for however long that is, and then we’ll make a decision at a later date.”</p>
<p id="1XA6iz">Minor league rehab assignments for pitchers can last up to 30 days. Graterol’s lasted four. The direction the Dodgers chose was to keep a now-healthy right-hander in the minors for the moment, which probably makes sense for someone who has pitched only sporadically this year. He’ll just do so while earning a minor league salary instead of his major league rate.</p>
<p id="R02Ioz">“Brusdar was obviously a huge part of what we did last year. He’s going to be a huge part of what we’re going to do this year,” Roberts said Saturday. “We just feel like right now, where he’s at, it’s a finishing school.</p>
<p id="cWAPRN">“The slider is not as consistent as it needs to be to get major league hitters out consistently. The sinker is not commanded the way it needs to be. The option allows for him to have a clear path to go out there, pitch regularly, get the sinker down in the zone and continue to work on that slider. When he does that, I expect to see him.”</p>
<p id="d4J49X">Graterol did not pitch in a game during spring training, then started the season on the injured list with an undisclosed reason, missing the first 15 games.</p>
<p id="eWirYI">“There’s a lot of things that took place this winter for Brusdar that didn’t allow for him to prepare like he normally would have, as far as throwing bullpens to prepare for spring training. The last thing we want to do is speed him up when he’s not ready,” <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/3/15/22332548/brusdar-graterol-joe-kelly-dodgers-bullpen-opening-day">Roberts said during spring training</a>. “The main thing is that we just want him to be healthy and progress the right way.” </p>
<p id="JLdows">On Saturday, Roberts said, “Some of the things were out of Brusdar’s control, and some things, quite frankly, were in his control. But it’s where we’re at right now.” </p>
<p id="H2BiN9">Graterol has only faced 15 batters in competitive action this season, plus whatever games he might have pitched at the alternate site in Arizona during the first few weeks of the season. He allowed three runs in his three major league appearances, and walked two of his nine batters faced, after walking only three of 88 batters faced last year as a rookie.</p>
<p id="rApFfv">So he could probably use a few more innings under his belt before getting called back up. If he continues to pitch like he did on Thursday, he’ll be back in the majors soon enough.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520284/brusdar-graterol-optioned-dodgers-roster-triple-a-oklahoma-cityEric Stephen