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| 7:10 PM PT8:10 PM MT9:10 PM CT10:10 PM ET22:10 ET2:10 GMT10:10 7:10 PM MST9:10 PM EST9:40 PM VEN6:10 UAE (+1)8:10 PM CT, September 18, 2023 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 37,239 |
Dodgers take aim at Eduardo Rodriguez in series opener vs. Tigers
Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers
- Los Angeles has won 14 of the 25 all-time meetings with Detroit, including four of the last six. The Dodgers took two of three at home in 2022 and have won nine of the 14 all-time meetings in California.
- Detroit swept a three-game set at Angel Stadium and has won four in a row and 11 of its last 16 dating back to August 31. The Tigers have scored eight or more runs in four different games this month after doing so in three games in August.
- Eduardo Rodriguez walked a season-high five Reds in Wednesday's loss; he has walked 15 over his last four starts after walking 11 over his previous eight. The veteran southpaw is 7-4 with a 3.14 ERA on the road this season, fifth-best in the AL (among qualified pitchers).
- Los Angeles scored six runs in each game of its three-game sweep against the Mariners, allowing just six runs in total over the series. Dodger pitchers have struck out 10+ in each of the last four games, after doing so just twice in their previous 16.
- Jason Heyward went 4-for-5 and matched a career high with three doubles Saturday before going 3-for-5 with a double and a homer Sunday. Heyward has a career-high .508 slugging percentage this season after slugging just .277 in 48 games with the Cubs last year.
- Lance Lynn bounced back to earn the win on Tuesday against San Diego, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings he had been tagged for 15 runs on 14 hits in his previous two starts. Lynn is 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 12 career starts against Detroit.
The starting pitcher who got away will be on the mound Monday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series.
The Dodgers (91-57) targeted left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez as a rotation addition at the trade deadline, with both clubs agreeing to a deal. But Rodriguez (11-8, 3.32 ERA) used his no-trade rights to void the early-August transaction and remain in Detroit.
As a No. 2 option, the Dodgers added right-hander Lance Lynn from the Chicago White Sox instead. Lynn (11-11, 5.94) will oppose Rodriguez on Monday in a unique opportunity to play out the entire drama on the field.
Since electing to remain with the Tigers for family reasons, Rodriguez has gone 5-3 with a 3.99 ERA in eight starts. One of the worst of those eight outings came Wednesday when he gave up four runs on four hits with five walks in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
The five walks were Rodriguez's most in a start since August of 2019, and it boosted his total to nine free passes over his last two outings.
"My command was really off," Rodriguez said of his outing against the Reds. "It was all of my pitches. The changeup was working, but it was bouncing most of the time. That's what I saw: The command was off a little."
Said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch: "Five walks is very uncommon for him. I know he had four walks last time. That's not how he pitches."
Rodriguez has three career starts against the Dodgers, going 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA.
The Tigers (70-79) have shown improved play of late, although it appears to be too late to work themselves back into the playoff picture. Detroit has won four games in a row after completing a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-3 victory Sunday in Anaheim, Calif. Jake Rogers hit two home runs in the win.
The Tigers will head to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers and continue a 10-game California trip that will conclude with a four-game visit to Oakland. The Tigers went 1-2 during a visit to the Dodgers last season.
Lynn already has earned his spot in a three-man National League Division Series rotation, according to manager Dave Roberts, and was much improved Tuesday against the San Diego Padres. Lynn gave up two runs over seven innings and just one home run after giving up a combined eight homers in his previous three outings.
Lynn, who leads the major leagues with 41 home runs allowed, is 8-3 lifetime against the Tigers with a 3.23 ERA in 12 starts.
The Dodgers clinched the NL West title on Saturday but still have plenty for which to play down the stretch. Their magic number for earning a top-two spot in the NL -- and a bye through the wild-card round -- is six after a 6-1 victory at Seattle on Sunday. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman were given the day off.
"We've got a tough road ahead of us," Dodgers designated hitter J.D. Martinez said. "Obviously, we're not just thinking about (a division title). We're thinking about the future, you know. We're trying to get to the World Series."
--Field Level Media
Updated September 18, 2023
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