Los Angeles Dodgers Game Previews: Dodgers Turn To Mike Bolsinger To Avoid Embarrassing and Irritating Sweep

It is all up to Mike Bolsinger. That’s what stands between the Dodgers and an embarrassing sweep at the hands of San Francisco. Yeah, no pressure or anything Mike. Before we get into anything about last night’s irritating 3-2 loss, and this afternoon’s series finale, let me reassure everyone out there about A.J. Ellis’s hand.

According to Alanna Rizzo, the x-rays were negative, and he’ll have more tests run on his sore hand later today. A.J. was hit on the hand by a deflected ball when left hander J.P. Howell hit Justin Maxwell in the elbow with a pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s loss. The ball hit Maxwell in the elbow and then deflected, hitting A.J. on his throwing hand. A.J. tried to stay in the game, making a couple of really bad practice throws before he had to come out. Yasmani Grandal came in for the rest of the game, and the Dodgers lost moments later. Expect Grandal to be playing today.

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Dodgers Lineup @ San Francisco

Turner SS

Puig RF

Gonzalez 1B

Kendrick 2B

Grandal C

Crawford LF

Guerrero 3B

Pederson CF

Bolsinger P

Mike Bolsinger-0-0 vs. Ryan Vogelsong-0-1

Game Time – 12:45 PM

The Dodgers made a flurry of moves before Wednesday’s game, and we couldn’t even keep up with them. First they acquired Xavier Cedeno from the Nationals for cash considerations. Cedeno is a 28-year old left handed reliever. The Puerto Rican has pitched in 77 MLB games for Washington and Houston. He’s posted a 5.24 ERA/4.30 FIP in 55 frames. He’s whiffed 8.8 per nine and walked 3.9 per nine. The Dodgers had to designate Daniel Corcino to clear room for him. I have never seen Cedeno pitch, but according to J.P. Hoornstra, the Dodgers are supposed to be adding him to the active roster. I guess we’ll see if that happens. I know depth, blah blah blah. Depth….it’s good. 

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Call to the Pen

Then the Dodgers optioned reliever

back to the minors, and called up outfielder

. I don’t see what the point of this was. Heisey started in center field on Wednesday night, and went 0 for 3 with a walk. Will he get optioned down today to make room for Bolsinger? I think he will probably. Then we are likely to see Bolsinger optioned to

make room for Cedeno

. And then we got our answer

As for the lineup, Rollins gets his first day off as Turner will play shortstop. Uribe rests and Guerrero will take over at the hot corner. That should make a lot of people on twitter happy. Crawford back in left field.

Stat of the day- Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .311 (521 for 1674) during the day with 89 home runs and 309 RBI. 

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers will give the ball to Bolsinger in what is essentially a spot start. So what do we know about Mike Bolsinger? Not a lot really. He’s a 27-year old right hander originally from Chicago. He went to school at the University of Arkansas. The Dbacks drafted him in the fifteenth round of the 2010 draft.

He made his MLB debut in 2014 for Arizona. He went 1-6 with a 5.50 ERA in ten games. Nine of those he started. He whiffed 48 and walked 17 in 52.1 innings pitched. He actually faced the Dodgers once back on April 19 at Dodger Stadium. He pitched four innings, and allowed six earned runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out five in an 8-6 loss.

He’s faced the Giants twice and lost both times. He is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 12 innings against the Giants. One of those starts was at At&t Park and he got worked. Five earned runs on eight hits in five innings worked. The Giants are batting .240 (6 for 25) with no home runs against Bolsinger.

The Giants will counter with right hander Ryan Vogelsong. The 37-year old right hander has gotten off to a poor start this year. He’s pitched in three games this year, and made one start, but his ERA is 10.45, and he is 0-1. He’s given up 14 runs on 20 hits in ten frames. Matt Cain and Jake Peavy are still hurt, and the Giants have decided to keep Petit in relief.

He’s made 14 starts against the Dodgers in his career, and is 4-4 with a 3.90 ERA. He’s struck out 59 in those 101.1 innings pitched. The Dodgers are batting .268 (38 for 142) against him with three home runs and 15 runs batted in. Juan Uribe destroys Vogelsong over his career. The portly third sacker is batting .409 (9 for 22) with two doubles and a triple against Vogelsong. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .294 (5 for 17) with three doubles and a home run. Yasmani Grandal is also hitting .444 (4 for 9) with two doubles.

Jason is going to have the call this afternoon. This will be his first Recap, so please go easy on him guys. Wait until at least his second or third recap before you rip him one. Game time is an afternoon business man’s special at 12:45 pm. Enjoy the game guys, and please don’t get swept Dodgers.

Go Blue!