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Greinke And Dodgers Take On The Evil Giants Who Are Looking To Play Spoiler
By Scott Andes
Dodgers Lineup vs. Giants
Puig 9Crawford 7Hanley 6Gonzalez 3Ethier 8Uribe 5A.J. Ellis 2M.Ellis 4Greinke 1Matt Cain-8-9 vs. Zack Greinke-14-3
The evil San Francisco Giants come into Dodger Stadium for the final time this year, to kick off a four game series that will end the home stand for the Dodgers. Last night, the Dodgers punted away the final game of the three game series to the Snakes, as the slithery ones avoided a sweep.
Tonight the last place Giants, who are already eliminated from Postseason contention by the by will come into Chavez Ravine with a 66-80 record, looking to play the role of spoiler. Even though the division is just about wrapped up anyways. There’s nothing for the Giants to spoil. The only thing that is spoiled is the Giant’s lousy season. It’s almost shocking how bad the defending champions have been this season, but no matter how you dissect it it’s wonderful.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke (21) reacts in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Cubs 6-2.-Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The once vaunted pitching staff of the Giants is tired from two World Series runs in three years. The San Francisco pitching staff ranks 21 in MLB, (4.05 ERA). In comparison, the Dodgers rank second in all of Baseball in pitching with a 3.21 staff ERA. With a weakened pitching staff, the offense would need to pick up the slack, but instead the Giant’s offense has been punchless, and they rank 29 in MLB in home runs.
Enough about the Giants, they suck anyways. The Dodgers are in first place and their magic number to clinch the NL West is 6. The Dodgers are looking to reduce that number tonight with a win. Although Don Mattingly has decided he doesn’t care at all about securing home field advantage, but I care, and the Dodgers should too. That doesn’t mean the team should just give up these 17 remaining games. The Dodgers are a mediocre 5-5 in September, and last night’s ohfer-fest is a reason why. If the Dodgers don’t start hitting then they’ll have to start the division series on the road. One more push could get the Dodgers past the Braves for the best record in the National League. The Braves aren’t playing well right now either.
They’ll have to hit San Francisco starter Matt Cain. The big right hander is having a down year. He is 8-9 with a 4.37 ERA, and has allowed as many home runs, (21) as he did all of last season. Looking at his numbers, it appears he’s had a lot of bad starts, but he hasn’t been that bad. The big problems for him this season appear to be the home runs allowed, and more walks this year. His walk per nine rate rose from 2.1 in 2012, to 2.8 this season.
Aug 17, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain (18) sits in the dugout during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Cain is 1-1 with a no-decision against the Dodgers this season. After losing to Clayton Kershaw on opening day, he beat the Dodgers back on may fifth in San Francisco. Then the Dodgers got their revenge and beat him badly on July 5. While Cain is 2-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 12 starts at Dodger Stadium with a 1.3 WHIP, overall versus the Dodgers he is 5-9 with a 3.58 ERA in 26 starts.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
Adrian Gonzalez74
64
20
4
1
4
13
9
16
.313
.392
Andre Ethier72
65
29
4
1
1
5
5
9
.446
.472
Hanley Ramirez42
37
10
2
0
1
4
4
7
.270
.357
Mark Ellis28
26
8
2
0
0
1
1
3
.308
.357
Skip Schumaker25
23
4
0
0
0
2
2
2
.174
.240
A.J. Ellis18
16
5
1
0
0
1
1
0
.313
.353
Jerry Hairston17
14
4
2
0
0
3
3
2
.286
.412
Michael Young12
11
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
.091
.167
Ricky Nolasco11
9
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
.111
.111
Carl Crawford8
7
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
.286
.375
Clayton Kershaw
8
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
.000
.000
Juan Uribe8
7
3
1
1
0
5
1
2
.429
.500
Chris Capuano4
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
.333
.333
Nick Punto4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
Stephen Fife3
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
.333
.333
Dee Gordon3
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
.000
.333
Hyun-jin Ryu3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
.000
.000
Yasiel Puig2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
.500
.500
Total
342
304
90
18
3
6
34
29
56
.296
.358
The Dodgers will counter with the red-hot Zack Greinke. The birdman has won ehis last eight decisions, and posted a 1,59 ERA during that span. This hot streak could even sneak Greinke into the cy young consideration. It would be a long-shot against his teammate Clayton Kershaw, but you can’t deny how good he has been.
Greinke is 14-3 with a 2.79 ERA, and a 1.15 WHIP. Greinke whiffed nine in his last start at Cincinnati, and is looking to keep up his momentum. Greinke is dominating at Dodger Stadium, with a 9-1 record, and a 2.16 ERA.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
OPS
Marco Scutaro23
21
8
4
0
0
4
1
2
.381
.435
.571
1.006
Hunter Pence7
7
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.143
.143
.143
.286
Joaquin Arias5
5
2
1
0
0
1
0
1
.400
.400
.600
1.000
Brandon Belt3
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
.500
.667
.500
1.167
Gregor Blanco3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
.000
Angel Pagan3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.333
.333
.333
.667
Buster Posey3
3
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
.333
.333
.333
.667
Tim Lincecum1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.000
.000
.000
.000
Total
48
45
14
5
0
0
6
2
6
.311
.354
.422
.776
The magic number is 6. Let’s keep reducing that number and beat the Giants please. The division crown is so close, I can almost taste the champagne. Tonight is the final bobble head night, as all fans in attendance will receive the Magic Johnson Bobble head.
Game time- 7:10 PM
TV- Prime Ticket