Dodgers End Trip With Four Game Series At San Diego, Fife Counters Marquis

Dodgers Lineup vs. San Diego

*The roster move I was talking about happened. The Dodgers announced Chris Withrow was optioned, and Elian Herrera called up from Albuquerque.*

Stephen Fife-1-2 vs. Jason Marquis-9-2

The Dodgers conclude the road trip with a four game series at San Diego beginning tonight. (So far they have lost three of the five games.) Which means we’ll see thug man Carlos Quentin, manager Bud Black, and the rest of the annoying Padres. However we won’t be seeing Everth Cabrera who was placed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? The Dodgers were able to beat San Diego two out of three the last time the two clubs faced each other. Overall, the Dodgers have lost five of nine to the Padres this season, and have lost four out of six since the benches clearing brawl back n April which resulted in the incident in which pitcher Zack Greinke had his collar bone broken by San Diego thug Quentin during a cowardly and unprovoked attack. And for all of the annoying San Diego fans who might say something, yes Grienke makes faces and talks smack to hitters, so what. It doesn’t mean he deserved to have his collar bone broken, and yes the pitch to Quentin was unintentional.

The Fifster looks for his second win tonight against San Diego-Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Anyways, all of that nonsense is hopefully behind them. The Dodgers come into town with a 13 man pitching staff. In order to clear room for Chris Capuano, who returned from the DL yesterday to beat the Yankees with six shutout frames, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Alex Castellanos back to Albuquerque. So with a 13 man pitching staff and the club likely having to be forced to call back up Matt Magill to pitch on Sunday, I would expect another roster move to be coming soon.

In the meantime, the Dodgers will give the ball to right hander Stephen Fife. I don’t know what he did, but somehow, Fife has figured something out. Fife has made four starts this season for the Dodgers, but his last three have resulted in quality starts. Fife’s control has been very good of late, and he seems to be getting better zip on his fastballs. Last start against Pittsburgh on June 14, resulted in Fife throwing five frames, allowing two runs on six hits, with four whiffs. He lost that game 3-0, but his last start against San Diego back on June 3, saw him pitching 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, and whiffing five in a 2-1 win. That was his first major league victory, and makes him 1-0 in his career versus the Padres. Fife has held the Padres to a .200 (3 for 15) batting average against, with no home runs, and a .517 OPS. Fife is 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA and 21 whiffs against only seven walks this season.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jason Marquis (21) reacts after a home run by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (not pictured) during the first inning at Petco Park.-Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres will counter with veteran right hander Jason Marquis. The veteran has been enjoying a solid season as a much needed anchor of the San Diego starting staff, despite having some major control problems. Marquis has faced the Dodgers three times this season and has not lost to them in 2013. Marquis is 2-0 versus the Dodgers in 2013 with two wins and a no-decision. Marquis faced the Dodgers on April 11, allowing two runs, on seven hits in five frames, earning a no-decision, in an eventual Dodger win. On April 16, Marquis faced the Dodgers again, this time allowing just one run on three hits through seven frames, picking up the win. Then Marquis didn’t face the Dodgers until June 5, in which he threw 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, in a 6-2 San Diego win. Marquis is 8-4 with a 2.54 ERA against the Dodgers. Marquis has limited the Dodgers to a .241 (42 for 174) average against with four home runs, and a .692 OPS against. Hanley Ramirez has hit Marquis well, posting an average of .308 (8 for 26) with two doubles, and a home run. Adrian Gonzalez is batting .267 (8 for 30) with three doubles, and a home run. A.J. Ellis is 5 for 11, and Juan Uribe is batting .280 against Marquis. The veteran is 9-2 with a 3.68 ERA. Marquis does have 47 walks this season against 51 whiffs, for a 5.0 walk per nine rate in 2013. Marquis has also won eight of his last ten decisions.

I almost forgot to mention, the Padres were involved in yet another benches clearing brawl yesterday, this time with the hated Giants. We were far too busy with our Double header in New York to really notice. This year however the Padres have been just as hated as the Giants, and perhaps more. For some reason the Padres feel the need to start brawls with every team in the NL West. (Colorado is next right?) Scratch the Giants off the list yesterday when Madison Bumgarner threw inside to Jesus Guzman, and the benches cleared. Can we please avoid any more incidents? I am about sick of the benches clearing brawls. I think we have had enough brawls this season to last a lifetime. But check out a video of the incident below….

That’s about it for today. Catch the game tonight at 7:10 PM, and televised on KCAL 9. You can also catch our nightly Dodger game recap immediately following the Dodger game over here at Lasorda’s Lair. Go Blue!