The Dodgers face off against the Detroit Tigers tonight in the second game of a three games set. Max Scherzer (9-2, 4.32) takes the hill while the Dodgers counter with Chad Billingsley (5-6, 4.65). Here’s what manager Don Mattingly focused on in a pregame chat...
Loney protects Kemp…With Matt Kemp in the top three in each of the Triple Crown categories, Dodger Manager Don Mattingly was asked to explain why teams aren’t pitching around him more.
“It’s a lot tougher to pitch around when they’re swinging the bat behind him in back of him. You walk him, you have to face (James) Loney.”
Loney is hitting .391 during the home stand. In the last 50 games, Loney has been one of the teams’ hottest hitters, going 52-for-162, good for a .321 average.
As good as Loney has been, Mattingly realizes teams see Kemp as a greater threat.
“If we can’t put some more offense around him they’re still going to make someone else beat them, but when we’re swinging the bat, it makes it a lot harder.”
Sure he can hit, but he can run too...While Kemp’s batting totals are earning him attention, his stolen base numbers continue to pile up.
The fleet-footed centerfielder ranks fifth in the league with 18 steals in 21 attempts (85.7%).
“He’s no snail on the bases,” said the Dodger manager. “You walk Kemp, it’s not like you walk some slug. He can steal second and third. He’s not just a big bopper. He can run.”
They’ll miss Casey…Dodger third baseman Casey Blake has slugged Detroit pitching over the years, hitting 23 homers in 341 at bats.
Among active players, only Jim Thome (10.65), Jason Giambi (10.85), Alex Rodriguez (14.36), and David Ortiz (14.45) have a better at bats per home run ratio than Blake’s 14.83.
The bad news is, Blake is out of the starting lineup again tonight with neck pain. So when will Blake be back in the starting lineup?
“Until he’s 100%, it’s difficult to compete,” Mattingly said. “He had some days off, he had the cortisone shots in the neck and he didn’t respond. We’ll bring him off the bench and get this thing healed. We need him in the lineup.”
Welcome to the Big Leagues, kid…Rookie Dee Gordon has been sensational defensively. Offense, however has been a different story.
In his first eight games, the 23-year old hit .333, slamming 12 base hits in his first 36 at bats.
In four games since, the pitchers seem have made adjustments, holding Gordon to a .143 clip (2-for14). with four strikeouts.
“They’re going to watch him for a week, get some (film) clips on him and find something that works,” Mattingly said. “He’s got to keep getting better. Some of the stuff is getting time and experience. We can give him all the information, but he needs to see it.”
What should be expected of Billingsley?...Tonight’s starting pitcher, Chad Billingsley has struggled of late. In his last three games, the right hander has given up 17 runs in 13 2/3 innings, surrendering 30 hits along the way. During the stretch, Billingsley has seen his ERA jump from 3.46 to 4.65.
Mattingly and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt have been working with Billingsley.
“Honey’s talked to him. He didn’t want to leave the balls in the middle of the plate. They’ve been working on mechanics and on putting the ball where he wants to. He’ll be fine.”
Good news/bad news…With a win tonight, the Dodgers will match their longest winning streak of the year. Unfortunately -- or perhaps expectedly from a team eight games below .500 – the most wins the team has strong together is three.
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