Dodgers Look to Storm the Sandy Beachy of Runs, Weather Permitting

Dodger Lineup vs. Atlanta

Brandon Beachy 2-1 vs. Ted Lilly-2-0

 RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!

The Dodgers look to rebound after an annoying one run loss to the Atlanta Braves last night. Martin Prado’s RBI triple in the top of the ninth inning off of Javy Guerra, broke the tie, and gave the Braves the win. With the series tied, the Dodgers will give the ball tonight to Lefty Ted Lilly in the rubber game.

Atlanta will counter with Brandon Beachy. This season has certainly been quite Beachy for young Brandon, as he is 2-1 with a very microscopic 0.47 ERA. In Beachy’s last start, he pitched 7.2 scoreless frames against Arizona. In his career against the Dodgers he is 1-0, with a 2.25 ERA. Last season Beachy was 7-3 with a 3.38 ERA, and a 10.6 whiff per nine rate. We might be in for a long night. No current Dodger has had more than six at-bats against Beachy, and the only Dodger with a home run off of him, is Adam Kennedy of all people.

Ted Lilly, has started the season well, going 2-0, with a 0.69 ERA. His last start in Houston he pitched well, and picked up the win. In his career against Atlanta, Lilly is 5-2 with a 3.86 ERA. Atlanta is only hitting .202 against Lilly overall. Dan Uggla, and Martin Prado have hit him hard though, so he will need to be careful with these two. Prado is 4 for 9 (.444), and Uggla is 4 for 11 (.364) with two home runs, and five RBIs. The only other Brave to homer off of Lilly is Michael Bourn.

Of course this is all weather permitting, as a major rain/thunderstorm, is expected to hit Los Angeles sometime later tonight. If the game is rained out, they would most likely play a make-up game tomorrow, as the Braves don’t come back to Dodger Stadium for the rest of the season. Remember the Nationals are in town this weekend, and the rain, could push the potential Strasburg/Billinglsey match-up, into a potential Strasburg/Kershaw match-up, if the game is rained out, and everyone in the rotation were to be pushed back a start. Wouldn’t that be something huh? We will keep you informed with updates on mother nature tonight. Will the Dodgers get washed up on the sandy beaches of ohferness?

Some minor news and notes to catch you up on. There is still no word just how serious Juan Rivera’s strained hamstring is. He injured it late last night, while running to first after a base hit. He was pulled from the game for a pinch-runner. As of right now, he is listed as day-to-day. Losing Rivera would be a tough hit to the lineup, Rivera hit his first homer of the season into the lodge section of Dodger Stadium last night, and has been a solid bat since joining the team last July.

Ronald Belisario will begin a rehab assignment later next week, to prepare for his return from the suspension list.  Belisario is serving a 25 game suspension for a drug violation last year. Belisario a right handed set-up man from Venezuela, is able to come off of suspension on May 4. And yes don’t worry, he still has his visa, as of now.

Braves Starting pitcher Tim Hudson is also getting ready after completing his rehab assignment on Tuesday. Hudson is recovering from off-season back surgery, and is ready to rejoin the Braves rotation by the start of next week. Hudson has always killed the Dodgers over the last few years, so it looks like we luckily just missed him this time around.

Also today is the anniversary of the day Rick Monday saved the American flag at Dodger Stadium, on APril 25, 1976. If you remember I wrote an article about this incident for my top ten Dodger Stadium moments of all time series. check it out here, and let’s pay tribute to Rick’s great play today… http://lasordaslair.com/2012/03/27/top-ten-dodger-stadium-moments-10rick-monday-saves-the-flag-at-dodger-stadium/

The game is scheduled to start at 7:10PM, and will be televised on Prime Ticket. Will mother nature let the Dodgers play tonight? Can the Dodgers storm the sandy Beachy of runs tonight? We’ll just have to wait and see won’t we LasordasLairians? Go Blue