True Blue LA - August 25: Dodgers 5, Padres 3 (16)Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-08-26T11:30:16-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/224057112021-08-26T11:30:16-07:002021-08-26T11:30:16-07:00‘There’s just so much to unpack’
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HhZehIn7DXORxzZgUS8lQg8EDvE=/0x0:5000x3333/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69779853/usa_today_16627174.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>LA has now won three straight extra-inning games</p> <p id="5pf2Aw">Wednesday night’s (and Thursday morning’s!) <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>-Padres marathon had many twists and turns, not so many runs, at least until very late, or very early, depending on your point of view.</p>
<p id="2L12cm">“There’s just so much to unpack,” manager Dave Roberts said, a little after 1 a.m. on Thursday morning.</p>
<p id="xRogsm">The game was fun enough to process in the moment. Sixteen innings made Dodgers-Padres the only game in town for quite some time, with exclusivity among late-night baseball enthusiasts for something like four hours. </p>
<p id="bkBaHr">I mean, just look at <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/boxscore.aspx?date=2021-08-25&team=Padres&dh=0&season=2021">the bonkers win probability chart from FanGraphs</a>:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6jW8K2pq71InNc-NVmnjOC5_xEk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22807443/dodgers_padres_chart_fangraphs.png">
<cite><em>Source: </em><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.fangraphs.com/boxscore.aspx?date=2021-08-25&team=Padres&dh=0&season=2021" target="_blank"><em>FanGraphs</em></a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="m179VT">But aside from <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/26/22642320/dodgers-padres-longest-game-2021-aj-pollock-shane-greene-16-innings">the possibly delirious thoughts from right when the game ended</a>, there were some things from Wednesday night that deserve a second look.</p>
<h3 id="8aybSO">Playing the whole game</h3>
<p id="UjeaAC">All eight Dodgers starting position players played all 16 innings last night. That includes catcher Will Smith, who homered, singled, walked, and scored twice at the plate. </p>
<p id="IPuEiy">The Dodgers haven’t had a game this long with all eight starting position players playing the entire game since May 24, 1973, a 19-inning contest against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> at Dodger Stadium, won by New York. That game started out as a pitching duel between Tom Seaver and Tommy John, and look at the Dodgers starters who played all 19 innings:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hpAbNnZOh3wp5SwBif6vpXIHZ6Y=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22807304/dodgers_mets_19_innings_1973.jpeg">
<cite>From <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197305240.shtml" target="_blank">Baseball Reference</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="2es0rR">“Obviously we’re not going to take batting practice tomorrow,” Roberts said last night. “We’ll see how many guys feel good enough to play tomorrow.”</p>
<p id="NPomL0">The Dodgers will get one of the best reinforcements imaginable when Mookie Betts is activated off the injured list for Thursday’s finale. Roberts also said Austin Barnes will start at catcher.</p>
<h3 id="zlmkb6">How did we get here?</h3>
<p id="Lwwh9f">Wednesday night was the <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/MaQTt">26th Dodgers regular season game since the team moved to Los Angeles that lasted at least 16 innings</a>, but the first since MLB implemented the runner-on-second rule for extra innings starting in 2020.</p>
<p id="LGXhH2">The point of that rule, implemented during a pandemic, was to eliminate long games that could tax rosters, and in that respect has mostly succeeded. </p>
<p id="UsS2Vr">In 2019, under traditional rules, just under 72 percent of games were done by 11 innings, and less than half were done in 10 innings. Since the start of 2020, 92 percent of games are over by the 11th inning, and 72 percent need only one extra inning.</p>
<div id="iMeMn6"><div data-anthem-component="table:10720558"></div></div>
<p id="LlksfR">Before Wednesday, the longest extra-inning game using the runner-on-second rule was 13 innings, but the Dodgers and Padres blew past that.</p>
<h3 id="yiv3SN">Late home runs</h3>
<p id="NLLLi3">Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the 15th inning, and AJ Pollock’s two-run shot in the 16th won it.</p>
<div id="di2zGH">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight's Dodgers-Padres game is the first game in MLB history to have 2 multi-run home runs in the 15th inning or later.</p>— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsBySTATS/status/1430802126557560834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="VWUhUv">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dodgers' last MULTI-run homer in the 16th or later: Hi Myers at PHI, Apr 30 1919.<a href="https://t.co/UIpRR8sYWv">https://t.co/UIpRR8sYWv</a></p>— Doug Kern (@dakern74) <a href="https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/1430798032975523841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h3 id="VpWIHr">Stingy, and busy arms</h3>
<p id="9y08ql">The Tatis home run was only the fourth hit of the game for the Padres. That’s the fewest hits the Dodgers have ever allowed in a game 16 innings or longer. Brooklyn <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/euBwN">also did this on July 7, 1915</a>, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Braves. That game was a scoreless tie. </p>
<p id="luCf3n">It was the fewest hits allowed in a game of at least 16 innings <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/74uZ0">since the Red Sox held the Rays to three hits on July 17, 2011</a>, a 1-0 affair.</p>
<p id="GP49ol">Tatis’ homer was San Diego’s first since the fifth inning. Nine Dodgers relievers combined to allow only one hit (and a record eight intentional walks) in 9⅓ innings, with eight strikeouts.</p>
<p id="518R83">“It’s next man up. [Bullpen coach] Josh Bard and those guys in the pen, they’ve got a good thing going as far as kinship and camaraderie. They pick each other up,” Roberts said. “They take pride in putting up zeroes, closing out games when we have a lead, or eating innings. I can’t say enough about those guys, and we needed every one of those outs.”</p>
<p id="gg52Uo">The Dodgers will need more outs on Thursday, and should be helped with Max Scherzer starting on the mound. But among relievers, Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, Corey Knebel, Phil Bickford, and Alex Vesia have all pitched the last two days. Only Treinen, Bickford, and Vesia have pitched in three straight days this season, each doing so once. Vesia might be the best option to use Thursday, since he threw only eight pitches Tuesday and seven on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="ATLo55">Brusdar Graterol pitched two innings and threw 25 pitches on Wednesday, so his availability might be in question as well.</p>
<p id="uTR4Xh">Roberts said the Dodgers would bring up at least one more fresh arm for the series finale.</p>
<p id="0SgFul">Starters Andre Jackson and Mitch White are with the team in San Diego, but can’t be recalled until this weekend (Friday for Jackson, Sunday for White) because they haven’t yet been optioned for 10 days. White just pitched into the sixth inning on Tuesday so he wouldn’t be available Thursday anyway. Jackson is likely needed to start or take bulk innings on Friday or Saturday, depending on which game David Price starts against the Rockies.</p>
<p id="FMiYzS">On the 40-man roster, that leaves Edwin Uceta and left-hander Darien Núñez, both of whom have been on optional assignment for 10 days and are eligible to return. Uceta threw 44 pitches in three innings on Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Núñez threw 48 pitches in two innings on Monday.</p>
<p id="KwArAM">Victor González is the other healthy pitcher on the 40-man roster, but he was just optioned on Wednesday and would have to replace an injured player to return so soon.</p>
<h3 id="fUTDqN">Don’t dream it’s over</h3>
<p id="xy2iDT">When the game ended, did the Dodgers celebrate the win, or breathe a sigh of relief that the game was finally over, or maybe a mixture of both?</p>
<p id="tQxbKI">“You can listen to the elation after the game. There were high fives, maybe a couple of beer showers,” Roberts said. “Guys really just on adrenaline, finding a way to win a ballgame. It should count as two, but unfortunately it doesn’t. I can’t say enough about these guys.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/26/22643129/dodgers-padres-marathon-notes-stats-reactionEric Stephen2021-08-26T01:05:22-07:002021-08-26T01:05:22-07:00Dodgers beat Padres in the longest game of the year
<figure>
<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lBkdKPSBJftHYXXp2zizLHPHzfs=/0x0:4932x3288/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69777400/1234871389.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Ok6VHy">Walker Buehler and Blake Snell were both brilliant on Wednesday night, but they were long forgotten by the time this one ended. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> beat the Padres 5-3 in 16 innings at Petco Park, the longest extra-inning game since the new format started in 2020.</p>
<p id="ra9sL9">AJ Pollock hit a two-run home run off reliever Daniel Camarena — the Padres’ ninth pitcher of the night — in the 16th inning for the game-winner.</p>
<div id="gnnGQm">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Go-ahead, AJ! <a href="https://t.co/HpWSzr7NrW">pic.twitter.com/HpWSzr7NrW</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1430799100048408578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="uMUrtu">Since the runner-on-second rule was instituted in 2020, the previous longest MLB game was 13 innings, <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/kjTbT">done four times</a>.</p>
<p id="ZBx4BN">“I don’t even know how many innings we played,” Dave Roberts said. “To come away with a win was huge.”</p>
<p id="7aQIfO">Even with a free runner on second base to start each extra frame, neither team scored a single run from the 10th through the 14th innings. The game was already loopy by this point, but then it got interesting.</p>
<p id="CySwrs">The Dodgers’ first two hits with runners in scoring position did not score a run. One of them didn’t even advance a runner, since Chris Taylor had to hold at second base on an infield single by Will Smith in the 15th.</p>
<p id="oFGK7Q">Taylor <em>would</em> score, thanks to Billy McKinney’s pinch-hit single off Daniel Camarena, then Trea Turner one pitch later singled home Smith, prompting Joe Davis to scream, “The floodgates have opened!” on SportsNet LA.</p>
<p id="48FE4g">He wasn’t that far off.</p>
<p id="OSSGic">The Dodgers only had five hits in the first 14 innings, before three hits off Camarena in the 15th. The Padres went 10 innings without a hit, from Adam Frazier’s one-out single in the fifth to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s game-tying two-run home run in the 15th inning. </p>
<p id="wkmbrj">It was Tatis’ National League-leading 35th home run of the season, and was his first hit in seven at-bats in the game, in which he struck out four times. It was that kind of a night.</p>
<p id="jawcSz">Oh, and the home run came after Corey Knebel tried twice to commit an intentional balk to get the free runner off second base, to avoid any sign reading.</p>
<p id="4QYL9W">Shane Greene, the Dodgers’ 10th pitcher of the night, in just his second game with his new team, got the final three outs for the save. Greene is the eighth Dodgers pitcher to save a game this season.</p>
<p id="0pz45A">“I can’t say enough about these guys. It was frustrating at times, but those guys kept putting up zeroes,” Roberts said. “This was certainly a team win.”</p>
<p id="s6SKpM">Despite the paucity of offense, there was still plenty of intrigue. Roberts intentionally walked two batters to load the bases in the 11th inning, bringing up pitcher Joe Musgrove, who was forced to pinch hit because Jayce Tingler used all his position players. Musgrove struck out.</p>
<p id="56gPQz">It happened again in the 14th in the same fashion, this time with Brusdar Graterol pitching. He got Ryan Weathers to tap back to the box to end the threat. Roberts settled for an intentional walk with nobody on in the 15th, which made history.</p>
<p id="6NNlLY">The Dodgers intentionally walked <em>eight</em> Padres batters on Wednesday, <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/6aDDi">setting a major league record</a>. The old <em>franchise</em> record was six intentional walks, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194007050.shtml?__hstc=205977932.404865538b0cfb2537875cf9eb60e39e.1629479092418.1629956797462.1629959732289.19&__hssc=205977932.4.1629959732289&__hsfp=3891221807">on July 5, 1940</a>, by Brooklyn against the Boston Braves in a 20-inning game.</p>
<p id="rS5tMw">Thanks to a wild pitch, Max Muncy was on third base with nobody out in the 12th. Then with a runner on first base, Pollock’s hard grounder was stabbed by Manny Machado at third base. Muncy was far closer to third base than Machado, who looked in his direction. But Muncy, presumably thinking Machado might turn a double play, suddenly broke for home, running into an easy, yet singular out. Two more walks loaded the bases in that inning, but the Dodgers did not score.</p>
<p id="I24AMc">It was that kind of a night</p>
<h3 id="vqL3eV">The opening acts</h3>
<p id="bqdsG6">Buehler allowed only three singles and a walk while pitching at least into the seventh for the sixth time in his last eight starts. The only run scored against him was unearned courtesy of Trea Turner throwing a ball into a camera well in the second inning and a two-out slow ground ball single up the third base line by Wil Myers.</p>
<p id="eGQqTV">A walk to Myers with two outs in the seventh, the first free pass issued by Buehler in his last two starts, ended Buehler’s night, lowering his major-league-leading ERA to 2.02.</p>
<p id="dnO64d">“Walker threw the heck out of the baseball tonight,” Roberts added at the end of his postgame session. “<em>Yesterday</em>,” he added with a laugh.</p>
<p id="JlLq7D">Buehler left with 106 pitches, the same number Snell was at through seven scoreless innings.</p>
<p id="urBu05">But on a team that has taxed its bullpen greatly of late, Padres manager Jayce Tingler let Snell continue into the eighth for the first time since July 7, 2018. Snell’s 7⅔ innings were a career high, and he even whiffed two in the inning to push his total to 10 strikeouts for the game.</p>
<p id="xPBArP">But in between the two eighth-inning strikeouts for Snell was Smith launching a ball into the left field seats to tie the game at one apiece.</p>
<div id="IpPDGS">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yo holmes, Snell ya later! <a href="https://t.co/YtXrxQ1t9K">pic.twitter.com/YtXrxQ1t9K</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1430748058250219522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="2As9eu">The Dodgers had a pair of near misses earlier in the game.</p>
<p id="s5CnWS">One night <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/24/22640619/aj-pollock-catch-clutch-hit-dodgers-padres-recap">after Pollock robbed Machado of a home run</a>, a pair of Padres outfielders got into the act to turn the tables. Wil Myers robbed Corey Seager at the left field wall with one out in the second inning, and Trent Grisham did the same in center field to Muncy with one out in the fourth.</p>
<p id="2hVAqA">Neither ball were sure home runs, but at the very least could have been extra bases. The Dodgers needed all the help they could get against Snell, who otherwise allowed only a pair of singles and no walks.</p>
<p id="qv932k">Snell’s slider was particularly confounding on Wednesday, inducing 11 swinging strikes. The Dodgers were hitless in nine at-bats at ended with the slider, including finishing off three of his 10 strikeouts.</p>
<p id="vZodaJ">It’s been a bad season overall for Snell, with a 4.58 ERA and 4.17 FIP with the Padres. But he’s been much better in August, with a 2.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 29⅔ innings. The Dodgers have had trouble against Snell all year, scoring five runs off him in four starts, for a 1.96 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and a paltry .190/.252/.286 line against the left-hander.</p>
<h3 id="EtLhRC">Milestone</h3>
<p id="76HLlf">Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth inning to keep the game tied, and by striking out catcher Austin Nola to end the frame, Jansen became <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/25/22642216/kenley-jansen-1000-strikeouts-dodgers-all-time-list">the 12th pitcher in major league history with 1,000 strikeouts in relief</a>.</p>
<h3 id="0fXl9G">Time stamp</h3>
<p id="1O2Nel">Here’s how long this game was:</p>
<div id="FtL7Vs">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When this game started, it was Max Muncy’s birthday. The game is still on but now it’s Brusdar Graterol and David Price’s birthdays.</p>— Hector Diaz (@iamHectorDiaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamHectorDiaz/status/1430790076573777924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h3 id="voUUzs">Wednesday particulars</h3>
<p id="bbfjQQ"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Will Smith (20), AJ Pollock (16); Fernando Tatis Jr. (35)</p>
<p id="HPJ1th"><strong>WP — Corey Knebel (3-0)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk, 1 strikeout</p>
<p id="RGp4F9"><strong>LP — Daniel Camarena (0-1)</strong>: 2 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, 1 strikeout </p>
<p id="49DkCE"><strong>Sv — Shane Greene (1)</strong>: 1 IP, 2 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="2FsGtD">Up next</h3>
<p id="EteiM0">Thursday night’s series finale starts an hour earlier (6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), and also delivers a wonderful pitching matchup between Max Scherzer and Yu Darvish. Those two faced off at Petco Park on July 8, though neither made it through the fourth inning in a 9-8 Padres win over the Nationals.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/26/22642320/dodgers-padres-longest-game-2021-aj-pollock-shane-greene-16-inningsEric Stephen2021-08-25T22:15:46-07:002021-08-25T22:15:46-07:00Kenley Jansen & the 1,000-strikeout club
<figure>
<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7pV3AFaK2Ue2xDgwepqBhH7JLeE=/0x0:4865x3243/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69777271/1233026005.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Dodgers closer is 12th pitcher in MLB history with 1,000 strikeouts in relief</p> <p id="qzG8uS"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> closer Kenley Jansen struck out Padres catcher Austin Nola in the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Petco Park in San Diego, becoming the 12th pitcher in major league history with 1,000 strikeouts in relief.</p>
<div id="bj9r4P"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/jansen-picks-up-1000th-career-k" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="OPI1gV">Jansen this season has 64 strikeouts and a 2.75 ERA in 52⅓ innings. His 29.2-percent strikeout rate is the second-lowest of his career, but that’s still good enough <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2021&month=0&season1=2021&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2021-01-01&enddate=2021-12-31&sort=7,d&page=2_30">to rank in the top third of qualified major league relievers</a>.</p>
<p id="bBOwua">Jansen is the second relief pitcher to join the 1,000-strikeout club this season. Craig Kimbrel, now with the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>, reached the milestone on August 16. Jansen and Kimbrel are the only pitchers in major league history to reach 1,000 strikeouts in fewer than 700 innings pitched, <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsBySTATS/status/1430759019845754883">per Stats Perform</a>.</p>
<p id="ySwmMb">That only a dozen pitchers have amassed 1,000 strikeouts in relief — a group that includes Hall of Famers Hoyt Wilhelm, Goose Gossage, Lee Smith, Rollie Fingers, Mariano Rivera, and Trevor Hoffman — is impressive enough. But Jansen holds even more exclusive company.</p>
<p id="dX5HgV">He’s one of only four players with 1,000 relief strikeouts <em>in one league</em>, along with Billy Wagner, Rivera, and Hoffman.</p>
<div id="BPCNAI"><div data-anthem-component="table:10719540"></div></div>
<p id="C2ErRW">Every single one of Jansen’s 1,000 strikeouts have been with the Dodgers, the third-highest total in relief for one team. Only Rivera (1,135 relief strikeouts with the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>) and Hoffman (1,029 with the Padres) have more.</p>
<p id="sK20mx">“It adds to his collection. That’s a great milestone,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It just shows us he stood the test of time. To have 1,000 strikeouts on the same team. It’s a short list of guys who have done that, and both are in the Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Kenley. I’m very lucky to be a part of it.”</p>
<p id="YRDiZn">Jansen is the best relief pitcher in Dodgers history, the franchise’s all-time leader in saves (340, which ranks 15th all-time/tied for 14th all-time with Rollie Fingers if 341), relief strikeouts, and games pitched (684). He’s <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/mwGCB">fifth in relief innings</a> (688⅓). </p>
<p id="pxSSvZ">Jansen has <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/Afrs0">six of the top 20 relief strikeout seasons in club history</a>, in six of the seven-lowest innings totals among that group.</p>
<p id="hTtYmv">He’s only the 19th pitcher overall to strike out 1,000 batters, in any role, in Dodgers history.</p>
<p id="Z54YAJ">Not bad for a former catcher.</p>
<p id="vVCEAE"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/25/22642216/kenley-jansen-1000-strikeouts-dodgers-all-time-listEric Stephen2021-08-25T18:52:00-07:002021-08-25T18:52:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Padres Game XII chat
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p9jsr3VtPassDLMWMZnZwAEluvM=/0x0:4118x2745/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69776910/usa_today_15914511.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="OCB2Ip">Walker Buehler tries to keep things rolling in the middle game against the Padres on Wednesday night at Petco Park. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> ace was profiled this week by <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/are-walker-buehlers-run-suppression-gains-for-real/">both Carmen Ciardiello at FanGraphs</a> and <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/69252/bullpen-session-despite-significant-rpm-loss-walker-buehler-is-spinning-gems/">Brian Menéndez at Baseball Prospectus</a>.</p>
<p id="sFSNng">Blake Snell starts for the Padres.</p>
<div id="4SQnMH"><div data-anthem-component="table:10719343"></div></div>
<h3 id="EO1hdm">Game info</h3>
<p id="b7aiui">Teams: Dodgers (79-47) at Padres (68-59)</p>
<p id="YH0Se4">Location: Petco Park, San Diego</p>
<p id="Fkv76B">Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p id="InJjfT">TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/25/22641230/dodgers-padres-game-chatEric Stephen2021-08-25T16:33:36-07:002021-08-25T16:33:36-07:00Kelly activated off IL, González optioned
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: AUG 04 Astros at Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AH65VuYiKsbIFkx-XIiQhHTr_oQ=/0x0:5078x3385/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69776573/1234472599.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>RHP missed 13 games on the injured list</p> <p id="BW2cWa">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> activated reliever Joe Kelly from the injured list on Wednesday after the right-hander missed 13 games.</p>
<p id="RFKcgr">Kelly was on the COVID-19-related injured list, which meant he didn’t count against the 40-man roster while sidelined. The Dodgers made room on Tuesday when <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/24/22638850/julio-urias-activated-injured-dodgers-padres-neftali-feliz">pitcher Neftalí Féliz was designated for assignment</a>.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="s5I5Ca"><div data-anthem-component="table:10719343"></div></div></div>
<p id="w5aeWT">This has been the most effective of Kelly’s three seasons with the Dodgers, putting up a 3.34 ERA and 3.24 FIP in 31 games, with 35 strikeouts and eight walks in 29⅔ innings. His 28-percent strikeout rate and 6.4-percent walk rate are both the best of his career.</p>
<p id="dkL6mr">Kelly is one of seven Dodgers pitchers to record a save this season.</p>
<p id="QS0oOf">He pitched two games on a minor league rehab assignment with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. After walking two and striking out one in a three-batter outing as an opener on Friday night, a game that Dave Roberts called “rusty,” Kelly <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/23/22637317/dodgers-minors-joe-kelly-imanol-vargas-powers-quakes-offense">pitched a perfect inning of relief on Sunday</a>, striking out one.</p>
<p id="6yz4Gl">To make room on the active roster, the Dodgers optioned Victor González to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a bit of a surprise move.</p>
<p id="FAb7V5">“Tough decision, obviously, with what Victor means to us,” Roberts said Wednesday. “Looking for consistency with the fastball and slider. He hasn’t had the miss that he had last year. For the most part, just getting him to Triple-A, take a breath, and pitch consistently for a week to two weeks, and see where we’re at from there.”</p>
<p id="FywN3g">After optioned pitchers Andre Jackson and Mitch White pitched for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga because of a COVID-19 outbreak with Oklahoma City, Roberts said González would join the Dodgers’ Triple-A team, which begins a series at home on Thursday against Las Vegas. </p>
<p id="wI1tuQ">González has a 3.57 ERA and 4.28 FIP in 44 games in his second season, with 33 strikeouts and 19 walks in 35⅓ innings. Since missing two weeks on the injured list with right knee inflammation, González has pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings in two games, with one strikeout.</p>
<p id="GeM45C">But his numbers are down from his excellent rookie campaign, during which he was one of the Dodgers’ most trusted relievers.</p>
<div id="wxEivs"><div data-anthem-component="table:10719396"></div></div>
<p id="c933Jo">González has still been used in key situations this year. On the season, his average leverage index (which measures the pressure faced by a relief pitcher when entering a game) is fourth in the bullpen, behind only Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, and Corey Knebel.</p>
<p id="WujQMx">Alex Vesia has since passed González on the lefty leverage reliever depth chart, but what made this move somewhat surprising is that the Dodgers kept rookie Justin Bruihl as the second southpaw in the bullpen, who’s been in the majors less than three weeks.</p>
<p id="3Q0R1B">Bruihl, who made his major league debut on August 8, pitched in seven of the Dodgers’ 15 games since joining the team, posting a 2.45 ERA and 3.44 FIP in 7⅓ innings, with three unintentional walks and five strikeouts. Left-handed batters are 3-for-16 (.188/.278/.188) against Bruihl, with three strikeouts and two walks.</p>
<p id="FxJB67"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/25/22636548/joe-kelly-activated-dodgers-roster-victor-gonzalez-optionedEric Stephen2021-08-25T12:30:00-07:002021-08-25T12:30:00-07:00An electric Walker Buehler starts in San Diego
<figure>
<img alt="Walker Buehler reacts after an inning." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CmQoVM8LX-nqbZJQb122ZZHuDE0=/0x0:3073x2049/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69775408/usa_today_16506919.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Walker Buehler’s energy could help push the Dodgers toward another sweep. | Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Buehler is coming off of an impressive—and fiery—win in his last start as the Dodgers hope to hold steady against San Diego. </p> <p id="Fxh9KQ">Cy Young contender <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/25/22639878/dodgers-walker-buehler-velocity-strikeout-rate-pitch-mix">Walker Buehler</a> starts on the mound for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> tonight against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a>, but he doesn’t seem <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/15/22625415/walker-buehler-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-cy-young-award-national-league">too concerned</a> about the award. Buehler has his eyes on the playoff prize instead, and he’s delivering. </p>
<p id="G2farb">In his <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/20/22635155/walker-buehler-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-new-york-mets-recap-alex-vesia-kenley-jansen">last start</a> on August 20, Buehler threw a season-high 7 ⅔ innings and looked sharp the whole way through. He struck out eight and gave up two runs—which should have been one, if you ask Buehler, who got tossed after arguing with the home plate umpire over whether an RBI hit from Pete Alonso went off the batter’s foot. </p>
<p id="SgjrAA">Buehler was on his way out of the game to be replaced by Alex Vesia anyways, but that energy could serve the Dodgers well tonight. Buehler’s electricity, combined with a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-offensive-struggles-on-display-vs-dodgers">slowing Padres offense</a> that mustered only three hits on Tuesday night, might be just the ticket to motivate the Dodgers’ own inconsistent offense toward a sweep and prevent them from losing further ground against the San Francisco Giants in the standings. </p>
<div id="ncWksu">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="de" dir="ltr">Walker Buehler, ladies and gentlemen. <a href="https://t.co/qZqqBS4QJi">pic.twitter.com/qZqqBS4QJi</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1426718087286456322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="R1Ji80">“He’s not arrogant in a bad way,” Ross Stripling <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27763722/most-confident-human-being-planet-why-walker-buehler-was-la-game-1-starter">told ESPN</a> after Buehler’s rookie season. “He’s arrogant in an awesome way.” </p>
<p id="suPxdB">The Padres, now one game behind the Cincinnati Reds in a standings battle of their own as they fight for a wild card spot, will give Blake Snell the start. Snell enters the game with a 2.35 ERA in his three games against the Dodgers this season but has allowed <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snellbl01.shtml">65 walks</a>, the most of any starter this year, while the Dodgers hold the second-highest total of <a href="https://www.mlb.com/stats/team">walked batters in 2021</a>. </p>
<h3 id="t4DOHd">Game Info </h3>
<p id="ESMzZW">Teams: Dodgers (79-47) at Padres (68-59)</p>
<p id="tQxjQN">Location: Petco Park, San Diego </p>
<p id="TgSjAo">Time: 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p id="0GVVjb">TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN </p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/25/22641565/walker-buehler-padres-dodgers-previewSamantha Carleton2021-08-23T19:00:00-07:002021-08-23T19:00:00-07:00Dodgers face scuffling Padres at Petco Park
<figure>
<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r7NOCh0eiVqu0l9BLZeDPbFmkkM=/0x0:6051x4034/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69766777/1324974530.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>San Diego has lost 9 of the last 11</p> <p id="Yxq3nE">Going back to June when the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and Padres last met — or really anytime they’ve played each other this year — the story was still being shaped as two teams battling for the division. While San Diego has fallen out of contention in that race, they’re still a dangerous team fighting for a playoff spot that the Dodgers have lost seven of the last eight games to.</p>
<p id="EGoBS3">To be fair, only three of those games happened since April and the last three were played two months ago.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="qxHaup"><div data-anthem-component="table:10715581"></div></div></div>
<p id="N8HPij">How bad has it gone for the Friars since sweeping the Dodgers at the end of June? San Diego has fallen from just a half-game behind the Dodgers to 10.5 and their pitching staff has been a mess. So much so that pitching coach Larry Rothschild was let go Monday, a day after the Padres fell a game behind the Reds for the second NL wild card spot.</p>
<p id="p9zovE">As the Padres are leaking oil, the Dodgers are strengthening their resolve as they battle the Giants. Winners in 16 of the last 20, the Dodgers boast the best ERA (2.29) in baseball for the month of August and <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/23/22631971/dodgers-week-21-win-streak-gaining-ground">gained some ground this week</a> in the NL West race. </p>
<p id="1mPfe0">The Dodgers will be getting back a prominent member of their rotation for this series. Julio Urías is <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/22/22636824/mookie-betts-hip-injury-return-dodgers-padres-julio-urias-joe-kelly">expected to come off the injured list</a> to make Tuesday’s start after missing 10 days with a left calf contusion. That would mean Urías, Walker Buehler and Max Scherzer in the three-game set. </p>
<p id="TUC3mT">A strong candidate for the Cy Young award, Buehler owns a 1.60 ERA since mid-May and needs only 30 strikeouts to reach 200 on the year. Scherzer has been every bit as good as expected when he was acquired at the trade deadline, allowing five runs in four starts that were all won by the Dodgers. </p>
<p id="4tZFKa">In all reality, San Diego only has two healthy starters that can go at least five innings. </p>
<p id="BpSTci">Joe Musgrove has been solid all year and has allowed one or less runs in four of his last five starts and two or less in 17 of his 25 games overall. Blake Snell has looked much better in the month of August, looking like the pitcher the Padres thought they acquired in the offseason with a 2.45 ERA in four starts. </p>
<p id="R9kcbW">Beyond that, Ryan Weathers has gone more than four innings in a game just once since early June and has been hit hard in his last five games (four starts), giving up 28 runs in 17.2 IP (14.26 ERA). The lefty just tossed two innings Sunday in a relief appearance and could be part of a bullpen game at some point during this series. </p>
<p id="v9lmUs">With Yu Darvish and Chris Paddack on the injured list, the Padres had signed Jake Arrieta August 16. But Arrieta made just one start, left after getting one out into the fourth and promptly landed on the IL himself with a strained left hamstring. </p>
<p id="dfMU2e">Darvish could return during this series, though there has been no announcement of what day. Snell is penciled in for Wednesday and one of the games Darvish doesn’t start figures to be a group effort from the already taxed bullpen. </p>
<p id="yLCRUx">Another option could be bringing Musgrove back on regular rest for the series finale on Thursday.</p>
<h3 id="arVPkK">Series info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="UE58gc">Tuesday, 7:10 p.m.: Julio Urías vs. TBD (SportsNet LA, ESPN)</li>
<li id="5dJmYQ">Wednesday, 7:10 p.m.: Walker Buehler vs. Blake Snell (SportsNet LA, ESPN)</li>
<li id="WzeDJO">Thursday, 6:10 p.m.: Max Scherzer vs TBD (SportsNet LA)</li>
</ul>
<p id="9VP0Yj"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/23/22638303/dodgers-padres-series-preview-pitching-matchupsRyan Walton