Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Buehler, Taylor, Roberts, Cingrani

The Dodger were defeated by the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night 9-4.  The Dodgers had a 2-1 lead but thanks to a six-run sixth inning the Cubs pulled away from the Dodgers to even the series at a game apiece.

The Dodgers got another solid start from Ross Stripling on Tuesday night as Ross went five innings allowing just one run on a Javier Baez solo shot.  Things got away from the Dodgers in the sixth inning as Puig committed an error followed by an Addison Russell infield single and then it all went downhill from there.  Javier Baez hit his second home run of the night, a grand slam that ultimately put the game out of reach and pushed the Dodgers 2.5 games back in the NL West.  The Dodgers still hold the second wildcard spot by half a game although it’s very early to worry about that.

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• Tuesday was not all bad news as Walker Buehler was able to throw a bullpen session and is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Thursday.  If Thursday’s session goes smoothly then Buehler will make a minor league rehab start early next week and then he could rejoin the Dodgers rotation towards the end of next week if no setbacks occur.  Dave Roberts mentioned the Dodgers could use a six-man rotation for a brief amount of time.
• Chris Taylor was able to pinch-hit Tuesday and delivered a single but he was pulled for a pinch runner and is going to be out until Thursday at least.  The Dodgers are wise to rest Taylor until he is 100% healed from his hamstring ailment because that is the type of injury that will linger all season if he comes back too early.  Taylor has been a weapon off the bench the last few games and due to some pinch-hit homers, he has not had to run the bases aggressively.
• Dave Roberts made some questionable calls in last night’s game.  Stripling was pulled with 86 pitches which is a little bit early after Roberts pulled Maeda with only 84 pitches on Monday night.  Another questionable call made by Roberts was that he left Edward Paredes in to face Javier Baez and Paredes isn’t quite ready for that type of matchup with the bases loaded.

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• Tony Cingrani continues to recover from his rotator cuff injury and is going to attempt to throw a bullpen later on today. Pedro Baez threw a bullpen at half strength yesterday as he continues to recover from his biceps tendonitis.  The Dodgers will keep Caleb Ferguson in their bullpen for at least the rest of this week as they wait for Baez and Cingrani to return from the disabled list.