Dodgers Open Another Series At The Lion’s Den

The Dodgers just finished a somewhat disappointing home stand. The club finished with a 4-3 record, and their streak of ten consecutive home series wins came to an end with their series split against Colorado. Now the club will play a quick three game set in the lion’s den of San Francisco against the Giants and then travel back home to play San Diego and Atlanta.

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This series with the Giants is the last thing the Dodgers need right now. Simply because they have not fared well against the Giants all season long. The boys in blue have lost four of six to the Giants this year, including all three in San Francisco.

Tonight’s match-up will feature a battle of youth versus experience. The youngster Carlos Frias will counter the old veteran Tim Hudson.

Dodgers Lineup @ San Francisco-

Pederson, CF
Rollins, SS
Kendrick, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Van Slyke, LF
Grandal, C
Ethier, RF
Guerrero, 3B
Frias, P

Carlos Frias-3-0 vs. Tim Hudson-1-3

Game Time – 7:15 PM

This is the fourth start for Frias this year. The rookie right hander took over for the injured Brandon McCarthy in the Dodger’s rotation on May 1. Frias’s last start was a no-decision against Miami at Dodger Stadium in which he allowed three earned runs on six hits across six frames and struck out five. 

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Call to the Pen

Frias has pitched well this year. Overall he is 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts. He’s whiffed 16 and walked only four. Frias has faced the Giants twice as a reliever, posting a 1-0 record, and a 4.15 ERA. The Giants are hitting just .263 (5 for 19) against Frias, with one home run, and a .728 OPS against. Nobody has more than three at-bats against him, and Brandon Crawford has hit the only home run.

The Giants will send veteran right hander Tim Hudson to the mound on Tuesday night. The 39-year old has had a long and successful career. He has struggled somewhat so far this season. He’s posted a 1-3 record, with a 4.57 ERA/5.29 FIP. He’s allowed 50 hits in 45.1 innings pitched, and posted a 9.9 hits per nine rate. His strikeout numbers have greatly decreased as well. He’s stuck out just 23 and walked 11 while serving up 8 home runs. His career strikeout per nine rate is 6.0, but this year it is down to just 4.6.

Hudson’s last start saw him allow three earned runs on five hits over 5.1 innings pitched in a no-decision at Houston. He is 6-6 against the Dodgers with a 4.03 ERA in 17 starts. The Dodgers are batting .250 (49 for 195) with six home runs and 18 runs batted in. The Dodgers have a .751 OPS against Hudson, with 12 walks and 15 whiffs. Adrian Gonzalez, and Yasmani Grandal have hit Hudson the hardest over the years. Both sluggers have hit .370 (10 for 27) and .357 (5 for 14) respectively. Gonzalez has hit two home runs and driven in five runs, while Grandal has hit one homer. Jimmy Rollins has hit three with eight runs driven in, and drawn seven walks.

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Stat of the day – Andre Ethier is batting .295 (137 for 464) with 12 home runs against the Giants. He is also hitting .330 (71 for 215) with two home runs at At&t Park.

The Dodgers are 24-13 and enter the evening 4.5 games in front of the Giants in the NL West. The club has won seven of their last ten games. However the bullpen has really struggled this week, so it is important that Frias try and give them some innings. It would be nice if they could win two of three versus the Giants. That way we all don’t have to listen to the irritating gloating from the Giants fans.

The game will start at 7:15 PM, and Stacie will have the recap after the game. Don’t forget that Vin Scully will be behind the mic for the entire series.

Go Blue!