True Blue LA - August 20: Dodgers 3, Mets 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-08-20T22:25:10-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/223994572021-08-20T22:25:10-07:002021-08-20T22:25:10-07:00Dodgers beat Mets, have won eight straight
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<figcaption>Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Walker Buehler pitched another gem and the Dodgers are now 1.5 games out of first place</p> <p id="gHuVeM">Walker Buehler added another gem of a game to his Cy Young Award campaign, as the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> won their eighth straight game, beating the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> 3-2. The Dodgers have now won eight straight games and five straight this season against the Mets. </p>
<p id="Mheojz">Buehler had his longest outing of the year, as he went 7 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings. He allowed two runs to score on six hits while striking out eight. With the exception of a Pete Alonso home run in the fourth inning, Buehler was essentially in cruise control all night. It was the eighth inning when things really got intense and Dodger Stadium turned into a playoff atmosphere. </p>
<p id="hA68X8">Buehler allowed a leadoff single, allowing the Mets to bring the tying run to the plate. After a strikeout, Brandon Nimmo reached on a soft infield single, putting two runners on and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Buehler then struck out Jeff McNeil on a very questionable call, but it gave the Dodgers two outs. </p>
<p id="l5t2YX">Alonso stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs. On the third pitch of the AB, he dribbled a single down the third base line, bringing in a run to make it a 3-2 game. Buehler was visibly upset following the hit, saying it went off Alonso’s foot. Upon further review, it looks like it did. </p>
<p id="KnvYIJ">Instead of it being ruled a strike, the Mets were within a run. Buehler was removed from the game and was tossed by the home plate umpire after exchanging words on his way to the dugout. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now we know why Walker Buehler had some words for the home plate umpire, ultimately getting thrown out <br><br>The RBI single from Pete Alonso went off his foot <a href="https://t.co/TW2mTRdCpb">pic.twitter.com/TW2mTRdCpb</a></p>— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeHarrisTBLA/status/1428940812188934147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a>
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<p id="oRuyA5">“[I was] trying to be competitive and thinking I’m making pitches,” Buehler said on the ejection. “Just a little frustrating there at the end. He told me to stop, I didn’t stop. At the end of the day, just trying to be competitive and get out of there.”</p>
<p id="llcKxZ">Alex Vesia relieved Buehler, needing one out to get out of the inning. Michael Conforto worked a walk, battling Vesia for 10 pitches. With the bases loaded, J.D. Davis stepped up to the plate. Vesia got three swinging strikes, including strike three at 96 mph to end the inning with the Dodgers still ahead. </p>
<p id="U31VmQ">“I knew [Roberts] was probably going to have me in the eighth, I went out there and executed.” Vesia said following the game. </p>
<p id="L199hk">Look at this passion from Vesia. I freaking love it. </p>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr">ALEX. VESIA. <a href="https://t.co/BdePVUe9wP">pic.twitter.com/BdePVUe9wP</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1428941748223418371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a>
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<p id="5as5zu">“I’m just being myself,” Vesia said. “I fully embrace being a Dodger. It brings out that emotion and my desire to do good and compete. We have a great team. We’re going to be special this year.”</p>
<p id="Tua5wj">“He just knows how to not let the emotions get too high,” Dave Roberts added. “Our relievers are coming of age and he’s right there at the top of the list. He showed us a lot.”</p>
<p id="e98UEu">Onto the ninth, where Kenley Jansen was handed the ball with a one-run lead. Before you even had a chance to worry if he’d potentially blow the lead, Jansen was securing the save. He retired the side on only seven pitches, all of which were strikes, including the game-winning strikeout. </p>
<p id="N5suFI">With so much going on late in the game, it’s easy to forget what happened prior to that. Well, not much you can say about the offense. They scored three runs, and that was enough. </p>
<p id="90QoKG">Trea Turner led off the bottom of the first with a double and eventually came in to score on a groundout. Then in the third inning Max Muncy hit a double, scoring Turner and giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Corey Seager singled in Muncy, giving the Dodgers a three-run lead. Seager’s single in the third inning was actually LA’s last base hit for the rest of the night. </p>
<p id="OOb22W">It seemed like the Dodgers never won these kind of games all season. But now, look out, they’re starting to. </p>
<p id="mE9J3v">With the Giants loss, the Dodgers are only 1.5 games out of first place. Fasten those seatbelts ladies and gentlemen. </p>
<h3 id="4sZwJ5">Friday particulars </h3>
<p id="CMa9wb">WP: Walker Buehler (13-2) 7 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> IP, 2 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB</p>
<p id="MmnhMz">LP: Carlos Carrasco (0-2) 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 SO</p>
<p id="Yh9zo0">SV: Kenley Jansen (26) 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 SO</p>
<p id="zmqd3h">HR: Pete Alonso (27)</p>
<p id="Tmsp4v"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-dodgers/2021/08/20/632811#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=play-by-play,game=632811">Box score </a></p>
<h3 id="Tved6r">Up next </h3>
<p id="Urodr1">The Dodgers have a rare 1:10 p.m. game on Saturday. Max Scherzer will face off against old friend Rich Hill. </p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/20/22635155/walker-buehler-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-new-york-mets-recap-alex-vesia-kenley-jansenBlake Harris2021-08-20T18:56:00-07:002021-08-20T18:56:00-07:00Dodgers sign RHP Shane Greene
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<img alt="MLB: Game One-San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Tl3kKZC2fyoWvGIWHLcfCw1DXsw=/0x0:3193x2129/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69756078/usa_today_16432468.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers add a 2019 All-Star to their bullpen </p> <p id="w7adEW">Can you pitch innings for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>? Come on down!</p>
<p id="j7aabG">The Dodgers added yet another pitcher to their carousel of arms in their bullpen, as they signed Shane Greene to a major-league contract. Greene was added to the 26-man roster and is available tonight for LA. </p>
<p id="UpuQXC">Unfortunately, the Dodgers won’t have two different Greene’s on their roster. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-handed pitcher Conner Greene for assignment. He made two appearances for the Dodgers out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. </p>
<p id="A2HuTy">In the move, the club placed right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips on the injured list with a right quad strain. Phillips, who was claimed off waivers from the Rays earlier in the week, made his Dodgers debut on Thursday night. </p>
<p id="gSlbfK">S. Greene was released by the Braves last week. A few days ago, it was reported that the Dodgers had signed the veteran reliever. It’s been a rough year with the Braves, as he posted a 8.47 ERA and 6.77 FIP with five home runs allowed in 17 innings, with 17 strikeouts and nine walks.</p>
<p id="O18VUG">S. Greene was an All-Star as recently as 2019 and was pretty solid in 2020. From 2019-2020, he appeared in 93 games and posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 3.79 FIP. He’s thrived before, and there’s a solid chance he can tap back into what he did last year and be a solid option for the Dodgers. </p>
<p id="VcwqpN">If Greene enters a game for the Dodgers, he’ll be the 36th different pitcher used this season by the Dodgers. The record for most pitchers used in a season is 42 by the 2019 Mariners. </p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/20/22635020/shane-greene-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-bullpenBlake Harris2021-08-20T18:43:00-07:002021-08-20T18:43:00-07:00Game thread: Dodgers looking for eighth straight win
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<img alt="MLB: New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v3rfAoyAKT4nhpye9in5WdJ6_iE=/0x0:3756x2504/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69756062/usa_today_16592102.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LA looks to win their 8th consecutive game and their 5th consecutive game against the Mets this season </p> <div id="jleioP">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Updated lineup:<br>T. Turner 2B<br>Muncy 1B<br>J. Turner 3B<br>Seager SS<br>Taylor LF<br>Bellinger CF<br>McKinney RF<br>Barnes C<br>Buehler P <a href="https://t.co/2mTTTegdhJ">https://t.co/2mTTTegdhJ</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1428870176896815104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Friday <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mets</a> lineup vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a>… <a href="https://t.co/m1LXg4rBop">pic.twitter.com/m1LXg4rBop</a></p>— Michael Baron (@michaelgbaron) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelgbaron/status/1428864685097553926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a>
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<h3 id="Tsc9Be">Game info</h3>
<p id="omfy1E">TV: SportsNetLA </p>
<p id="7oyeev">First pitch: 7:10 p.m. PT</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/20/22634876/game-thread-dodgers-looking-for-eighth-straight-winBlake Harris2021-08-20T13:08:56-07:002021-08-20T13:08:56-07:00Blake Treinen has been dominant for LA
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>He hasn’t allowed a run over his last 23 appearances </p> <p id="TFwORS">We always knew Blake Treinen had the stuff to be an elite reliever. Dodgers fans didn’t get to personally see it, but a few years back Treinen was the best reliever in baseball. </p>
<p id="7i1CqM">Back in 2018, he finished sixth in Cy Young voting and 15th in MVP voting when he was with the Athletics. That’s crazy coming from a relief pitcher. Well, there’s a good reason for that. What Treinen did in 2018 was historic. </p>
<p id="FWX6wd">In 68 games, he posted a 0.78 ERA, 1.82 FIP, 0.83 WHIP and 531 ERA+. He was untouchable, as he delivered one of the best seasons we’ve seen from a reliever in recent memory. </p>
<p id="OolAwu">2019 was a down year for him in Oakland, as he posted an ERA of nearly 5.00. Then in 2020 with LA, he posted a 3.86 ERA. He showed flashes of that dominant reliever from 2018, but couldn’t figure it out over the course of a full season. </p>
<p id="vihC5w">After a decent start to the 2021 campaign, Treinen turned a switch at the end of the June and has been the best reliever in all of baseball. Before we get to his insane stretch, we’ll just get to his season as a whole. </p>
<p id="edffKo">Among relief pitchers with at least 53 innings of work, Treinen ranks third in ERA (1.84), third in opponents average (.179), first in wOBA (.222), third in strikeout percentage (30.3%) and second in FIP (2.51). So already, he’s near the top when it comes to best relievers in baseball. </p>
<p id="O9eDSs">Since June 25, Treinen has been arguably the best. <em><strong>Over his last 23 games, Treinen hasn’t allowed a run in 24 </strong></em><sup><em><strong>2</strong></em></sup><em><strong>⁄</strong></em><sub><em><strong>3</strong></em></sub><em><strong> innings of work</strong></em>. During this run, he has 29 strikeouts and only six walks, while holding opponents to a .101 average. </p>
<p id="UFXvEy">Over the last two months, he’s been practically untouchable. He’s been LA’s most reliable and consistent option in the bullpen and has delivered in the clutch on numerous occasions. </p>
<p id="YBQYpp">What makes Treinen so valuable is his ability to pitch in the game’s biggest situation. Whether that is in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning, Treinen comes in and usually shuts things down. His ability to do this in any inning is what makes him the most valuable option in the Dodgers bullpen. </p>
<p id="PC69XC">I know there are people calling for him to replace Kenley Jansen as the Dodgers’ closer, and I totally get that. However, like I mentioned above, I think Treinen’s role is far more valuable as how he’s currently used. Sometimes, the most crucial inning is the seventh or eighth inning. If the heart of the lineup is up or if there are runners on base, wouldn’t you want the best option to come in? That’s what Dave Roberts has done with Treinen. </p>
<p id="4CkyK9">It’s been quite the season for Treinen, who returned to the Dodgers this offseason after being a free-agent. With so many uncertainties in LA’s bullpen all season, Treinen has consistently been a reliable and much-needed option. </p>
<h3 id="r6AFsE">Today’s game </h3>
<p id="MsFtxx">First pitch: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p id="0NLHi5">Venue: Dodger Stadium</p>
<p id="0a3AmI">Opponent: New York Mets </p>
<p id="LwfNWj">TV: SportsNet LA </p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/20/22634499/blake-treinen-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-newsBlake Harris2021-08-19T11:08:00-07:002021-08-19T11:08:00-07:00Dodgers hope for another Mets sweep
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<img alt="Will Smith home run reaction against the Mets." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/miH3hMuDEhyqFyt95jxeD4GJAa4=/0x0:2367x1578/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69748788/1334039104.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Will Smith hits a tenth inning two-run home run against the Mets at Citi Field on August 13, 2021. | Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Dodgers welcome Mets to Dodger Stadium for 4 games</p> <p id="ok2aXi">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> will welcome the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> to the ravine this week for a four-game series and the last time the teams will face off in the regular season. The Mets are in the middle of a grueling 14-day schedule where they play either the Dodgers or the Giants in 13 of those days. </p>
<p id="cqY7HF">In their own division, the Mets were within half a game of first in the NL East prior to last week’s series with the Dodgers. However with 5 losses since then, they’re now squarely in third (at the time of this article) at 4.5 games behind the first-place Braves. </p>
<p id="7ZJ7iy">Mets owner Steve Cohen took to Twitter on Tuesday night with a… less than great take on his team: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s hard to understand how professional hitters can be this unproductive.The best teams have a more disciplined approach.The slugging and OPS numbers don’t lie.</p>— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenACohen2/status/1427980876172955651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a>
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<p id="zVvrVT">Perhaps more importantly for the Dodgers, talk has focused on the impact the Mets might have on the NL West race over these weeks.</p>
<p id="ATctNb">Last week, the Dodgers swept the 3-game series at Citi Field. Can they repeat this feat at home? That would be great, but in order to gain any additional ground, the Giants will <em>also have to lose</em> some games. The Giants will be playing the competitive <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> during the same time and lost 1 of 3 to the Mets, so it seems like the next few days <em>could</em> be quite telling. </p>
<p id="WUhxju">Since 2016, the Dodgers are 10-5 against the Mets at home including two games with walk-offs in the 9th. They’re 23-7 overall against the Mets in the last 6 years. </p>
<h3 id="QdYJMe">Notable items from last week’s series against the Mets we’d like to see repeated: </h3>
<ul>
<li id="9zBUzp">The Dodgers seemed to break their extra innings let’s-not-call-it-a-curse by winning both Games 1 and 2 in the 10th</li>
<li id="KH7vIZ">Winning Game 2 on Saturday (combined with the Giants loss to the Rockies) was an even bigger deal for the Dodgers as they finally managed to gain a game in the division, the first time since July </li>
<li id="x6FrKK">Bullpen performances from Vesia, Bickford, and Knebel were *chef’s kiss*</li>
<li id="bffRBh">Will Smith should feel free to continue his HR heroics forever</li>
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<h3 id="Kt6ENN">Things we’d prefer to skip this round: </h3>
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<li id="mlAY99">Getting no-hit until the 7th inning. Pass. </li>
<li id="u30uay">Some really very bad defense in Game 3 made Max Scherzer work a bit harder than he should have had to to get outs. </li>
<li id="f1tpLX">Lasers being shined in player’s eyes. C’mon, just… no. </li>
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<h3 id="fA5Edg">Pitching Matchups</h3>
<p id="2jddiO">Last week the Dodgers used Urías, Buehler, and Scherzer to sweep the Mets. However, with Urías on the IL, he’ll miss his start this series. Questions remain about the Dodgers bullpen, though a few new arms could take part in Thursday’s bullpen game.</p>
<p id="80tPAc"><strong>Thursday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network): Bullpen vs. Taijuan Walker (7-7, 3.75)</strong></p>
<p id="I26P2d"><strong>Friday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network): Walker Buehler (12-2, 2.09) vs. Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 10.32)</strong></p>
<p id="a3G5ay"><strong>Saturday, 1:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, FS1): Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.69) vs. Rich Hill (6-4, 4.08)</strong></p>
<p id="qwxjTe"><strong>Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA): David Price (4-1, 3.62) vs. Marcus Stroman (8-12, 2.84)</strong></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/19/22631037/dodgers-mets-series-previewJex Musa