Dodgers Go For Series Sweep Against San Diego

After the devastating sweep up in San Francisco, starting off the homestand with a sweep against the Padres would help us lessen the pain which still lingers just a little. The Dodgers offense is still minimal, but they were able to squeak out two runs in each of the two games. The Padres only have scored once (in game one) thanks to great starts from Zack Greinke and Mike Bolsinger.

Mike Bolsinger was brilliant on Saturday, and he only allowed one hit through eight innings (a leadoff single to Yangervis Solarte). Bolsinger retired the next 23 batters in a row. He struck out 8 and walked none. It was the best starting pitching performance of the season for the Dodgers. Bravo Bolsinger!

Carlos Frias (3-1, 2.55) vs. James Shields (5-0, 3.74)

Carlos Frias will be making his fifth start for the Dodgers on Sunday, and the young right-hander has pitched admirably after slotting into the starting rotation. Last time out, Frias picked up his first loss of the season during that disastrous scoreless series in San Francisco. Frias only allowed 1 run on 7 hits through 6 innings with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks on 88 pitches, but the Dodgers offense was dormant.

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Frias faced the Padres for one inning out of the bullpen back on April 26th. He has no record against the Padres and has a not allowed a run to the Friars in 3 relief appearances (3 innings pitched) against them in his young career. Frias has pitched very well at Dodger Stadium so far, and he is 3-0 with a 2.06 at Chavez Ravine in 11 games (3 starts).

Frias has only allowed 1 homerun in 24 2/3 innings pitches so far (hopefully I don’t jinx him) which was to Adam Lind in Milwaukee. None of the current Padres hitters have a hit against Frias yet.

Dodgers Lineup:

Pederson CF

Rollins SS

Kendrick 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Ethier RF

Guerrero 3B

Hernandez LF

Barnes C

Frias P

The Dodgers will have their work cut out for them on Sunday when they face Big Game James. James Shields is 5-0 on the season, and the

May 23, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger (46) tips his hat to the crowd after earning a win against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers lost to the Padres on Opening Day when they saw Shields for the first time in a San Diego uniform. In that 6-3 Dodger loss, Shields pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits. That was Shields only start ever at Dodger Stadium. The 33-year old was born in Newhall and often attended Dodger games growing up.

In his last outing against the Cubs, he wasn’t involved in the decision and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits with 11 strikeouts and 1 walk through 7 innings of work. He’s only made 2 starts against the Dodgers in his career, and he has a 4.15 ERA in 13 career innings against Los Angeles. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .357 with 2 homeruns and 4 doubles against Shields in 32 plate appearances. Shields has already allowed 14 homeruns this season.

Speaking of homeruns…Joc has hit a homerun in each of the first two games of the series. He now has 12 homeruns on the season.

The Dodgers will likely start catcher Austin Barnes on Sunday who has experience catching pitcher Carlos Frias in the minors. Yasmani Grandal was placed on the 7-day concussion list on Saturday after suffering a mild concussion during Friday’s series opener. We wish Yasmani a speedy recovery, and we will eat some peanut butter and apples in his honor this weekend.

Austin Barnes, who I thought was a key offseason acquisition for the Dodgers, will likely make his Dodger debut on Sunday. Barnes, a prospect in his own right, can even play some second base in a pinch. The 25-year old backstop from Riverside, CA, was hitting .290/.390/.430 with 3 homeruns and 13 RBI for AAA-Oklahoma City. He’s thrown out would be base stealers at a 39% clip.

By the way, Matt Kemp is 0-for-6 in the series so far.

Sweeping San Diego would be sweet.

Go Blue!