Dodgers A’s Game Two Preview

After one of the more frustrating losses of the season on Tuesday, the Dodgers look to rebound with a Wednesday afternoon tilt against Oakland.

Clayton Kershaw did his job yesterday, but the bullpen (specifically Pedro Baez) couldn’t hold the lead and the Dodgers fell in extras. The offense was pretty non-existent outside of A.J. Ellis (words I never thought I would type), but the Dodgers had a three-run lead late and couldn’t hold onto it. It sucked, but it’s one loss and hopefully won’t have any sort of hangover effect today.

Mat Latos was originally scheduled to throw for the Dodgers today, but he will be used in a bullpen role during this road trip. With off days Monday, Thursday and next Monday, the Dodgers can tinker with their rotation and still keep their guys on normal rest, while realigning their rotation for Kershaw and Zack Greinke to line up against the Giants at the end of the month.

Apr 27, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford (3) rounds third base on a triple in the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In Latos’ place will be the other Dodger deadline acquisiton, Alex Wood. Wood is coming off a quality start at home against the Reds and is looking for his second win as a Dodger. He got a win in his only career start against Oakland, allowing four hits and two runs in six innings and only striking out one batter. In 13 career interleague appearances (eight starts, five bullpen), Wood is sporting a 1.99 ERA in 58.2 innings.

Only four current Athletics have faced Wood in the past, and Danny Valencia is the only one with a hit off him (3-3, two doubles).

Jesse Chavez will be on the hill for the A’s today, and he hopes to repeat the success that Felix Doubront had last night. Chavez has been solid this year despite a 6-12 record, posting a 3.84 ERA (3.57 FIP) and striking out 113 batters in 21 starts (four bullpen appearances). Chavez got the loss at Dodger Stadium on July 29, when he allowed three runs in five innings. He allowed three extra base hits in that game (Andre Ethier double, Jimmy Rollins triple, Yasiel Puig homer). As a team, the Dodgers are slashing .310/.394/.517 against Chavez, and those are the only extra base hits they have against him.

Puig came up limping after beating out an infield single in last nights game. He’s not in the lineup and multiple sources have said that he doesn’t think his injury is as serious as the hamstring strain he suffered earlier this season, which cost him 38 games in April and May. With him out of the lineup, Carl Crawford moves to left and Andre Ethier moves to right. Scott Van Slyke will be DHing instead of Alex Guerrero, who struck out twice in three ABs yesterday. Considering that SVS is probably a better defensive player than Ethier and is definitely better than Crawford, it’s confusing to see him get the DH spot.

Yasmani Grandal is back in the lineup after a night off yesterday, and his replacement was the offensive star for the Dodgers. A.J. Ellis walked four times and hit a three-run homer, which at the time felt like the game winner. It was quickly undone by Baez, but it was really good to see Ellis come through in that situation.

Despite using four different relievers last night, none of them should be unavailable for todays game. Yimi Garcia threw 18 pitches, but the other three threw 24 combined. Since his meltdown in Pittsburgh, Jim Johnson has allowed two hits in three outings. If he can get his confidence back, he could be a key piece of the pen moving forward.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.