True Blue LA - August 18: Dodgers 9, Pirates 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-08-18T21:46:15-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/223957742021-08-18T21:46:15-07:002021-08-18T21:46:15-07:00Mitch White takes the bullpen out of the bullpen game
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<img alt="Pittsburgh Pirates v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yHHk8Tx9kDZDKlvYeGqGE7kw76g=/0x0:3720x2480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69746005/1234753564.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>RHP records final 22 outs in Dodgers sweep of Pirates</p> <p id="D9spp4">For the second straight series, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> turned on the power in a blowout win to complete the sweep. On Wednesday, that came in the form of Max Muncy and AJ Pollock leading the offense, and Mitch White taking the bullpen out of a bullpen game in a 9-0 drubbing of the Pirates.</p>
<p id="DmKgCi">By the time White entered Wednesday’s game in the second inning, the Dodgers already lead 3-0. It was a perfect cushion for a bullpen game, though White provided all the relief.</p>
<p id="L6TNJN">The right-handed had his best major league game to date. Following opener Justin Bruihl — who got five outs, starting for the second time in three days — White allowed only two singles and two walks, and struck out six <em>while finishing the game</em>.</p>
<p id="h6R8V2">“I’ve just been working on being efficient, and doing my best with that, just attacking guys and not walking,” White said. “Get a little swing and miss with the curveball, then go from there.”</p>
<p id="3B2hpZ">White was efficient, needing only 74 pitches to get through 7⅓ innings, the longest professional outing of White’s career. His longest minor league games were a trio of seven-inning games in 2017-18 between Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa.</p>
<p id="D03Lku">“He was fantastic. This is something he’s going to remember for a long time,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We needed a big performance out of him, and he gave us that and plenty more.”</p>
<p id="cyiNeW">Dodgers pitchers have allowed 23 total runs in the last 11 games, winning 10, including the last six in a row.</p>
<p id="RLwSCS">Those three runs in the first inning began with a single by AJ Pollock, batting first for the first time this season.</p>
<p id="gDO63S">Since the All-Star break, Dodgers leadoff hitters have started the game off with a bang more often than not. They have 16 hits in 28 at-bats to open the first inning, with six doubles, three home runs, and two walks. That’s a cool .571/.600/1.107 batting line, with 13 runs scored.</p>
<p id="5nDue4">Over those 30 games, Chris Taylor has the most times batting leadoff with 12, filling in when Mookie Betts (six starts batting first) was hurt. Trea Turner assumed the top spot once he came to the Dodgers, and it was his first day off with his new team that paved the way for Pollock to hit leadoff on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="DJnuKs">In addition to the single in the first inning, Pollock hit solo home run in the second, and singled again in the fourth inning.</p>
<p id="7rKWEu">After each of Pollock’s first two singles, Muncy homered, a two-run shot in the first and a three-run job in the fourth. Muncy has three multi-homer games this season, all since the All-Star break, including two in the last four days. After the second homer, the Dodger Stadium crowd even chanted “M-V-P” a few times for Muncy, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=nl&qual=0&type=8&season=2021&month=33&season1=2021&ind=0&team=0&rost=&age=0&filter=&players=">an outcome that makes quite a lot of sense</a>.</p>
<p id="N779iA">“It’s probably one of the cooler moments I’ve had in my career,” Muncy said. “I was kind of wild. I had to hold back a smile when I was in the batters box.”</p>
<p id="dAEYWx">“Whenever fans recognize you as a potential MVP, you’ve got to be doing something right,” Roberts said. “I’m very happy for him.”</p>
<p id="Qw9Njd">The second Muncy home run helped chase Pirates starter JT Brubaker after four innings, continuing a brutal stretch for the right-hander. Brubaker was 4-4 with a 3.74 ERA in his first 10 starts this season. But starting with a loss to the Dodgers in Pittsburgh on June 8 — allowing three runs in 4⅔ innings — Brubaker is 0-9 with a 7.08 ERA in 12 starts.</p>
<h3 id="TgiVdk">Walking the plank</h3>
<p id="JNnut9">The Dodgers have won 16 straight games against the Pirates, dating back to 2018. That’s tied for the club’s longest win streak against a single opponent since moving to Los Angeles, matching a streak against the Padres in 1973-74.</p>
<p id="FSC6tD">At home the Dodgers have been even better against Pittsburgh. They swept the Pirates at Dodger Stadium in 2017, 2018, 2019, and again in 2021, for 12 straight home wins against them.</p>
<h3 id="81NHgH">Wednesday particulars</h3>
<p id="0byWoS"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Max Muncy 2 (28), AJ Pollock (15), Corey Seager (6)</p>
<p id="OlflZq"><strong>WP — Mitch White (1-1)</strong>: 7⅓ IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts</p>
<p id="MZB704"><strong>LP — JT Brubaker (4-13)</strong>: 4 IP, 8 hits, 7 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="kjL23U">Up next</h3>
<p id="S4PnEd">The Dodgers go for a seventh straight win on Thursday night (7:10 p.m.; SportsNet LA, MLB Network), with another bullpen game in the opener of a four-game series with the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. Taijuan Walker, who against the Dodgers took a no-hitter into the seventh inning last Saturday, starts for New York.</p>
<p id="IH4HPJ">“It’s going to be all hands on deck,” Roberts said. “There’s going to be no bulk guy.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631857/mitch-white-what-bullpen-game-dodgers-home-runs-pirates-sweepEric Stephen2021-08-18T18:53:00-07:002021-08-18T18:53:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Pirates Game VI chat
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 during sa MLB Baseball game." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/elQh07h5JPjlS2GiEjqX_JCW7WA=/0x0:7521x5014/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69745663/1234740229.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="9HpKTC">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> conclude their season series against the Pirates on Wednesday night, trying for their fifth consecutive series sweep over Pittsburgh, and a fourth straight series sweep at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<h3 id="78GIph">Pregame reading</h3>
<aside id="IhN9xh"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Mookie Betts could begin rehab assignment soon","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631490/mookie-betts-rehab-assignment-dodgers-more-bullpen-games-starting-rotation"},{"title":"Dodgers ready for bullpen finale against Pirates","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631154/mitch-white-dodgers-bullpen-game"},{"title":"Dodgers 2022 spring training schedule","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631013/dodgers-spring-training-schedule-2022-camelback-ranch-cactus-league-freeway-series"}]}'></div></aside><div id="r11UTp"><div data-anthem-component="table:10708569"></div></div>
<h3 id="EO1hdm">Game info</h3>
<p id="b7aiui">Teams: Dodgers (74-46) vs. Pirates (42-78)</p>
<p id="YH0Se4">Location: Dodger Stadium</p>
<p id="Fkv76B">Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p id="InJjfT">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631450/dodgers-pirates-game-threadEric Stephen2021-08-18T18:02:52-07:002021-08-18T18:02:52-07:00Mookie Betts could begin rehab assignment soon
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<figcaption>Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Dodgers OF last played on August 7</p> <p id="C6FgmA">If all goes well, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder Mookie Betts could return to the Dodgers at some point late next week. But he’ll have to play a few minor league rehab games first to see how his right hip responds.</p>
<p id="988mhP">Betts last played on August 7, and is currently on the injured list for the second time since the All-Star break with right hip inflammation. The plan is for baseball activities to ramp up over the next few days at Dodger Stadium, with a rehab assignment starting as soon as Sunday.</p>
<p id="CdUTi1">“The concern is the ups and downs, the length of a game, seeing how his hip will hold up,” manager Dave Roberts said. “At some point in time next week would be the hope [for Betts’ return], but it’s all contingent on how he’s feeling.”</p>
<p id="nJVHXU">Betts missed the last 11 games of July on the injured list, and returned without playing any rehab games. His <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/2/22605214/mookie-betts-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news">first three games back off the IL were at second base</a>, to reduce wear and tear on his hip. He then played two games in right field before <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/11/22620408/mookie-betts-injured-list-dodgers-right-hip-inflammation-edwin-uceta">going back on the injured list on August 11</a>.</p>
<p id="9GeLPv">Last week in Los Angeles while the Dodgers were on the road, Betts met with team doctors and was <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/13/22623983/mookie-betts-los-angeles-dodgers-news-injury-hip">diagnosed with a bone spur in his hip</a>.</p>
<h3 id="6yy238">Pitching plans</h3>
<p id="PG0On8">The Dodgers are deploying a bullpen game on Wednesday night, with left-hander Justin Bruihl nominally starting as the opener for the second time in three days. Mitch White, who pitched four innings in a start last Thursday in Philadelphia, is the bulk pitcher this evening.</p>
<p id="BH1QxZ">We knew another bullpen game was coming this weekend against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, but instead of Saturday, that’s been moved up to Thursday, giving the Dodgers four short starts in a row.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="EEkGQk"><div data-anthem-component="table:10708569"></div></div></div>
<p id="QfnDpZ">“Missing Julio and kind of where we’re at, we’ve just got to kind of piece it together,” Roberts said. “We’ll pick up the pieces after tonight’s game.”</p>
<p id="rGtH0R">Julio Urías threw a simulated game on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, and the plan for him is to be activated from the injured list at some point during the Padres series. His earliest day eligible to return from his left calf strain is Tuesday, the first game in San Diego.</p>
<p id="p71jVg">Moving the next bullpen game up to Thursday gives Walker Buehler and Max Scherzer and extra day of rest before their next starts, on Friday and Saturday, respectively, against the Mets. The cost is heavily using the bullpen, but some reinforcements could be on the way soon.</p>
<p id="LNjYZm">Victor Gonzalez, who <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22629885/dodgers-minors-gavin-stone-landon-knack-ryan-noda">pitched an inning Tuesday night for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga</a>, is expected to be activated from the injured list within the next few days. Then there are the additions that would require corresponding 40-man moves — the activation of Joe Kelly off the injured list, and/or the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/17/22628971/shane-greene-contract-dodgers-pitcher-usage">reportedly imminent signing of Shane Greene</a>.</p>
<p id="81SFkp">Whatever the combo, expect several pitchers to be used over the next few days.</p>
<h3 id="0gEInL">Notes</h3>
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<li id="wM5Lpy">Tony Gonsolin will throw a bullpen session on Thursday, though his return from shoulder inflammation will still take a while. Roberts said Gonsolin could potentially need a second bullpen session, then facing hitters multiple times before he might return, with a role to be determined. “It’s still some time, and we’re going to see where we’re at after each marker,” Roberts said.</li>
<li id="bOok4g">Clayton Kershaw played catch again on Wednesday. Still no real update on his return timetable, other than it can’t be before September 5.</li>
<li id="nPlRtb">Danny Duffy also played catch at Dodger Stadium. Roberts said the left-hander would be used in relief upon his return. Duffy is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list on September 15.</li>
<li id="quVgtn">With Trea Turner and Chris Taylor getting routine days off, AJ Pollock bats leadoff for the first time in 2021. Batting first is actually Pollock’s most common career position, with 192 career starts. Twenty of those have been with the Dodgers, including three times in 2020.</li>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631490/mookie-betts-rehab-assignment-dodgers-more-bullpen-games-starting-rotationEric Stephen2021-08-18T13:00:00-07:002021-08-18T13:00:00-07:00Dodgers ready for bullpen finale against Pirates
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E3GN_bf_MDVDvmPlMZpNPUlj9uE=/0x0:5071x3381/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69743984/usa_today_14949202.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mitch White will get several innings of work as the Dodgers look to sweep the Pirates. | Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Mitch White leads the search for a sweep</p> <p id="QOk2dg">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> turn to their bullpen again tonight as they look to sweep the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>, with right hander Mitch White tapped to handle the bulk of pitching duties. </p>
<p id="zBpAR1">White last pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, giving up two runs and making 59 pitches over four innings in a low-scoring loss for L.A. </p>
<p id="zE733C">“Obviously I want to go a little longer,” White said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkEYYUGkEHo">post-game press conference</a> after that game. “It was solid through the first three, and then in the fourth when we got a runner on, I kind of got out of sync. That’s something I’m going to work on.” </p>
<p id="XKsvOS">Though White hasn’t pitched more than four innings at a time in the big leagues, he turned in <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/13/22574885/mitch-white-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news">six scoreless innings</a> for Triple-A Oklahoma City last month. The Dodgers have also been prepared to let him throw between 75 and 80 pitches in an outing, according to <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/liveblog/dodgers-vs-philadelphia-phillies-live-updates-news-and-analysis-from-tuesdays-game">Mike DiGiovanna at the Los Angeles Times</a>.</p>
<p id="TdE9AI">A <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/17/22628464/dodgers-bullpen-usage-rest-days-david-price-mitch-white-starts">well-rested bullpen</a> will be on call for backup. Neftalí Féliz has had three days of rest, while Alex Vesia, Justin Bruihl, and Brusdar Graterol have each had a day off. </p>
<p id="A2t8LZ">Corey Knebel, Phil Bickford, and Blake Treinen, meanwhile, each took on about an inning last night—allowing no runs—and will likely be among the last called into the game if needed. </p>
<p id="DTd8yB"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jt-brubaker-664141">JT Brubaker</a>, who gave up 13 earned runs in his last two outings, will start the game for the Pirates. Four of the last five Dodger wins have been decided by a single run, and the team’s offense may be able to ease stress on their bullpen with some insurance runs if Brubaker’s downward trend holds. </p>
<h3 id="paEHOv">Game info</h3>
<p id="meNyth">Teams: Dodgers (74-46) vs. Pirates (42-78)</p>
<p id="GnHp9B">Location: Dodger Stadium</p>
<p id="x4tQPr">Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p id="wwM2L2">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/18/22631154/mitch-white-dodgers-bullpen-gameSamantha Carleton2021-08-16T11:30:00-07:002021-08-16T11:30:00-07:00Dodgers welcome Pirates with open arms
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<img alt="Pittsburgh Pirates v New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ae8ZEyJF8uEiI9WIR8Exfa74LOM=/0x0:3912x2608/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69732443/1328545410.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LA has won 13 straight</p> <p id="EHwbzd">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> welcome the Pirates to Dodger Stadium Monday night for a three-game series. Recent history between these clubs would suggest the Dodgers are licking their chops at the opportunity. </p>
<p id="WQiTfs">Going back to 2009, the Dodgers have won at least three games in a home series against the Pirates in eight of the last 11 seasons in which they played each other (no games in 2020 with shortened schedule). Six of those series ended in Dodger sweeps, including the previous three. </p>
<p id="eZaYXB">The Dodgers are 20-2 in their last 22 games with Pittsburgh overall, scoring nearly seven runs a game. </p>
<p id="L9Ta62">Only two teams have done worse than the 42-76 record Pittsburgh has played to so far this season (Orioles, <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>). It’s been even worse since the trade deadline, with only two of the 14 games in August going into the win column for the Bucs. </p>
<p id="nQmJYV">As the Dodger offense continues to get healthy with Cody Bellinger hitting much better recently and a strong return from Justin Turner Sunday, the focus in this series is once again shuffling the starting pitching. </p>
<p id="Ma0V9n">Julio Urias was <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/14/22625111/julio-urias-injured-list-dodgers-left-calf-contusion">placed on the injured list</a> over the weekend after getting hit by a pitch, meaning the Dodgers will now have to cover multiple starts this week. </p>
<p id="BuyHrI">It should be an interesting series that could force more roster moves if they don’t get any length out David Price (Tuesday) and Mitch White (Wednesday). Let’s not kid ourselves, there will be roster moves either way.</p>
<h3 id="fvfkb7">Pitching matchups</h3>
<p id="Dac2yj"><strong>Monday, 7:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA): Bullpen vs. Steven Brault</strong></p>
<p id="4M4x9y">Steven Brault will be making his third start of the season for the Pirates after missing over four months with a left lat strain, suffered in spring training. In those two starts, the left-hander has gone no more than 78 pitches and has given up a total of three runs over nine innings, striking out eight against just one walk.</p>
<p id="ib3sGe">As previously mentioned, it will be Johnny Wholestaff for the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="LYXyt9"><strong>Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA): David Price vs. Will Crowe</strong></p>
<p id="eDDJvG">Taking the ball Tuesday, Wil Crowe is one of five starters for the Pirates that owns an era over 5.00 after making at least eight starts this season. A not-so-fun fact for the right-hander who has allowed 51 runs (47 earned) in 80.1 innings. </p>
<p id="e3G37r">The Dodgers will counter with David Price in what will be his 10<sup>th</sup> start of the year and 31<sup>st</sup> appearance overall. The veteran lefty, turning 36 later this month, will be looking for more cuts at the plate after <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/RavineFiends/status/1425631242205106181">ripping an RBI-double</a> in his last start. </p>
<p id="FRUGTP">Had it not been for a rain delay in the middle of his start, Wednesday in Philadelphia might have been the first time all year with consecutive starts for Price lasting at least five innings. It was still a <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/11/22620704/cody-bellinger-home-runs-foul-balls-dodgers-bullpen-rain-delay-pennsylvania-phillies-recap">much needed four innings</a>, coming back out for two more innings after a 57-minute delay.</p>
<p id="gmCBdc"><strong>Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA): Mitch White vs. JT Brubaker</strong></p>
<p id="xINe4v">It’s hard to believe but JT Brubaker actually was 3-2 with a 2.58 ERA through his first seven starts of the year into mid-May. Since that point, the right-hander has given up a whopping 54 runs (53 earned) in 74 innings over 14 starts. </p>
<p id="gy5HTh">The opposition has scored five or more runs a total of six times during that stretch. Brubaker faced the Dodgers at PNC Park back on June 8, failing to complete the fifth inning after not surrendering a run through the first four innings. It was the bottom of the order that started a three-run rally that would knock Brubaker from the game. </p>
<p id="tRbJ6J">Mitch White will make his first career start at Dodger Stadium in his 17<sup>th</sup> appearance of 2021. Four innings and around 60 pitches has been where the Dodgers have held White recently and it will be interesting to see if that limit is stretched if the bullpen sees a heavy load in the first two games of the series.</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/16/22626987/dodgers-pirates-series-preview-pitching-matchupsRyan Walton