Joe Blanton To Make His Debut in Blue

Joe Blanton  (8-9, 4.59) vs. Justin Germano (1-1, 1.98)

Dodgers Lineup: vs. Cubs

Victorino 7

M.Ellis 4

Kemp 8

Ethier 9

Ramirez 6

Loney 3

Cruz 5

Ellis 2

Blanton 1

The Dodgers will try to finish off the series with the Chicago Cubs today with a three-game sweep at Chavez Ravine. While the Giants were teeing off in Coors Field, the Dodgers have held pat and are still 1/2 game back. Joe Blanton will be donning the Dodger Blue cap tonight for the first time on the mound as he begins a new chapter in his career in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are hoping that he can provide some stability to the fifth rotation spot since Ted Lilly‘s return is questionable. The starting rotation has been shuffled a bit. Chris Capuano will stay in his scheduled slot for tomorrow night, but Aaron Harang‘s start will be pushed back a day to Tuesday to give The Big Show an extra day of rest.

Joe Blanton is hoping that Dodger Stadium, which is known as a pitcher’s park, will help him curb his high homerun rate. Blanton has allowed 22 homeruns so far this season, but that’s partly been due to pitching in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Perhaps the cool Los Angeles air will help keep that scary number from climbing. Although Blanton will be pitching in a 1 pm day game today. Last time out against Atlanta when he was still a Phillie, Blanton unfortunately picked up the loss after allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits over 7 innings of work. On July 16th, Joe faced his future team at Dodger Stadium where he won after allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits over 8 solid innings of work against the Dodgers. In his career against the Cubs, Joe is 1-0 with a 2.91 ERA. The 6’3″ right-hander’s homerun rate is very ugly indeed, but if you look at his strikeout-to-walk ratio it’s pretty eye-popping. He has struck out 115 batters in 133 1/3 innings of work, and he has walked only 18. In his three career games pitched at Dodger Stadium, Blanton has a 4.50 ERA and has allowed 7 runs on 20 hits including 3 homeruns. Ouch. So much for that cool L.A. air.

Justin Germano has only appeared in three games for the Cubs this season with just one start. In his first start with Chicago last Monday, Germano

picked up the W after allowing 2 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings. He’s had some trouble with the Dodgers over his career, and he is winless with a 0-4 record and a 5.93 ERA in 6 games against us. Matt Kemp and James Loney have gone deep against the right-hander.

There was some great news coming out of Rancho Cucamonga last night. Rubby De La Rosa pitched two scoreless innings for the Quakes in his second rehab start Saturday night. Rubby struck out four and did not allow a hit. De La Rosa could be called up this month to work out of the bullpen or perhaps in September to make some starts.

After the conclusion of this series with Chicago, the last place Colorado Rockies will visit Dodger Stadium for three games. The Dodgers will then embark on a tough 10-game road trip that will take them to Miami, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.

Keep it here for postgame coverage and any breaking Cliff Lee news.