Nicasio Counters Greinke in Game 161

Dodgers Lineup vs. Colorado

Juan Nicasio-5-9 vs. Zack Greinke-15-3

Last night was just a fun night for us and the Dodgers. While Stacie and I were having a great time at the sixth annual blogger night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers were pounding the Rockies 11-0. We’ll have more on blogger night in a later post. I want to thank the Dodgers for a very fun night. It was nice meeting some new and friendly faces.

The Dodgers are finishing their regular season schedule with a three game series at home against Colorado. Tonight, the two clubs will battle in game two.

There was a lone scare last night amongst the fireworks, and that was the injury to Yasiel Puig. In the bottom of the sixth inning last night, Puig fouled a ball off of his shin. He finished his at-bat and flied out, but was removed from the game immediately after. Scott Van Slyke replaced him in right field, and Puig was sent into the clubhouse for testing.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fortunately, x-rays came back negative, and Puig appears to be fine. According to reports, he iced his leg and it looks like it’s just a bruise. The Dodgers expect him to play on Sunday, and he might even play tonight.

There is no reason for Puig or any of the regulars to play tonight and risk injury. These final two games of the regular season are meaningless. So I fully expect to see Chilli Buss, and Drew Butera playing tonight. And I say play on Chilli Buss. All of the regulars should be resting, or I hope. The Braves and Cardinals won again, and the Dodgers are now three games back in the race for the best record in the National League. With two to play the Dodgers are now locked into the third seed, and will have to start the division series on the road. The last question to be answered is who will the Dodgers play? The options have shrunk to two clubs now that the Cardinals have won the NL Central. The Dodgers will either play the Braves or the Cardinals, Pick your poison. But the Dodgers are in, and better to be in and not have to play in that one game wild card game, am I right?

Tonight Zack Greinke will make his final tune-up of the regular season, and the Rockies will counter with right hander Juan Nicasio.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Nicasio is the guy who got hit in the head with a line drive and broke his neck several years ago. It’s a miracle he’s even able to walk, let alone pitch in the majors. But Nicasio is here, and has had success against the Dodgers. He beat the Dodgers back on July 12 with seven shutout innings. Nicasio is 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA in four starts at Dodger Stadium, and is 2-2 with a 4.21 ERA in seven starts against the Dodgers. He’s walked nine Dodgers in 36.2 innings pitched. Nicasio is 8-9 with a 5.32 ERA against the league in 2013. The Dodgers are hitting .321 against Nicasio, and please note that Andre Ethier is batting .571 (8 for 14) with a home run off of Nicasio. Unfortunately Ethier is still out nursing his sore ankle.

PA

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

18

14

8

1

0

1

4

4

2

.571

.667

.857

14

13

4

0

1

2

4

1

4

.308

.357

.923

14

13

2

0

0

0

2

0

3

.154

.214

.154

11

10

4

0

0

0

0

1

1

.400

.455

.400

11

11

3

0

0

0

0

0

4

.273

.273

.273

9

9

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

.222

.222

.222

8

8

5

2

0

0

1

0

0

.625

.625

.875

8

7

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

.143

.250

.143

6

6

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

.167

.167

.333

5

5

1

0

0

1

2

0

1

.200

.200

.800

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.333

.333

.333

3

3

1

1

0

0

2

0

1

.333

.333

.667

3

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

.333

.333

.333

Yasiel Puig

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.000

1.000

1.000

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

Total

118

109

35

5

1

4

15

7

23

.321

.368

.495

The Dodgers will give the ball to Zack Greinke. Our feathered friend has won seven straight decisions, and is looking for his sixteenth win of the season. He has beaten Colorado twice this season, and is 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA in eight starts versus the Rockies. Greinke has 55 whiffs in 47 frames against Colorado, and is 15-3 with a 2.67 ERA overall. Cargo is hitting .353 (6 or 17) with two home runs against Greinke, but he is out with a finger injury. Colorado is hitting just .219 versus Greinke.

PA

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

43

40

10

1

0

1

7

2

10

.250

.302

.350

19

18

2

0

0

0

2

0

9

.111

.111

.111

19

15

3

1

0

0

0

4

2

.200

.368

.267

18

17

6

1

1

2

4

1

3

.353

.389

.882

16

16

3

0

0

0

0

0

6

.188

.188

.188

12

11

2

1

0

0

0

1

5

.182

.250

.273

10

9

1

1

0

0

2

0

4

.111

.111

.222

9

9

2

1

0

0

1

0

1

.222

.222

.333

9

9

3

1

0

0

1

0

2

.333

.333

.444

5

4

1

1

0

0

1

1

2

.250

.400

.500

4

3

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

.333

.333

.333

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

.000

.000

.000

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

.333

.500

.333

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

.000

.667

.000

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

Total

176

160

35

8

1

3

19

12

47

.219

.277

.338

The Dodgers have now won 92 games this season, and have a 47-32 record at home. We’ll recap all the action after the game. Go Blue!

Minor Notes

Last night was the largest home shutout win for the Dodgers since 2004.

Kershaw finishes the 2013 season with a 16-9 record, 1.83 ERA, and 231 whiffs. Becomes just the second Dodger ever to finish with a sub 2.00 ERA.

Last night was the Dodger’s 22nd shutout of the season.

Game Time-6:10 PM

TV-Prime Ticket