Marlins 4 9 2

WP- Wright (5-3)

LP- Eovaldi (4-9)

HR- Reyes (10), Ethier (13), Rivera (7), Ramirez (20), Stanton (27)

Adrian Gonzalez will be a Dodger soon. Photo: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier this afternoon we learned of an epic waiver deadline trade that’s close to being completed between the Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers. The Dodgers are set to send James Loney, Rubby De La Rosa, Jerry Sands, Ivan De Jesus, and Allen Webster to Boston in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto. The deal which is still pending is expected to be announced tomorrow. We will have a more in depth look into the historic trade when it becomes official. James Loney, who was slated to start tonight, was scratched from the lineup. Adrian Gonzalez was also scratched from the Boston starting lineup, which made the deal that much more imminent. The Dodgers will be absorbing a huge amount of contract debt, but money doesn’t seem to be an issue for the new ownership. The bottom line is that we will now have a deadly combination of hitters in the lineup with Kemp, Gonzalez, Ethier, and Ramirez. Will it be enough to get the Dodgers to the postseason this year? It still will be tough.

Chad Billingsley and Nathan Eovaldi both were out of the game after the third inning. Bills exited the game with right elbow tenderness. The Dodgers jumped on their old teammate Eovaldi for 6 runs in the first three innings off of three homeruns from Ethier, Rivera, and Ramirez. The Dodgers added another two runs in the seventh off of Carlos Zambrano. Andre Ethier had four hits on the night which included a homerun and three singles. The Dodgers added five more runs in the seventh inning to give the Dodgers a blowout win.    (more…)

Dodgers Lineup vs. Arizona

Victorino 7

Ethier 9

Kemp 8

Ramirez 5

Rivera 3

Hairston 4

Cruz 6

Ellis 2

Fife 1

Shane Victorino makes his Dodger debut today. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

The Dodgers have always been a baseball organization which prides itself in excellent pitching. This season has been no different, and the Dodgers’ starting rotation has been executing as the second best in the league. The farm system is heavy in pitching prospects as well, but now after trading away Nathan Eovaldi, Ethan Martin, Josh Lindblom, Scott McGough, and Logan Bawcom have the Dodgers jeopardized their pitching prowess for the future? Luckily the Dodgers did not trade away any of their top prospects like Zach Lee or Allen Webster. Yet with the recent regression of Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano coupled with the inconsistency of Chad Billingsley and the inexperience of fill-in Stephen Fife, the Dodger rotation suddenly shows signs of possible late season weakness. Remember, the Dodgers are counting on the return of Ted Lilly and Rubby De La Rosa who have both been disabled almost the entirety of the season. Aside from Fife, we would have to reach down to the minors and use Jon Ely or Allen Webster in a pinch. If we do make it to the postseason, we would need to count on Kershaw, Billingsley, Capuano, and Lilly to pitch those high stake games. Without a trade deadline pitching acquisition, the Dodgers will have to run with what they have which could likely mean a Stephen Fife September. (more…)