Game 126 Thread: August 21 @ Marlins, 4p

Zack Greinke (11-3, 3.02 ERA) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 3.96 ERA)

Gotta. Keep. Pitching. And that's exactly what to expect from Zack Greinke today. Probably with a lot of red hot late cocking action (see above). We'll see what old friend Eovaldi has to offer, too, as he may be motivated to beat the team who traded him.

If the first two games have been any indication, the Marlins may be motivated to go back to the basics on fielding and throwing and, I don't know, get a first baseman who is actually a first baseman.

Gotta keep pitching. Gotta keep hitting. Gotta keep pace ahead of the Dbags. Oh, and gotta keep getting lucky breaks like this:

Image 1 swiped from here. Image 2 swiped from here.

Game 126 Thread: August 24 vs. Marlins, 7p

Chad Billingsley (10-9, 3.44) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (4-8, 4.03).

Bowled last night with kids from LA Children's Hosp. at @jamesloney_7Event. They were the real VIPs.Giants series put in perspective.

— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) August 24, 2012

OH MY GOD A.J. thanks a lot for providing an antidote to the irrational feelings of hatred and impotence brought forth by being swept by the Giants. Geez, what a buzzkill! Let us wallow, wontcha?

Anyhoo, Hanley begetter Nate Eovaldi gets a chance to thank his former team for getting him on "The Franchise" this season, while the rejuvenated Chad Billingsley looks to make it seven straight wins. Time to start a new streak!

Game 102 Thread: July 28 @ Giants, 1p

Let me guess...you started following the Giants in 2010, right?

Chad Billingsley (5-9, 4.15) vs. Barry Zito (8-6, 3.75).

What, we have to play again? Normally, we would expect a ThunderThighs vs. Dreamboat Barry match-up to bode well for us, but we need only look to yesterday's game for a reminder about expectations.

Don Mattingly is switching things up today against the lefty Zito, leading off with Mark Ellis and batting Andre Ethier second in front of Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez.

Oh, and Hanley trade bait Nathan Eovaldi is starting later today for the Marlins against the Padres. Knock 'em dead, Nate!

In: Ramirez, Choate. Out: Eovaldi, McGough.

#Dodgers have acquired Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate for Nathan Eovladi and a minor leaguer. No money being sent to #Dodgers by #Marlins.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) July 25, 2012

Discuss amongst yourselves

UPDATE 12:18a (Sax): ESPN echoes:

The Florida Marlins have traded infielder Hanley Ramirez and pitcher Randy Choate to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and a minor-leaguer, sources told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

I'm just excited to potentially see the end of Uribe. Ramirez' .246 BA is a 56 point improvement over the tub of goo. Ramirez' 2012 .322 OBP and .428 SLG trail his .374 and .499 career numbers, but given Eovaldi was a hard-luck 1-6 this year (4.15 ERA) and 208 career (3.96 ERA), it just may be the boost we need at the corners.

At the other corner tonight, James Loney went 2-for-4 with 1 GIDP. He's sitting at a .252 average, .333 slugging. Sigh.

Post-Game 96 Thread: Dodgers Stagger to Series Sweep

It may have been a little Mickey Mouse, but the Dodgers swept the Mets.

DODGERS 8, METS 3 (12)

Nate Eovaldi didn't go deep enough, the bats wasted opportunities, Javy Guerra still isn't right, the umps blew calls — and still the Dodgers emerged with a third straight victory at Citi Field. Don't let the final score fool you — the Dodgers were leading 3-2 in the ninth, when the Mets tied it up off Guerra.

It stayed 3-3 until the twelfth, when the Mets walked Andre Ethier to load the bases for Matt Treanor, who singled home two. Luis Cruz followed with an RBI and Adam Kennedy (!) cleared the bases with a two-RBI double.

Some notable oddities: Don Mattingly brought in Clayton Kershaw in the eleventh to sacrifice Ethier to second; Kershaw delivered. Rookie Josh Wall made his major-league debut in the bottom of the inning, allowing only a single to David Wright, who was caught stealing by A.J. Ellis. Wall picked up the win.

Giants lose, so their lead shrinks to 1.5 games. Dodgers travel to St. Louis next.

Post-Game 91 Thread: Still Reeling In Wake Of Jansen Meltdown

PHILLIES 3, DODGERS 2

Ever since Kenley Jansen turned his back on home plate and allowed the Padres to steal a game, the Dodgers have looked listless and forlorn, disregarding any momentum that might have occurred with Matt Kemp's return to the lineup. Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Padres was pathetic, and tonight's showing against the last-place Phillies showed a complete lack of heart.

Sure, Nathan Eovaldi (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 2 HR) never gets any run support, so he should have expected as much in taking his sixth loss. But watching the Dodgers eke out only two runs, one on a double play and one on a gift Joe Blanton wild pitch, didn't demonstrate much of any effort from the plate. The Dodgers went 0-for-8 with RISP. James Loney went 1-for-4 and RAISED his average. Hopeless.

This offense needs some serious help. Get on the damn phones, Ned. Oh god, did I just write that? (cries)

Post-Game 84 Thread: Dodgers 4-1 in July

Scott Van Slyke: solo HR in the 4th.

Elian Herrera: solo HR in the 7th.

DODGERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1

On the day the Dodgers lost yet another starter to the DL — this time it's Dee Gordon for six weeks — the Dodgers cobbled together another signature victory, chipping away at Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley and giving Nathan Eovaldi his first win in almost a year.

Giants cooperated by losing in walk-off fashion to the Nats, so the Dodgers are 1.5 games up. Kershaw up next!

Game 84 Thread: July 5 @ Snakes, 6:40p

Wade, Miley!
Nathan Eovaldi (0-5, 4.61) vs. Wade Miley (9-4, 2.87)

One day after Billy Ray Cyrus invaded Dodger Stadium and butchered the National Anthem and GBA, the Dodgers head to Arizona to take on the guy who can't escape Miley Cyrus jokes. I've had it up to here with all these Cyrii!

Yet, Miley is an All-Star (I mean, yeah, Hannah Montana was a HUGE success! Sorry.), and the Dodgers have to counter with offense-inhibiting, run-allowing, winless Schleprock, Nathan Eovaldi. Despite the struggling D-Backs getting swept by the lowly Padres, I'm not feeling too confident about maintaining that half-game hold on first place.

So, uh...Go Nats! Beat the Gnats!

Photo: Pacific Coast News

Post-Game 74 Thread: That Sucked Ass

GIANTS 8, DODGERS 0

Nathan Eovaldi gave up seven fucking runs in his first two fucking innings of work and fucking Barry Zito held the Dodgers to three fucking hits over seven fucking innings, and in the sixth inning fucking Zito buzzed Dee Gordon, who had the fucking audacity to steal a base during Barry's precious fucking little gem of a performance, and then fucking Zito fucking plunked Andre Ethier on the shoulder, but did Don Mattingly fucking order any fucking retaliation? He did not. But the Dodgers still have the best fucking record in the National League! Not for fucking long if we keep fucking playing like this.

Post-Game 69 Thread: Ho, Milone

A's 4, DODGERS 1

Tommy Milone owned the weak Dodger bats tonight, finishing with a complete-game three-hitter. At one point Milone retired 14 straight, and the Dodgers only scored because A's right fielder Josh Reddick couldn't hold on to Juan Uribe's shallow liner in the second inning, allowing Juan Rivera to score. That was Nate Eovaldi's token run to play with for the night.

Time of game: a brisk 2:21, so at least it was over quick. The Angels are handling the Giants, so it looks like the Dodgers' lead will stay at 4.5 games. And, as NicJ points out, "Well on the bright side we don't get a 'best record in baseball' tweet after this loss."

Game 64 Thread: June 13 vs. Angels, 7p

Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 1.93) vs. C.J. Wilson (7-4, 2.39).

No support is exactly what the Dodgers have given young Nate Eovaldi this year — in his three starts filling in for Ted Lilly, the Dodgers have scored a grand total of three runs. That works out to...oh...let's see...carry the one...ONE RUN PER GAME. Let's get this kid some runs!

(Oh, and Nomo and Sax will be at tonight's game. Post a comment if you want to meet up.)

Post-Game 59 Thread: No, No.

MARINERS 1, DODGERS 0

Kevin Millwood no-hit the Dodgers through six before he had to leave with an injury. No worries; five other Mariners pitchers took the no-hitter the rest of the way. Pathetic, but at least the Giants lost (and were also shut out), as well. Nathan Eovaldi pitched six strong innings of 0 ER ball but got no support.

Game 59 Thread: June 8 @ Mariners, 7p

Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 2.84) vs. Kevin Millwood (3-5, 3.90).

Two starts. Two losses. Nate Eovaldi's short track record hasn't been great this year, despite going 7.0 IP in his first start and 5.2 in his second, each time yielding just two earned runs. But this time, Eovaldi comes in with the momentum of a four-game win streak freight train behind him, against a starter who hasn't lasted more than five innings in his last two starts.

But that's not all Eovaldi will have working for him tonight, however. This is the first time this 2012 season that the Dodgers will have a special 26th man in attendance: Jason. We Sons met Jason (sans machete) last year and let me tell you, this guy's an uber-fan. As some have said, "He's like a great white shark. You can't really defeat him. All you can hope for is to survive." And it will be a Sweet Day indeed if the Dodgers can take their battle quest to Seattle, and put the Mariners through a crash course on how to play like a division leader. (I can't figure out how to work in ghost mansion or ninja castle so I'll stop right there. Sorry about that.)

[Paul, we'll catch you too on a GT one of these days...]

Game 54 Thread: June 3 @ Rox, Noon

Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. Alex White (1-3, 6.28 ERA)

The Dodgers ended their 5-game skid yesterday, basically by just playing as well as they were when they were red-hot. Seems simple, doesn't it?

Nathan Eovaldi, who was pretty damn good in his season debut (outside of one pitch to Ryan Braun), looks to get a new winning streak started.

Anyone else think they should juggle the rotation and have Eovaldi follow Capuano? That way we get Cap then Eo?

Just me?

OK.

Post-Game 49 Thread: Fiers Burns Dodgers

FORDPALM

BREWERS 2, DODGERS 1

Nathan Eovaldi was hot, allowing only a two-run home run to a classless douche over seven innings. But Brewers starter Michael Fiers (pronounced \ˈfī(-ə)rs\) was hotter, muzzling the Dodgers for a measly run over those same seven. All-around nice guy Matt Kemp went 1 for 4 in his return from the DL, including a deep fly ball that died at the right-field warning track. DAMMIT

The Dodgers had a look in the ninth when John Axford hit Andre Ethier after allowing a Kemp double, but Jerry Hairston Jr. (.394/.474/.530) inexplicably tried to bunt the runners over. The count went to two strikes and he proceeded to hit into a double play. James Loney was next up, so you know what happened there. DAMMIT

Dodgers drop to 32-17, Brewers improve to 21-28. That's right, we just dropped two straight to a team that's 10-15 on the road. DAMMIT

Game 49 Thread: May 29 vs. Brewers, 7p

Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, -.--) vs. Michael Fiers (0-0, -.--).

I received excutive orders (from SoSG Orel) to scribe this evening's Game Thread. Of course, this is a tricky GT to write, since both pitchers are spot-starters called up from AAA, with limited MLB stats from which to glean insights. 22-year-old Nathan Eovaldi makes his 2012 debut for the Dodgers this evening, filling in for injured Ted Lilly. Eovaldi appeared in 10 games last year and went 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA and a 102 ERA+ (about league average).

Fiers has only appeared in two major league games to date, spanning a whopping two innings with a spotless ERA (2 H, 2 Ks, 3 BB). And the Dodgers don't tend to do well seeing opposing pitchers for the first time, so there's a clear and present danger that we could be in trouble tonight, against a team who already took the opening game of the series. Not to mention there's that guy on the Brewers who litigated his way to retain his NL MVP award, won under suspicious circumstances, without remorse.

Will the Dodgers stumble again against the Brewers, as we progress on our hunt for (red) October? Or will Matt Kemp's return to the lineup help knock out the Brewers' starter early, so tonight won't be the sum of all Fiers?

Lilly Out for at Least One Start

From "Nathan Eovaldi to start for Dodgers in place of Ted Lilly" by Kevin Baxter of the LA Times:

The Dodgers are recalling pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from double-A Chattanooga to start in place of Ted Lilly on Tuesday against Milwaukee.

Although Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly coyly deflected questions about Eovaldi on Sunday, Chattanooga pitching coach Chuck Crim later confirmed that the pitcher is headed to Los Angeles and said he was told the right-hander would take Lilly's place in the rotation.

So did Lilly get shelled by the Diamondbacks because he came back down to earth, or he was hurt? Our minor-league position players have served us well; let's see how their pitchers do.

Eovaldi Poised For Big Things In 2012

Jason Grey of ESPN.com's fantasy baseball column predicts Dodger Nathan Eovaldi to be a bright spot in next year's rotation:

14. Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Dodgers: Eovaldi has shown enough in his big league stint this season to project some success from him next year as he cheaply fills one of the Dodgers' rotation holes. He'll sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and touch as high as 98 when he reaches back for something extra, and his slider is a quality pitch he can locate, with the bite to get swings and misses. He has the capability to throw more strikes than he has in his short stint in the big leagues, and he's going to need to throw his changeup more to help keep more hitters off balance, but he could be quietly effective next season.

I'm hoping for more loud effectiveness...

Post-Game 138 Thread: 11 Of 12

DODGERS 2, BRAVES 1 (10)

One night after a high-scoring come-from-behind victory, the Dodgers also proved they could grind one out against the Braves, winning in extras. The Dodgers take today's game thanks to a leadoff double in the tenth by Spee-Dee Gordon, who then was sacrificed over by Free James Loney and home by Juan Rivera. Nathan Eovaldi has a nice quality start (6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 BBs and Ks each), but Mike MacDougal walks away with the win and Javy Guerra gets the save.

Plus, the Diamondbacks' 7-2 win over the Giants (Lincecum goes 5.0 IP with 9 H and 5 ER, taking the loss) puts the Dodgers only 4.5 games out of second place. The 11-out-of-12 run has the Dodgers only two games under .500. Meaningless goals, perhaps; but meaningful achievements against the context of this season, to be sure.

Post-Game 132 Thread: Five-Spot Early Stops Dodgers' Win Streak At Five

ROCKIES 7, DODGERS 6

Jim Tracy snuck out of this visit to Chavez Ravine with only a series-salvaging win, as the Rockies scored five early on starter Nathan Eovaldi (in the first), putting the Dodgers in a hole from which they couldn't dig out. Not that the Dodgers didn't have their opportunities, battling back for six runs and scoring in the first, third, sixth, and seventh innings.

But the frame that basically says everything was the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Dodgers, down 7-2 and rallying with leadoff walks to Rod Barajas, Trent Oeltjen (playing RF in place of the vocal Andre Ethier), AND Jamey Carroll...send up Eugenio 0-for-27 Velez, I suppose to keep the rally alive. He didn't, grounding to short on a fielders' choice that ended up being an undeserving RBI, and making Velez 0-for-28.

I was at the game and when I saw Velez in the on-deck circle, I got that taste of vomit in the back of my throat. Tony Gwynn ended up following Velez with a sac fly, scoring a second run, but Justin Sellers Kd to end the inning and the rally. The Dodgers went 4-for-13 with RISP and left 8 on base.

Velez. The guy who can't even get his jersey spelled right. Sheesh.