Los Angeles Dodgers Game Previews: Dodgers Tab David Huff For Spot Start in Game 2

Last night Alex Guerrero’s beautiful walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth frame gave the Dodgers a 6-5 come from behind win over the Seattle Mariners in the opening game of their three game interleague series. It is no surprise to me that Guerrero can not only hit, but handle the hot corner without trouble.

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Remember during spring of 2014 when we said that Guerrero was not a minor leaguer after watching him play at spring training? Most of the internet wanted to strangle me. A lot of people argued that he belonged in the minor leagues at the time. Guerrero is not a minor leaguer, he is in fact a viable major league talent. That kid can hit. Juan Uribe is expected to return to the starting lineup tonight, after sitting out with a tight hamstring. With Guerrero the Dodgers are going to have one hell of a bench this year though.

Dodgers Lineup vs. Seattle

Rollins SS

Crawford LF

Gonzalez 1B

Kendrick 2B

Grandal C

Ethier RF

Uribe 3B

Pederson CF

Huff P

Hisashi Iwakuma-0-1 vs. David Huff-0-0

Update-I was right, Barney was optioned to make room for Huff. Puig sits with a tight hamstring. Apparently he pulled it while running out his seventh inning single on Monday night. Crawford bates second, and Ethier will play in right field.

Game Time 7:10 PM

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Call to the Pen

Left hander David Huff will be making his Dodger debut tonight against Seattle. The Dodgers did not open the season with Huff on the active roster. The Dodgers will face Japanese right hander Hisashi Iwakuma. Seattle is expected to have Austin Jackson return to center field after getting a day off on Monday.

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The 33-year old right hander was signed by Seattle as a free agent in 2012. Since then he has been a source of strength in the Mariner’s rotation. In 2013 he went 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA in 33 starts. Last season he posted a 15-9 record with a 3.52/3.25 FIP. In 2014 he struck out 154 and walked just 21. He has a career 1.8 walks per nine rate, and a strikeout to walk ratio of over 4-1. Overall he is 38-21 with a 3.11 ERA/3.60 FIP. Iwakuma is 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last four interleague outings.

This season he lost his first start against the Angels. He allowed five earned runs in six innings in a 5-3 loss. This is the third time he has faced the Dodgers, but first time as a starter. He allowed one earned run on three hits in 3.2 innings pitched versus the Dodgers. Technically the Dodgers are hitting .323 (10 for 31) against Iwakuma, but only Howie Kendrick has more than three career at-bats against him. Kendrick is hitting .375 (9 for 24) with four doubles. Speaking of Kendrick he has struck out just twice in 30 plate appearances this season.

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The Dodgers will counter with veteran left hander David Huff. I am not sure how long Huff is going to go tonight. I am hoping this is not a sly little ploy for Don Mattingly to fulfill his sick fantasy of doing another bullpen game.

Huff however is 0-3 with a 10.64 ERA in eleven innings against Seattle. He’s allowed 13 earned runs and 20 hits to Seattle in three games. Only four current Mariners have ever faced Huff. Seattle has just 23 plate appearances off Huff. They are 7 for 21 with two doubles versus Huff. Nobody has hit a home run.

The Dodgers will have to make a roster move to add Huff. My money is on Darwin Barney getting the axe. Especially after it seemed like Mattingly gave him the “I’m sorry we’re cutting you” pity start. I might be wrong though.

I feel really bad for Stacie. She has yet to cover a win this year. Did you know that? Poor Stac keeps getting all the terrible losses. Can we get her a win tonight? So no bullpen collapses please. No first inning runs allowed, or mediocre pitching, and no Tootblans either.

Check back in over here after the game as we continue to chronicle the Dodgers Baseball seasons. Go Blue!