Game of the Week: August 30: LAD @ SD

[Commissioner Erick]

Los Angeles Dodgers (82-50) @ San Diego Padres (67-62)


LAD: Joey Wentz (8-4, 3.15)
SD: Jeff Henry (9-6, 4.11)


Dodgers 5 Key Stats

.386: Willie Calhoun’s OBP in August. Calhoun had a nightmare of a start to the year, then had blurred vision late in July. Once his eyes recovered in August, he saw the ball well. His power hasn’t returned as he only has a single homer for the month, but he’s cracked line drives and base hits to a .312 average with his nine walks. He’s struck out a bit more too, but the patience and ability to work counts have paid off. Some wonder if he maybe was suffering from something affecting his vision earlier in the year he didn’t let on about.

.854: Los Angeles’ August OPS: The Dodgers offense has been solid throughout the year, and has generally gotten better and better as the season progressed. It peaked in August as the team has the second highest OPS in the month, with only Colorado’s Coors-aided mark better. They’ve scored 96 runs in 10 road games in the month, for a whopping 9.6 runs-per-game average. They’ll take on a good staff in San Diego’s for their 11th road game tonight.

15: Home Runs issued by Nick Burdi. The reliever has allowed more homers this year than he allowed runs last year. Burdi is still blowing hitters away at the plate and his walk rate is excellent. It appears to be less of a stuff issue than an approach issue with Burdi. Being less aggressive in the zone may pay off for him.

42.6: Los Angeles’ Ground Ball rate against San Diego this year. The Padres hit more fly balls against the Dodgers than any other team. Coincidentally, they have 27 home runs against the Dodgers, most against any other team. Los Angeles may want to try keeping the ball on the ground as San Diego has hit well against their pitchers this year.

.321: Nick Allen’s average with LA. The Dodgers were in trouble after Amin Valdez went down for the year, but they made a move with Tampa Bay that steadied their season. Allen hit .286 in Tampa Bay, then bumped it to .321 with the Dodgers. Allen doesn’t have much power, but steady defense and a high average are a huge boost for the Dodgers.


Padres 5 Key Stats

.519: San Diego’s winning percentage this year. San Diego also had a .519 winning percentage last year, the first two seasons in San Diego history the club has had a winning record. This is the team’s best stretch in their history, and they’re only 3.5 back of the Wild Card with 33 games to play.

1.54: Jeff Henry’s ERA against the Dodgers this year. Henry has a 1-0 record in two starts, with two walks and 14 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. Henry hasn’t pitched at home against the Dodgers this year, but he’s been terrific at Petco against them. If he continues pitching well, San Diego will continue marching towards the playoffs.

8-5: San Diego’s record against the Dodgers this year. San Diego’s solid play against Los Angeles is a main reason they’re in the hunt for the playoffs. With two more wins against LA, the Padres will clinch the season series from the Dodgers for just the second time in their history, and first since 2018.

29: Saves for Chris Paddack. Paddick has pitched well in his first season as San Diego’s closer, saving his 29 games in 35 chances. He’s pitched in the second highest leverage games in the National League and has a neutral -0.4 WPA. Paddack limits walks and throws strikes, but he’ll give up fly balls and has a high BABIP. The Padres may want to give him an extra run before the ninth since the Dodgers have guys who can get hits on balls in play.

-0.5: Joe Lancellotti’s WAR: San Diego has needed a new Center Fielder since John Yancey got hurt, but Lancellotti has struggled in 23 Games. He has a .571 OPS and a -2.5 Zone Rating. Yancey will be out for another month, so San Diego will have to find a way to improve its Center Field position to make the playoffs.


Questions for the GMs:

For Ben Vincent, your club has struggled against San Diego this year. What does your team need to do to get a win today?

Alex Verdugo hit .269 with very little power last season. He’s turned some of his doubles into homers and upped his average to .306. Did you ever lose faith in Verdugo being an impact player for you?

How has hitting coach Bo Ford done in his first year on the job for you?

For Creig McBride, Sean Presely has healed up. Will we see him back in the majors today or will he go on a rehab assignment?

Joe Lancellotti hasn’t hit since being recalled. Will he start in Center Field today?

Yeison Corredera is 4-12 with a homer against Joey Wentz in his career. Corredera has struggled this season, but might that be enough to see him in the lineup today?


TRIVIA: Two Dodgers have drawn at least 100 walks in a season. Who are those Dodgers?

[Ben_Dodgers]

Your club has struggled against San Diego this year. What does your team need to do to get a win today?

We need to score runs. As you mentioned, we’ve struggled to score against Henry so far this year, though he hasn’t fared as well against the rest of the league. I think our offense is more in sync now than the last time we faced him, but we’ll have to see which Jeff Henry shows up today.

Alex Verdugo hit .269 with very little power last season. He’s turned some of his doubles into homers and upped his average to .306. Did you ever lose faith in Verdugo being an impact player for you?

Verdugo has been plagued by injuries the last few years. He missed significant time this year, but it’s shaping up to be his best year since 2023, when he hit .310/40/103. That year earned him a big contract and I probably set my expectations too high, but I’m glad to see him coming back to form. I’m not too concerned about the drop in power - he never really profiled as a 40 HR guy and has only topped 30 three times - but as long as he keeps getting on base at a solid pace he’ll be successful.

How has hitting coach Bo Ford done in his first year on the job for you?

I think it took a while for him to gel with the team. We struggled a lot with consistency early in the year, especially Machado and Calhoun. Even while the team was ripping off 10 game winning streaks, we weren’t getting consistent output day to day. But since the all-star break this lineup has really been firing on all cylinders. And really, that’s what you want heading into the playoffs.

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia 1: Ben correctly guessed Seiya Suzuki. Matt correctly guessed Cody Bellinger.

[Commissioner Erick]

Dodgers 8 - Padres 5


WP: J. Wentz (9-4)
LP: J. Henry (9-7)
SV: I. Robles: (32)


The Los Angeles Dodgers topped the San Diego Padres, 8-5, with catcher Hyo-sang Choo playing a big role. Choo was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles. He drove in 3 runs and scored once for the Dodgers in the win. The winning pitcher was Joey Wentz. His record is now 9-4. The left-hander went 5.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits for the Dodgers. The first-place Dodgers have won 4 in a row.

Willie Calhoun, the 32-year old first baseman , had a direct impact on the outcome. Calhoun contributed a 2-run single in the top of the sixth inning to put Los Angeles up, 3-1.

"Hyo-sang is still learning," said Dodgers manager Ben Vincent. "The sky's the limit for him."


For Ben Vincent, you scored eight runs today, including seven against Jeff Henry, who dominated you early this season. What's been the biggest defense between your offense struggling early in the year and today?

Twice, Joe Lancellotti batted with runners in scoring position and two outs and twice he failed to deliver. He also had a man on third and no outs and only delivered a sac fly. Were you relieved every time you were in a jam and saw him approaching the plate?

Your pitchers threw a lot of strikes, but gave up five runs. Do you feel you might need to be less aggressive on the mound?

For Creig McBride, Joe Lancellotti really struggled out there. How many more games can you give him in Center?

Dave Rosinsky went 1-4 with an RBI. How did he look to you?

Why did Henry struggle in the sixth after he'd been so good against the Dodgers all season?


TRIVIA: Which South Korean player has the most steals in WBC history?

[Padres - Tony Gwynn]

Joe Lancellotti really struggled out there. How many more games can you give him in Center?
Well we are going to give him until the end of this season. See if he can get things settled before we quickly yank him. He has the ratings, but like many things in OOTP, those aren't the whole story. I feel like he gives us good D in CF. He just needs his bat to get going. I really think it's there - he had above avg. stats in AAA. He is really just a fill in until Yancey can get back from injury. This year is gone for us now, so we need to see who we have, and what they can do.

Dave Rosinsky went 1-4 with an RBI. How did he look to you?
Rosinsky is really just a fill in until I can get Yamada back from injury. I think he has done ok since being placed in the starting lineup. He has a .310 OBP w/ a .384 SLG. So for a middle INF backup I feel like that is acceptable. He has good D to his name. The original Braves farmhand has done a good job as a fill-in. He adds a little speed to the base paths as well. So we like what we are seeing from him. May make me think about continuing Yamada's salary as Yamada is getting over 35.

Why did Henry struggle in the sixth after he'd been so good against the Dodgers all season?
I don't really know what is going on with Henry. If you look at his last 4 starts he went: 7.0, 3er; 5.1, 7; 6.0, 1; 5.0. 1. I think maybe the Dodgers just had his number in that game. Sometimes SP's just don't have their stuff. I think it was more of an anomaly, than the norm. I am not concerned about Henry. He has a solid Padre career ahead of him.

[Padres - Tony Gwynn]

Sean Presely has healed up. Will we see him back in the majors today or will he go on a rehab assignment?
Presely will probably go on a rehab assignment before headed back to the majors. I have been burned with injuries, especially to pitchers, when they go straight from the DL back into the action. So we need to treat him with kid gloves so we don't suffer a longer term injury.

Joe Lancellotti hasn’t hit since being recalled. Will he start in Center Field today?
Lancellotti hasn't been what we thought he would be when calling him up to the "Bigs". We will give him to the end of the season to see what he can do for us. We have Rui who has done well himself. So Lancellotti't time might be slowed down as to the amount of ab's he sees. Plus, when Yancey comes back (barring any set backs) we will immediately put him back in the lineup see what we can do, maybe crush some other teams playoff hopes.

Yeison Corredera is 4-12 with a homer against Joey Wentz in his career. Corredera has struggled this season, but might that be enough to see him in the lineup today?
I am not a fan of Corredera and I am assuming, as of right now, the rest of the front office agrees he will not be with the Padres next season. We have too much good youth at the middle INF spots to use a spot for someone who has a .571 OPS. That is just not going to cut it. However, with the season winding down, we are just going to go with what we have. Reassess in the off-season.

[Ben_Dodgers]

You scored eight runs today, including seven against Jeff Henry, who dominated you early this season. What's been the biggest defense between your offense struggling early in the year and today?

We had some injuries earlier in the year, and some guys just got off to a slow start.  They've hit their stride now.

Twice, Joe Lancellotti batted with runners in scoring position and two outs and twice he failed to deliver. He also had a man on third and no outs and only delivered a sac fly. Were you relieved every time you were in a jam and saw him approaching the plate?

Mostly I was just glad it wasn't Royce Lewis.  I wonder what the Padres would want for him...

Your pitchers threw a lot of strikes, but gave up five runs. Do you feel you might need to be less aggressive on the mound?

We're second in strikeouts and third in walks allowed - I think we'll stick with pounding the strike zone.

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia 2: Luke correctly guessed Hyo-Jun Park