Game of the Week: April 10: LAD @ CHC

[Commissioner Erick]

Los Angeles Dodgers (6-1) @ Chicago Cubs (2-4)

LAD: Kenta Maeda (0-0, 2.25)
CHC: Jake Arrieta (0-1, 9.00)


Tonight's matchup against the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers is a matchup of one team that scores all their runs for one pitcher versus a team that scores all their runs late. Considering Jon Lester pitched yesterday, this spells trouble for the Cubs.

The Cubs have scored 12 runs for Jon Lester. They've scored six runs total for their other four pitchers. The Cubs simply aren't hitting, with their 18 runs ranking second worst in the league. No regular is hitting. Kris Bryant has two home runs and a double, but is still fielding a .227 average. Anthony Rizzo has a .610 OPS. Addison Russell has a .267 OPS. The bats simply haven't been producing.

The only thing, outside of Jon Lester, that has gone well for the Cubs is the bullpen. Right now it's second in the league with a 0.57 ERA. Only the Cardinals have been better. However, while the pen has only allowed one run, the key figures have barely pitched. Wade Davis has only worked 1 inning. Same with Carl Edwards Jr. Koji Uehara has worked 2 innings, while Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon have worked none. If the Cubs get a lead, their bullpen is spectacular and can bring in multiple arms to shut teams down late. That's important considering their opponents are the Dodgers.

Not only have the Dodgers been good to start the season, they've been clutch as well. Los Angeles jumped out to a 6-0 start this year before being blanked by Jon Gray on Sunday. The last five of those six wins were each come from behind wins, fueled by a league-leading eight home runs after the sixth inning.

With so many comeback wins, you would think starting pitching faltering is causing the offense to rally late. However, the Dodgers actually have the best starters ERA in the league. It’s the fact that the Dodgers have scored only 12 of their 28 runs before the seventh inning that's the culprit. In fact, the Dodgers are 6-37 with runners in scoring position before the seventh inning this year. They have only 10 at bats with runners in scoring position after the seventh inning. However, they have four hits in those cases and two home runs.

It's that threat of the long ball that makes the Dodgers so dangerous. They have six players with home runs this season, four with at least a pair. Young Joc Pederson is hitting .304 with a 1.081 OPS. The patient slugger is a three-true-outcomes devotee, meaning if he isn't homering, he may be walking, but he's also likely to be striking out. Still the homeruns are a game-changer, as Colorado found out when Pederson took Mike Dunn over the fence, a huge swing in Friday's 5-2 win. As long as the Dodgers are close, no matter who is on the mound, the Dodgers have the ability to turn the game with a well-timed long ball.


Questions for the GM's:


For Troy Allenbagh, your team has struggled to hit against starters, but really done damage against relief pitching. Random noise, or is there a reason for the early season pattern?

Both Franklin Gutierrez and Joc Pederson are a bit banged up, Gutierrez with a calf, Pederson with some back pain. With Andre Ethier on the bench and Scott Van Slyke playing some DH, do either of those two get the day off?

Some say minor league phenom Cody Bellinger is ready for the bigs. He's marinating in Double A right now. When do you think we'll see him?

For Peter Cacciamani, the Cubs aren't hitting right now. The team also has no steals. Do you expect the power bats will come around or do you want to juice the offense with some steals?

Jake Arrieta walked six Cardinals in his first start. He's facing a patient Dodgers team tonight. Are you worried about him out there?

Jason Heyward has a quad strain, but it doesn't appear to be too serious. Will he give it a go?

[dodgerstroy]

The Dodgers have struggled early in the games so far this season, there is no question about that. Its all about scoring the runners as they get into scoring position and we have had some bad luck early in the games. Our team has taken advantage of the opponents bullpens and plan to continue working the Starters and getting deep into the bullpen. We have adjusted our team strategy to be more patient at the plate in-order-to wear the opponents down.

The Dodgers plan to rest Grandal and Pederson for todays game, Barnes is fully rested and is expected to make a major impact in the game. Van Slyke has been performing well in practices and looks to be pushing Gutierrez for playing time.

Cody is ready for the Major Leagues today, but with AGone holding down first base there is no reason to rush him. We expect him to make a major impact in the dog days of August and September to help us pull away from the lesser teams. We are predicting a full season for Cody in 2018 while chasing the ROY honors.

[Commissioner Erick]

I'm looking forward to see how those backups do against Arrieta!

[Commissioner Erick]

Cubs 8 Dodgers 1

WP: Arrieta
LP: Maeda


The Los Angeles Dodgers had trouble scoring early in games over the first week of the season. They had trouble scoring over the entirety of their loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Jake Arrieta rebounding from a rough opening week to start to pitch 8 innings of one-run ball, leading the Cubs to an 8-1 win over the Dodgers. Arrietta didn't allow a single extra-base hit, and didn't allow more than one baserunner in an inning until the seventh. Despite allowing 10 outs in the air, Arrietta didn't have any problems against LA.

The Dodgers played Franklin Gutierrez with a calf injury, but DH's him so he didn't play the field. Both he and Scott Van Slyke were awful though, going 1-6 with four strikeouts combined. Joc Pederson had some back issues, but he stayed in to play. He went 1-4. His defense also was an issue. Five balls were hit around center field, though one was in the gap. Pederson only caught one of them as he looked slow in getting to balls.

Chicago had no trouble getting to Kenta Maeda though. The Cubs tagged him for three doubles and a home run among his 8 hits allowed, getting him for five runs over 4.2 innings. Maeda allowed only one walk and struck out seven, but he gave up a ton of line drives. Javier Baez, in particular, had his way with Maeda.

After singling in the first, he roped a double to left-center in the third, eventually coming around to score the first run of the game. He then grounded a single in the fifth, scoring a booming double by Anthony Rizzo to score the second run of the game for the Cubs. Kyle Schwarber followed with a three-run home run that inning to give the Subs a comfortable 5-0 lead. Baez faced Chris Hatcher with the bases full in the sixth and roped a bases-clearing double to left to effectively put the game out of reach. All told, Baez finished 4-4 with a pair of doubles, a pair of runs, and three driven in.

For the Cubs, it was a welcome reprieve after a disappointing first week. For the Dodgers, it may be a hint that their offense may need an upgrade.

Questions for the GM's:

For Troy Allenbagh, Pederson, Van Slyke, and Gutierrez all looked a bit slow today. Are you concerned at all?

Kenta Maeda had good peripheral numbers with the walk and strikeout rates. What did him in against the Cubs?

Adrian Gonzalez had a hit and a run batted in. Despite his age, he's been productive for your team. What does a Gonzalez at the top of his game provide for your offense?

For Peter Cacciamani, Arrieta looked outstanding. Was there a difference in facing this Dodgers lineup as opposed to the Cardinals?

Baez really struggled his first week and then turned things around today. Is that who he is, an inconsistent performer who can put up huge games sporadically?

You played Jayson Heyward on a strained quad. He had two doubles and a number of fine putouts, especially early. Do you think he's over that injury?

[pcaccia]

Arrieta is a absolute monster and I knew he would get it going in his 2nd start. He is too good to have back to back bad outings. I think the game with the rival Cardinals was more just new season jitters.

Baez is young, just 24 years old. Not sure he is the right guy to lead off for us going forward but one Hell of a talent.

We gambled with Heyward a little there but he's a gamer and had no interest in sitting out vs the Dodgers. He showed great moxey out there today and the results kinda speak for themselves!

[dodgerstroy]

For Troy Allenbaugh, Pederson, Van Slyke, and Gutierrez all looked a bit slow today. Are you concerned at all?

I decided to rest a couple players due to fatigue and injuries. Its too early in the season to push them hard and chance an injury. I would rather win the series than just oen game, so I am not concerned at all right now. Gutierrez is looking to have his at bats limited by Van Slyke and Sedegin.

Kenta Maeda had good peripheral numbers with the walk and strikeout rates. What did him in against the Cubs?

It wasn't reported but he had a small blister on his index finger that was keeping him from throwing his slider with the big bite, while that is healed he now is recovering from being hit in the leg with a fastball in his most recent outing.

Adrian Gonzalez had a hit and a run batted in. Despite his age, he's been productive for your team. What does a Gonzalez at the top of his game provide for your offense?

Adrian is one of the leaders on this team, his locker room presence is very valuable. At the plate this year he is being patient and looking for the right pitch, that has lead to 14 full count opportunities of which he has hit very well and drawn 4 walks. He stated at the beginning of the season that he will earn his paycheck his final two years in Los Angeles.