True Blue LA - July 7: Marlins 9, Dodgers 6Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-07-08T06:07:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/223318842021-07-08T06:07:00-07:002021-07-08T06:07:00-07:00Roberts on Price: ‘Building him up starts to make more sense’
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<figcaption>Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Price is expected to pitch three innings or so on Friday</p> <p id="QNw44q">With the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> down to three starting pitchers on the active roster, any type of length from their pitchers is welcome at this point. So far the Dodgers have resisted turning to David Price — with 314 career starts under his belt — to start anything but a bullpen game this season. </p>
<p id="h6BD7K">But circumstances can change things.</p>
<p id="UMh0Uu">With Clayton Kershaw placed on the injured list, his Friday start is now up for grabs. Price was held back from pitching in Wednesday’s bullpen game so he’d be available for bulk innings in Friday’s home opener against the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>. Dave Roberts said it hasn’t been decided whether Price will start on Friday, but the plan is for him to pitch three innings.</p>
<p id="6mZpHz">That would be the start of extending Price a little bit longer each start until he can be reasonably expected to pitch five or six innings each time out. That was old hat many times for Price, a former Cy Young Award winner and top-two finisher two other times.</p>
<p id="S9XZNM">Price averaged 32 starts and 218 innings from 2010-16, during which he was an All-Star five times. But elbow injuries in 2017 and wrist injuries in 2019 limited his time on the mound, such that he averaged just 21 starts and 119 innings in his last three seasons in Boston.</p>
<p id="fUHhLT">The left-hander opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, and is now a 35-year-old who hasn’t pitched more than 107⅓ innings in a season in three years.</p>
<p id="nBrqQC">Price has said numerous times he’d pitch in any role the Dodgers wanted him in. For most of the season, that’s been in shorter relief stints, the best way the staff felt he would stay healthy all season and be ready and effective in October. </p>
<p id="iSnWH5">To date, his longest appearance this year is 2⅔ innings. But with Trevor Bauer on administrative leave and Kershaw now on the injured list, Price could be set up to surpass that a few times, at least in the short term.</p>
<p id="55vpfc">“As we look out into the near future, I think David Price, the idea of building him up starts to make more sense,” Roberts said. “Once we get to the break, we’ll have a clearer vision.”</p>
<h3 id="26jM2b">Links</h3>
<p id="IdJSIO">From Monday night in Miami, Kenley Jansen <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2021-07-07/dodgers-kenley-jansen-all-star-game-insult">discussed not making the All-Star team with Jorge Castillo at the Los Angeles Times</a>: “Laughing in disappointment ... It’s like an insult, kind of. I guess I gotta put up a zero ERA and have zero blown saves, probably, for me to get recognized.”</p>
<p id="eUYSXo">The planned Trevor Bauer bobblehead giveaway on August 19 at Dodger Stadium has been scrapped. In addition, no Bauer merchandise is available at the stadium or on the team website or MLB.com. From <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2021/07/07/dodgers-cancel-trevor-bauer-bobblehead-night-remove-merchandise-from-team-store/">Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Vj0fT0"><em>A Dodgers spokesman said the decision was made because the team “did not feel it was appropriate” to have the promotion or continue to sell the merchandise “while investigations continue by Major League Baseball and the Pasadena Police Department.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p id="ZzeU6d">Wednesday was an anniversary of a Dodger Stadium moment:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">On this date in 1979, the <a href="https://twitter.com/BeeGees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeeGees</a> played at Dodger Stadium! <a href="https://twitter.com/GibbBarry?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GibbBarry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpiritsHavingFlownTour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpiritsHavingFlownTour</a> <a href="https://t.co/oL5JuM4hAn">pic.twitter.com/oL5JuM4hAn</a></p>— Dieter Ruehle (@DieterRuehle) <a href="https://twitter.com/DieterRuehle/status/1412809986460192771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2021</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/8/22567002/david-price-building-up-innings-friday-bulk-dodgersEric Stephen2021-07-07T20:25:47-07:002021-07-07T20:25:47-07:00LA bullpen dam breaks in 3rd straight loss to Marlins
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<figcaption>Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>34 appearances by relievers and 35 bullpen innings by 14 different pitchers in 7 days catches up to LA</p> <p id="TBUnRV">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Wednesday surpassed their offensive output of the first two games of the series, but their flaws were laid bare in a third consecutive loss to the Marlins, this one 9-6 in Miami.</p>
<p id="wMZQCE">Miami scored runs in seven of nine innings on Wednesday, the cracks of a taxed bullpen widening into gaping holes. Edwin Uceta was brought into a tie game in the ninth, and gave up a two-out, walk-off, three-run home run to Jesús Augilar, after Sandy Leon singled and Starling Marte was walked intentionally.</p>
<p id="MeBdmI">The Dodgers, who got a home run from Zach McKinstry in the top of the ninth to extend the game into the bottom of the frame, have scored in five of 28 innings in the series.</p>
<p id="BUVqCH">“They’re doing a great job of capitalizing on every mistake we make, and we’re paying the price for it,” said third baseman Justin Turner, who had three hits. “We’re not doing the little things right now.”</p>
<h3 id="40Kwj6">Quick snatch</h3>
<p id="sGkban">With the Dodgers bullpen taxed and several leverage relievers unavailable on Wednesday, Kenley Jansen entered the game in an unusual situation for him, in a tie game and one out in the eighth.</p>
<p id="4qjNuV">Pinch-runner Magneuris Sierra posed another problem for Jansen, one of the easiest relievers to run on in the majors. Eight runners were successful in eight tries against Jansen before this game, and he allowed 45 runners to steal without getting caught since the start of 2017.</p>
<p id="OCpKZs">That has to be at the front of mind of Austin Barnes when, with Sierra running on a 1-1 pitch, he reached for a strike too soon. Augilar fouled the pitch off, but instead was awarded first base on the fourth catcher’s interference call on Barnes this season, tied for the major league lead. Barnes has been called for catcher’s interference in each of his three starts on the road trip.</p>
<p id="IENYUT">The previous two didn’t score, but after Sierra later reached third on a delayed steal, Jansen allowed a two-out single to Jesus Sanchez, giving the Marlins the go-ahead run.</p>
<p id="qPdmd3">Jansen and Joe Kelly recorded five outs on Wednesday. The other 21 outs were recorded by four pitchers who started the season in Triple-A, and each of them allowed a home run.</p>
<h3 id="IEnJm5">Deep six</h3>
<p id="uAId6J">My brother Greg when he was a young lad, before I was born, for a little while had a lisp. Maybe it was after he lost a tooth, I don’t remember the details. But he was playing Yahtzee — or perhaps it was my grandma’s preferred dice game, Kismet — and at some point was talking about rolling his “usual sixes,” only imagine how amazing that would sound from a six-year-old with missing teeth.</p>
<p id="9TDkhw">The Dodgers were starting down a pair of sixes to start the third inning. Ross Detwiler, Miami’s opening salvo in the double bullpen game, retired his first six batters of the game. AJ Pollock led off the frame having struck in each of his previous six at-bats. But one pitch later, Pollock hit one over the fence in left center.</p>
<p id="L9SxxS">That was the Dodgers’ first home run of the series, and before the inning was over they’d add two more. Mookie Betts hit one to left, then singles by Albert Pujols and Max Muncy set up Justin Turner for this:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">South Beach, JT bringin' the heat. <a href="https://t.co/SCQ1LRKxEU">pic.twitter.com/SCQ1LRKxEU</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1412927848365522944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2021</a>
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<p id="1U2xzi">The Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning, nine against Detwiler, and turned a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 advantage. Three home runs in the inning matched a season high, which the Dodgers also did on June 11 in the first inning against the Rangers at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="gDUYhZ">The eight home runs — four by each team — are the most in a Dodgers game this season. The previous high was six, on May 31 in Milwaukee.</p>
<h3 id="w7axD6">Stepping into the void</h3>
<p id="M0ukjg">Mitch White was <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/7/22567604/clayton-kershaw-injured-list-forearm-inflammation">recalled from Triple-A before the game</a>, and entered in the second inning. He allowed single runs in three different innings, though one run was unearned, and struck out five in four innings. It was the longest outing of the season in the majors or minors for White, who <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/jrhX3">became the seventh Dodger to pitch longer than three innings this season</a>, joining the six starters.</p>
<p id="VfSgA4">The only other non-starters to record more than even <em>six</em> outs in a game this season were Edwin Uceta (twice, including three innings in May 16) and David Price (2⅔ innings on May 27). Long men are a thing of the past, and the constant churning of relievers in short stints puts teams in situations like the Dodgers are in now, having used 13 different relief pitchers in the last seven days.</p>
<p id="rq6RBp">Desperate times call for desperate measures.</p>
<p id="sQJn3h">That made White’s length on Wednesday very much appreciated, especially on a night when several relievers were unavailable, and with another bullpen game coming Friday with Clayton Kershaw on the shelf. </p>
<h3 id="iDHJ30">Wednesday particulars</h3>
<p id="XvxspK"><strong>Home runs</strong>: AJ Pollock (9), Mookie Betts (11), Justin Turner (14), Zach McKinstry (6); Garrett Cooper 2 (9), Jesús Aguilar 2 (4)</p>
<p id="e51zUI"><strong>WP — Anthony Bender (1-0)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 3 strikeouts</p>
<p id="Gg0op3"><strong>LP — Edwin Uceta (0-3)</strong>: ⅔ IP, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 strikeout</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/7/22567696/dodgers-taxed-bullpen-game-home-runs-marlins-recapEric Stephen2021-07-07T16:27:21-07:002021-07-07T16:27:21-07:00Tsutsugo sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Move takes Tsutsugo off 40-man roster</p> <p id="NUlR3s">After his minor league rehab assignment ended, Yoshi Tsutsguo was designated for assignment by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, the team announced on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="5riS8l">Tsutsugo spent the maximum 20 days on a minor league rehab assignment for position players while on the injured list with a strained calf. In 15 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, the 29-year-old Tsutsugo hit .138/.227/.310 with three home runs.</p>
<p id="nrc8db">The 20 days expired after Tuesday’s game.</p>
<p id="W1azuj">The Dodgers planned to use the full allotted time for Tsutsugo’s rehab assignment.</p>
<p id="xMLmSw">“It’s more of a longer-term play,” <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/23/22546022/yoshi-tsutsugo-minor-league-rehab-long-term-dodgers-michael-busch">manager Dave Roberts said on June 22</a>. “Just to kind of make sure he’s back, with a calf that’s healthy. And it also allows for him to take some at-bats, and use this time to get healthy, and kind of work on his stroke.” </p>
<p id="rpV8t7">Tsutsugo accepted the minor league assignment, which means he’ll stay with Oklahoma City, who is off on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="3OQQ7b">Since he was acquired from the Rays for a player to named later or cash considerations on May 15, Tsutsugo was 3-for-25 with the Dodgers, hitting .120/.290/.120. After averaging 31 home runs in Japan from 2014-19, Tsutsugo in parts of two seasons with Tampa Bay and Los Angeles hit .181/.291/.315 with eight home runs in 89 games.</p>
<p id="pV5QYS">The move opens up a 40-man roster spot for the Dodgers, who might need it as early as Thursday. The bullpen has been incredibly taxed on this road trip, and <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/7/22567604/clayton-kershaw-injured-list-forearm-inflammation">with Clayton Kershaw getting placed on the injured list on Wednesday</a>, they will need to fill his innings on Friday.</p>
<p id="nLjxa6">Left-hander Darien Nuñez is with the team in Miami, and if is called up to join the pitching staff he would need to be added to the 40-man roster.</p>
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<p id="3s3FH4">In other recent roster news, Steven Souza Jr., who was designated for assignment on Tuesday, thanked the Dodgers for his time in the organization.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Whatever happens wherever I land I am so thankful for everything the <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dodgers</a> did for me. Top to bottom all Class!</p>— Steven Souza (@SouzaJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouzaJr/status/1412902733280075780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2021</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/7/22567547/yoshi-tsutsogo-dodgers-designated-for-assignment-triple-a-oklahoma-cityEric Stephen2021-07-07T15:52:00-07:002021-07-07T15:52:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Marlins Game VI chat
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<figcaption>Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Albert Pujols hits second for the first time in 2,862 career starts</p> <p id="QyMP3f">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> try for a third time to beat the Marlins on Wednesday night in Miami. Both teams are deploying bullpen games in this one, so settle in. It’s going to be a while.</p>
<p id="4OhUBA">Jake Reed starts on the mound for the Dodgers, and with left-hander Ross Detwiler starting for the Marlins, Albert Pujols is fully in the David Freese role, batting second. It’s the first time in 2,862 career starts that Pujols is batting second.</p>
<p id="2jyPYA">“For them to get as much out of Detwiler, I felt that it gives Albert the best chance to take two at-bats against him,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And if I didn’t start [Pujols] tonight, with their lefties available tonight, I probably wouldn’t use him.”</p>
<p id="n3GNeE">Miami has two other left-handed relievers on the active roster — Steven Okert, who pitched the last two nights, and Richard Bleier, who pitched an inning on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="mIaFjd">Wednesday is also the 3,000th major league game for Pujols, combining the regular season (2,923) and postseason (77).</p>
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<h3 id="hbWGsg">Game info</h3>
<p id="MQeINe">Teams: Dodgers (53-33) at Marlins (37-47)</p>
<p id="o6MwoI">Location: Marlins Park, Miami</p>
<p id="MVAtU9">Time: 4:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="ycVY5e">TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN (out of market)</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/7/22567322/dodgers-marlins-game-threadEric Stephen2021-07-07T15:50:28-07:002021-07-07T15:50:28-07:00Kershaw lands on IL with left forearm inflammation
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cd9KJdTJZ0gy5VHF9ZkGJRU91eg=/0x0:3472x2315/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69553748/usa_today_16363434.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Dodgers down to 3 starting pitchers on the active roster</p> <p id="3d70LV">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> placed Clayton Kershaw on the 10-day injured list with left forearm inflammation, further depleting a starting rotation already getting thinner by the day.</p>
<p id="RHnC8K">Kershaw’s last start came Saturday in Washington D.C., allowing three runs in a start shortened by rain to just four innings. On the season, Kershaw has a 3.39 ERA, 2.99 FIP and 127 strikeouts in 106⅓ innings.</p>
<p id="ur6320">Kershaw first felt something while playing catch on the road trip after that Saturday start. </p>
<p id="XLGCDe">It’s possible he could miss only one start, but manager Dave Roberts said he doesn’t yet know the severity of the injury. Kershaw will get tests on his left arm once the Dodgers return home this weekend.</p>
<p id="ZDbszS">“Obviously there’s a lot left in the season, so to kind of push him through doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” Roberts said. “We’re just trying to get ahead of it.”</p>
<p id="NPNkbz">The All-Star break will soothe some of this, but at the Dodgers are down to three healthy, active starters in Walker Buehler, Julio Urías, and Tony Gonsolin. The next pitcher on the totem pole is likely top prospect Josiah Gray, but he just returned from missing two months with a shoulder impingement and threw only two innings in his first game back with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.</p>
<p id="QsOgff">The Dodgers already had a bullpen game on Sunday, and another Wednesday night in Miami. They called up Mitch White on Wednesday, giving the club 11 active relievers. And they need all of them.</p>
<p id="x8ONRK">Blake Treinen has pitched three of the last four days, and both Phil Bickford and Garrett Cleavinger pitched four times in the last six days. Scott Alexander has pitched the last two days since getting activated, and pitched four of the last six days counting his minor league rehab assignment. Jimmy Nelson threw 20 pitches on Tuesday and has pitched on back-to-back days just once this season, on April 30 and May 1.</p>
<p id="zOgHwx">Adding White makes six bullpen roster moves in the last six days, an astonishing roster churn. In the middle of a stretch of 11 straight game days before the All-Star break, and only four starting pitchers, the bullpen has been worked heavily of late, to the tune of 28⅔ innings and 28 appearances by 12 different relievers on the first six games of the road trip.</p>
<p id="LUESRy">They’ve done quite well, allowing only seven runs (four earned runs) with 33 strikeouts and a 1.26 ERA. But that’s a lot to ask of any bullpen, especially given the relievers have to cover the entire game on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="BEGLP6">Here’s a look at the bullpen usage on the road trip by the 11 pitchers currently on the active roster.</p>
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<p id="cav4BY">Jake Reed starts Wednesday’s bullpen game for the Dodgers, and is expected to pitch to four or five batters, Roberts said.</p>
<p id="UiS2Xn">With Kershaw penciled in for a Friday start at home, that will be probably be a bullpen game now, too. When asked earlier Wednesday about David Price’s availability, Roberts said, “He’s certainly available. I think the idea would be to stay away from him, so he can pitch in bulk on Friday.”</p>
<p id="CLgBnS">That was <em>before</em> Kershaw’s injury was announced.</p>
<p id="hhuKlB">Left-hander Darien Nuñez is also with the team in Miami, though he has not yet been activated.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LHP Darien Nuñez (28) is already in <a href="https://twitter.com/loanDepotpark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@loanDepotpark</a>. He is expected to pitch tonight against the Marlins. The Cuban made his dream come true. <a href="https://t.co/054ngjlloz">pic.twitter.com/054ngjlloz</a></p>— Francys Romero (@francysromero10) <a href="https://twitter.com/francysromero10/status/1412872486438506496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2021</a>
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<p id="PKlcvA">In 16 games this season (15 with Triple-A Oklahoma City, one in Double-A Tulsa), Nuñez has a 2.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 15 walks in 30 innings.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/7/22567604/clayton-kershaw-injured-list-forearm-inflammationEric Stephen