Monday, April 18, 2022

Games 10-12 Thread: April 18-20 vs. Braves

Okay, someone is excited for this next series.

Mon 4.18 7p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Ynoa
Tues 4.19 7p: Walker Buehler vs. Fried
Wed 4.20 12n: Tony Gonsolin vs. Morton

The Dodgers see if their 7-2 record stands up against their first playoff-contending opponent in 2022. On the positive side, we know these Braves pretty well:

And then something else with the Braves might have happened in 2021, but it was all a blur after the Chris Taylor walk-off HR victory in the Wild Card Game, and then that epic NLDS Game 5 victory to vanquish the Giants.

So for 2022, what has changed between the Dodgers and Braves?

Well for one thing, there's this guy:

Former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is now with the Braves. He's 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in four games, driven by a difficult first outing against the Braves where he gave up three ER. Since then, he's been lights out: three appearances with 4 Ks across the three games; two saves. Jansen's K/BB ratio is 5.00, right on par with his career average; and his 11.3 K/9 ratio is exactly in line with 2021.

And then, there's this guy:

Former Braves slugger Freddie Freeman is now with the Dodgers. He's 12-for-37 this year across all nine games with 4 RBI (three of which came yesterday!). Freeman's OPS+ of 125 this year is below his career average of 138, but so far he's got no HR (three doubles are his only XBH), though to be fair he only had 13 HR in his 2020 MVP season (Freeman has hit 30+ HRs three times in his career, including in 2021).

I'm very interested to see how Jansen and Freeman fare in this series, facing familiar friends now from the other side. We start the series with Kershaw, coming off his seven innings of perfect pitching. LET'S GO, DODGERS!

183 comments:

Steve Sax said...

GAME 1 MON 4.18

Betts RF
Freeman 1B
T Turner SS
Muncy 2B
J Turner 3B
Smith C
Bellinger CF
Rios DH
Lux LF

Kershaw P

Steve Sax said...

Chris Taylor sits. Hmm.

karen said...

Freddie hugging his former Bravo teammates. I'm wanting him to do a Will Smith bitch slap to greet Acuna Jr but Freddie has way to much class. I guess a girl can dream.

karen said...

Freddie really emotional at pregame press conference about spending time with his former teammates.

karen said...

HAPPY KERSHAW DAY!!!

Steve Sax said...

And there goes the perfect game

Steve Sax said...

(with two out in the top of the first)

Steve Sax said...

Ozuna forces Riley at second.

0-0 through 0.5

spank said...

Huescar Ynao. Must be French.

karen said...

Freddie's first HR as a Dodger!!!

spank said...

Huescar Ynao. Must be French.

spank said...

Freeman! Haha

Steve Sax said...

Freeman! First HR of the year!

Steve Sax said...

Trea Turner Ks on three straight. Grr

Steve Sax said...

Muncy's got a 3-0 count

Steve Sax said...

Four-pitch walk to Max. Two out.

Steve Sax said...

Ynoa broke his hand last year punching a bench in the dugout. He missed some time.

Steve Sax said...

JT Ks.

1-0 LA through 1.

spank said...

Good inning for Kershaw

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw gets two Ks in the second.

1-0 LA through 1.5

Steve Sax said...

Slappy Ks.

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw and Ynoa, each with three Ks.

Steve Sax said...

Cody is batting .250.

This is still better than JT (.229), Mookie (.200), and Muncy (.167). Oh, and Rios (.200), who is on deck.

karen said...

I love it that Mookie has 40 bowling balls

karen said...

Walks to Mookie and Freddie. No outs. TT at bat.

karen said...

Oops....1 out.

Steve Sax said...

Trea Turner steals second, so the Dodgers are 11-for-12 on SBs this year.

Muncy up, with Betts on third and Trea on second.

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger is the only CS this year, on Friday vs. Cincy

Steve Sax said...

Max at a full count...

Steve Sax said...

Called strike 3 on Max. Dammit. Looked inside.

1-0 LA through 3.

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw and Ynoa each have four Ks through 3.

spank said...

Dang. Good slider by Ynoa to strikeout muncy

karen said...

Boys at the corners. No outs. 1-0 LA.

karen said...

JT scores on Belli ground out. 2-0.

karen said...

Edwin Rios brings in Slappy, 3-0, 1 out, B4.

spank said...

Bases juiced for TT

spank said...

TT doubles in 3

karen said...

TT clears the bases with a double. 6-0, 2 out, B4.

spank said...

Nice

Steve Sax said...

Ok back from dinner, just in time to see Heredia go yard off of Clayton. 6-1 LA, B5

Steve Sax said...

Slappy had a 3-0 count and flied to right.

spank said...

Belli with a double

Steve Sax said...

Rios Ks for out #3, with JT on third and. Belli on second

Steve Sax said...

Lux with a comebacker but it deflects to Albies, who throws Lux out to end the inning.

6-1 LA through five.

spank said...

Another homerun for Barves

karen said...

Albies homer. 6-2 T6.

karen said...

Kersh not being Kersh like.

spank said...

Kershaw can t finish the inning. Must be the 39 degree weather

Steve Sax said...

Yikes Kershaw fell apart quickly there. Albies HR makes it 6-2. Then two more hits have runners on second and third with none out in the sixth.

Here’s Bazooka.

karen said...

Bazooka's rocking the bling.

Steve Sax said...

Brusdar with a big K for the first out.

karen said...

This is starting to get a little uncomfortable. 6-4 LA

Steve Sax said...

Brusdar gives up two runs, it’s now 6-4 LA with two out and d’Arnaud on first.

Steve Sax said...

Not happy

karen said...

Uh-oh. Tying run in scoring position. Shit.

spank said...

This innings a big shit sandwich

Steve Sax said...

Brusdar is getting lit up here. Double by Rosario makes the tying run on second.

Steve Sax said...

Btw the reason why we are crumbling here is because Charley made a big deal, upon Graterol’s entrance, that the relievers have not given up an inherited run.

Totally jinxed this one.

Steve Sax said...

Heredia Ks. But the Braves are right back in it, 6-4, going to the bottom of the sixth.

Steve Sax said...

Wow that was not a good frame.

Steve Sax said...

Rick Monday says Betts seems like he is not picking up the baseball well.

spank said...

That looked low

karen said...

Nice catch by Freddie.

Steve Sax said...

Freeman snares out #1 in the seventh

karen said...

So cool that that guy gave the foul ball to the little girl.

Steve Sax said...

Albies Ks for out #2, but Olson singles on the first pitch.

karen said...

Phew!! Hudson and the Dodgers wiggled out of the 7th.

Steve Sax said...

Hudson Ks Riley! We go to the stretch!

Steve Sax said...

A hit here would be nice, Max

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers go 1-2-3 in the seventh.

Steve Sax said...

I’m really nervous.

karen said...

Some really bad strike calls tonight.

karen said...

This is one of those games where the Dodgers are up and down quickly in their half of the inning and the opponent is constantly threatening.

Steve Sax said...

Bickford allows a two-out single but gets Rosario to pop to Betts.

6-4 LA, going to B8

Steve Sax said...

@karen: exactly. The scary thing about this team is how infrequently they can string hits together. When just happens, it’s an onslaught. But then we go 1-2-3 too quickly in other innings.

karen said...

YEAH CODY LOVE!!!!

spank said...

Wow Belli with a homerun

karen said...

@Sax...You're right. Seems like it's feast or famine for our offense.

Steve Sax said...

Bellinger HR! Wow that is a shocker!!!

Steve Sax said...

Cody with a two-hit game here. Boy that would be great if he could get back on track.

Especially because Mookie and Muncy are really struggling so far

karen said...

Wow. Mookie has dropped below the Mendoza line.

karen said...

Spiderman coming in for the save.

Steve Sax said...

Kimbrel gets the K but Will Smith can’t hold the ball, so the runner reaches first.

Thanks, Slappy.

karen said...

Double play. 2 outs in the ninth.

Steve Sax said...

We need a GIDP!

spank said...

Double play

Steve Sax said...

And we get it!

Steve Sax said...

WIN!

Steve Sax said...

LA 7, ATL 4

karen said...

WIN!!! Kershaw's 100th win at Dodger Stadium.

spank said...

That's a wrap

Steve Sax said...

Kershaw gets his 100th victory at Dodger Stadium!

Steve Sax said...

@karen, you’re ahead of me!

G’night. See you guys tomorrow!

karen said...

Night Sax and Spanky!!

Steve Sax said...

94 comments from Game 1. Nice!

Steve Sax said...

Giants @ Mets Game 1 (postponed from yesterday): 4-4 tie through six.

Joc Pederson has 3 HR this year. No Dodger has 3 HR this year; Barnes and Bellinger have two each.

Steve Sax said...

GAME 2 4.19

Betts RF
Freeman 1B
T Turner SS
J Turner DH
Muncy 2B
Taylor CF
Alberto 3B
Barnes C
Lux LF

Buehler P

Steve Sax said...

Pretty weird that Barnes catches Buehler today, while Slappy caught Kershaw yesterday.

Steve Sax said...

Wow. Mets win in the bottom of the 10th, after reversing a call in the top of the 10th when the call on the field was that Pete Alonso's foot left the bag on a 6-3 groundout. But the call was reversed after the Mets challenge.

Then the Mets' Lindor singles to center with men at the corners and one out in B10.

Mets win Game 1, 5-4.

karen said...

I hate to think of Joc in the black and orange colors of the Evil Ones.

Steve Sax said...

Albies pops to second. One out.

Steve Sax said...

Olson grounds to short for the second out.

Steve Sax said...

Riley single to right. Two out

Steve Sax said...

Ozuna flies to right.

0-0 through 0.5

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers go 1-2-3

karen said...

Crap. Solo shot for D'Arnoud in second inning.

Steve Sax said...

Buehler had some trouble there in the second. Solo HR to d'Arnaud, plus a single. But only one run.

1-0 ATL, mid-2

karen said...

@Sax....Do you know why Lux was scratched from the lineup?

Steve Sax said...

@karenl I don't!

But Buehler is in trouble here in the third.

Steve Sax said...

@karen: Lux scratched with back tightness.

karen said...

Butane gets out of the third but still looking a little shaky.

Steve Sax said...

Ozuna Ks.

Buehler with 49 pitches through 3.

1-0 ATL through 2.5

karen said...

Thanks Sax. I hope his back tightness isn't the beginning of a problem.

karen said...

Cody slowly starting to put the pieces back together.



karen said...

***Fried has not allowed a hit through 4 innings***

***Fried has not allowed a hit through 4 innings***

***Fried has not allowed a hit through 4 innings***

JINX**JINX**JINX**

karen said...

The Rockies have the best bullpen in baseball so far?

Huh??

karen said...

ATL now leading 3-0 in T5.

Steve Sax said...

Max Fried has a PERFECT GAME going on here

karen said...

FINALLY Alberto singles for the first baserunner of the game.

Steve Sax said...

Baby Uribe gets a single to break up the perfect game.

But Austin Barnes ends the sixth with a GIDP, so Max Fried has still faced the minimum through six.

Atlanta up 3-0

karen said...

Swanson's infield hit was very close but not challenged by Dodgers. Braves at the corners with no outs in the seventh.

karen said...

What a catch by Mookie to end the T7. David Price comes in to restore order.

Sort of.

Steve Sax said...

Max Fried, pride of Harvard-Westlake, is dealing. Two-hit shutout through seven. Braves lead 3-0 and the Dodgers’ offense is not there tonight.

Steve Sax said...

Come on, Max. The first goddamn pitch? Quick ground out to second.

Steve Sax said...

Muncy: 0-for-3 with a .139 average.

Steve Sax said...

CT3 with a one-out walk! Tonight, that merits an exclamation point.

karen said...

CT3 advances from first to third on a passed ball.

Steve Sax said...

Passed ball--CT3 goes all the way to third!

karen said...

No shut out tonight. CT3 scores on Alberto ground out. 3-1 ATL

Steve Sax said...

Taylor scores on an FC. It's 3-1 Atlanta with two out. And they're playing the home run horns.

Okay then.

Steve Sax said...

3-1 Atlanta through 8 full.

Steve Sax said...

...which means we'll see...Kenley?!

karen said...

Here comes Kenley

karen said...

Let's hope KJ has one of his famous 'bad' outings.

karen said...

As often as Slappy has caught Kenley shouldn't he be able to hit him?

karen said...

Bad night at the office for Mookie.

karen said...

Kenley sits our boys down in order.

We lose.

It's hard to believe that this lineup had only 2 hits. Then again, maybe it's not.

Steve Sax said...

Yep.

And Jansen earns the save.

Dodgers lose 3-1.

Steve Sax said...

GAME 3 (4/20)

Betts RF
Freeman 1B
T Turner SS
Muncy 2B
J Turner 3B
Smith C
Bellinger CF
Taylor LF
Rios DH

Gonsolin P

Steve Sax said...

It's a new day, people. Let's erase yesterday's bummer and go for the series win!

Steve Sax said...

Mookie: 0-for-4 last night with 2Ks. He's batting .171.

Max: 0-for-3 last night. He's batting .139.

Lux was scratched last night with back tightness.

This is not good.

karen said...

Lux still not in lineup but Doc says he's better and should be back for Friday's game.

spank said...

12 noon game. iight

QuadSevens said...

Dodger bats are going to warm up today in the afternoon sun! Let's go!

karen said...

Its starting already. Heaney to IL.

QuadSevens said...

Catman with a stress free first.

karen said...

Mookie gets a hit!!!

karen said...

FREEDIE WITH A 2 RUN HOMER!!!

QuadSevens said...

FREDDIE!!

Steve Sax said...

Oh wow. That’s a good start

karen said...

Boys have already matched last nights hits total

Steve Sax said...

Would love to see another 11-run first inning against the Braves, like 2020 NLCS Game 3

karen said...

TT runs 30' per second? How could that be?

Steve Sax said...

Why isn’t Trea stealing second here

QuadSevens said...

4-5-6 not very good first time through.

karen said...

Catman serves up the DP. 2-0 LA.

QuadSevens said...

Catman with his second K and a double play in the second. Looking good.

karen said...

Looks like another 2 hit day coming up for Belli.

karen said...

Edwin Rios has said that this will be his 'Revenge Season'. Hope it doesn't end up like 'The Summer of George'.

karen said...

Looks like Ozuna borrowed Bazooka's bling.

Steve Sax said...

2-0 LA through 3.5

Steve Sax said...

STOP SWINGING AT THE FIRST PITCH, SLAPPY

QuadSevens said...

That was some crazy spin on Slappy's ground out.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers go down 1-2-3 on nine short pitches in the bottom of the fourth.

Steve Sax said...

Ha, the Braves go down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth, but on EIGHT pitches. So maybe they're worse than us!

QuadSevens said...

Catman with just 63 pitches through 5 innings. Looking really good!

Steve Sax said...

We've got Rios, Betts, Freeman to start the bottom of the fifth.

karen said...

Rios leaves the Ravine. 3-0 Blue T5

Steve Sax said...

RIOS REVENGE!!!

karen said...

OOPS...B5

Steve Sax said...

Mookie is having trouble seeing the ball, acc to Rick Monday

karen said...

I'm loving Alberto and all of the dancing. He's got the good juju.

QuadSevens said...

No-no broken up in the sixth. Infield hit against the shift.

karen said...

The ATL gets a cheap first hit.

QuadSevens said...

Double play to erase the hit! Sweet!

karen said...

Looked like that was a strike.

QuadSevens said...

Catman was robbed on a strike three call there!

karen said...

Great outing for Catman today.

QuadSevens said...

Give Catman his catnip! He earned it today! 6 shutout innings!

karen said...

Belli brings in Slappy...4-0 Blue.

QuadSevens said...

Belli with the RBI triple! 4-0 Dodgers!

karen said...

WIN!!!

Steve Sax said...

5-1 win. Dodgers lost the shutout on back-to-back doubles in the ninth, but Mitch White gets that third out and it’s still a series WIN