Vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (58-29) RHP Jason Hammel (4-7, 5.08) Vs
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Kansas City Royals (44-40) vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (58-29) RHP Jason Hammel (4-7, 5.08) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (6-4, 4.76) Friday, July 7, 2017 | 7:10 p.m. PT | Dodger Stadium | Los Angeles, CA Game 88 | Home Game 48 (36-11) | Night Game 63 (41-21) TV: SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish | Radio: AM 570 (Eng.); 1020 AM (Span.) THE MAGIC CONTINUES: The Dodgers, who capped off a three- MATCHUP vs. ROYALS st nd game sweep of Arizona with a four-run ninth inning comeback last Dodgers: 1 , NL West (5.5 GA) Royals: 2 , AL Central (1.0 GB) night, recorded their 22nd comeback win of the year and their fifth walk- All-Time: LA trails series, 4-5 (2-1 at Dodger Stadium) All-Time Interleague: 162-179 (92-74 at Dodger Stadium) off of the season, while also recording their Major League leading ninth 2017 Interleague: 4-3 (1-1 at Dodger Stadium) series sweep of 2017. Los Angeles will begin a three-game weekend HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Congratulations are in order Interleague tilt against the Royals tonight as they wrap up the first half to Dodger third baseman Justin Turner and left-handed pitcher Alex of the season. The Boys in Blue hold the best record in the big leagues Wood for being named to the National League All-Star team, as they since June 7 with 23-4 mark and own the best record in the National will join teammates Cody Bellinger, Kenley Jansen, Clayton League at 58-29(.667), just a half-game behind the Astros for the best Kershaw and Corey Seager in Miami. Turner, who will be making his record in baseball. The Dodgers are now a season-high 29 games over first All-Star appearance, set an all-time Final Vote balloting record with .500 and their 5.5-game lead in the NL West is the club’s largest this 20.8 million votes, as MLB announced yesterday on MLB Network. The year. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, six Dodger All-Stars th total surpasses the previous mark set by Braves’ first baseman Freddie will head to Miami for the 88 Midsummer Classic, while the rest of the Freeman in 2013 (19.7 million). Wood will also make his first All-Star team will be off until July 14, when they will begin the second half of appearance after being selected to the National League roster earlier the season in Miami to kick off a five-game road trip. today as a replacement for teammate Clayton Kershaw, who will be The last time the two squads met was in 2014 when the ineligible to pitch in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic, as he will start Dodgers visited Kansas City from June 23-25, taking two of Sunday’s game against the Royals. Wood becomes the sixth Dodger to the three games at Kauffman Stadium. However, Kansas City join the All-Star team, which is the most in the NL, and the most in has gotten the better of Los Angeles, as they are 4-5 overall in Dodger history since 1991 when Brett Butler, Ramon Martinez, Mike nine career matchups. The last time the Royals came to Los Morgan, Eddie Murray, Juan Samuel and Darryl Strawberry were Angeles was in 2003, as the Dodgers went 2-1 in the three- selected to the Midsummer Classic. game set and current Dodger manager Dave Roberts batted leadoff in all three games. This marks the third time in the last four years that the Dodgers have had four or more All-Star representatives (also: Los Angeles, which has won 15 of its last 16 games at Dodger 2014 and 2015) and just the second time in the last 26 years Stadium, is a Major-League best 36-11 (.766) at home this that the club would have six players participate in the season, outpacing all but the 1953 Dodgers (60-17, .779) for Midsummer Classic (1991). the best home winning percentage in franchise history. According to Stats LLC., the Dodgers’ .766 winning Despite going 0-for-2 with a career-high tying three walks in percentage at home would be the best single-season mark by last night’s contest, Turner continues to lead the Majors (min. an NL team since the 1975 Reds, who went 64-17 (.790) at 200 AB) with a .380 batting average and a .475 on-base home – that Reds team would eventually win the World Series. percentage and currently sits with what would be the seventh The Dodgers are off to their best 87-game start since going 60- highest batting average at the All-Star Break since 1969, 27 in 1974 on their way to the NL pennant. trailing just Larry Walker (.398, 1997 and .382, 1999), Tony The Dodgers’ +156 run differential is the best in the Major Gwynn (.394, 1997 and .383, 1994), Andres Galarraga (.391, 1993) and Todd Helton (.383, 2000). Leagues, 17 runs better than the Houston Astros (+139). The club’s outstanding run differential is among the best in the Wood improved to 10-0 on the season, firing 7.0 scoreless history of the game heading to the break: innings on Wednesday. Wood is the first Dodger to start a NL, Best Run Differential Pre All-Star – Since 1933 season 10-0 since Ed Roebuck in 1962 and becomes the first Dodger starter to start the year 10-0 since Don Newcombe in 1944 St. Louis Cardinals^ +159 1955. No Dodger pitcher in the modern era (since 1913) has 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers +156 ever started a season 11-0. 1976 Cincinnati Reds^ +154 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers +151 At 21 years, 354 days old, Bellinger, is the youngest position 1975 Cincinnati Reds^ +151 player to be honored as an All-Star in franchise history 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers +148 (previous: Seager: 22 years, 69 days) and the third-youngest The Cardinals and Reds’ teams won the World Series, while Dodger All-Star overall (at the time of their first selection), the 1974 Dodgers took home the NL pennant. The 1942 club behind only Fernando Valenzuela (20 years, 281 days in won 104 games and finished second to the Cardinals. 1981) and Ralph Branca (21 years, 183 days in 1947). Bellinger who is tied with Joey Votto for the NL lead in SOURCE: STATS, LLC homers with 24, will represent the Dodgers in the T-Mobile KENTA-SAN: Dodger right-hander Kenta Maeda will look to bounce Home Run Derby this Monday with his father, former big back and record his seventh victory of the season tonight against the th leaguer Clay, acting as his pitcher. The derby will be Royals in his 14 start of the year. Maeda last pitched on Sunday at San broadcasted live at 5p.m. Monday on ESPN, Mlb.com, ESPN Diego allowing five runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings as he recorded the Deportes and the ESPN App. The “Esurance All-Star Game loss in the Dodgers’ 5-3 defeat. Despite the rough outing, he has been will air on FOX this Tuesday, July 11 and coverage begins at solid in his last nine games (seven starts) since May 10, going 4-2 with 4:30 p.m. PT. one save and posting a 3.64 ERA (17 ER/42.0 IP), while holding hitters to a .232 average. During that span, Maeda has struck out 37 batters MILESTONE WATCH: Chase Utley is just one RBI shy of plating against 10 walks, while posting a 1.10 WHIP. 1,000 career runs. Utley will become just the ninth active player to reach 1,000 RBI. In his last Interleague start, Maeda allowed just four hits in 7.0 scoreless frames against the Angels on June 27, while striking NEWEST DODGERS: The Dodgers today announced the signings out six without issuing a walk. In four career starts in of six more draft picks, including the top three picks: first rounder Interleague play, he has gone 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA (10 (23rd overall) Jeren Kendall (OF, Vanderbilt University), second ER/21.0 IP) and has limited batters to a .234 average, while rounder (62nd overall) Morgan Cooper (RHP, University of Texas) striking out 23 batters against just nine walks in 21.0 innings. and third rounder Connor Wong (C, University of Houston). The HAPPY BDAY BMAC: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy club also signed 11th round pick Jacob Amaya (SS, South Hill HS), birthday to right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who turns 34 today. 17th rounder Nathan Witt (RHP, Michigan State) and 20th rounder McCarthy, who is currently on the 10-day disabled list with right knee Donovan Casey (OF, Boston College). Los Angeles has signed 33 tendonitis, has gone 6-3 with a 3.25 ERA (26 ER/72.0 IP) in 13 starts of its 40 selections from this year’s MLB First-Year Player draft this season, while holding batters to a .229 average and striking out 57 before today’s deadline. against 20 walks. UPCOMING SCHEDULE Date/Time/Opponent (PT Time) Probable Pitchers TV/Radio Sat., July 8, 4:15 p.m. vs. KC RHP Ian Kennedy (3-6, 4.44) vs. TBD TV: FOX | Radio: AM 570, KTNQ 1020 Sun., July 9, 1:10 p.m. vs. KC LHP Danny Duffy (5-4, 3.51) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 2.19) TV: SNLA, SNLA Spanish | Radio: AM 570, KTNQ 1020 TONIGHT’S STARTER vs.