With exactly 11 games remaining on both teams’ schedules, the Dodgers welcome the Rays to Chavez Ravine for a quick, interleague set beginning on Tuesday.
The two-game series has playoff implications for both clubs.
The Rays are currently in the thick of the American League Wild Card race. They trail Oakland by just one full game for the top spot while leading the Indians by 1-1/2 games for the second spot.
As far as must-win games go, it’s probably safe to say that Tampa Bay has a lot more to play for than the Dodgers.
Nevertheless, Los Angeles has already clinched home field advantage for their prospective NLDS matchup and leads Atlanta by four full games for home field throughout the National League playoffs. Before the start of Tuesday’s games, the Dodgers trail the Yankees and the Astros by one full game each for the best record in the majors.
With just four series remaining on the regular season schedule, the Rays are the only team with a winning record the Dodgers will face before the start of the NLDS.
This will be the second meeting between the Rays and the Dodgers this season. Both clubs battled in Tampa in a two-game series back in May, producing a 1-1 split. The Dodgers handled the Rays 7-3 in the first meeting, but the Rays salvaged the second game with a convincing 8-1 victory.
In the win, Clayton Kershaw threw 6-1/3 impressive innings for the Dodgers while Joc Pederson came of the bench to go 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI.
In the second game, the Rays used a combination of five different pitchers in a bullpen game to shut down the offensive attack of the Dodgers. Coincidentally, lefty Adam Kolarek and righty Casey Sadler both made appearances for Tampa Bay. The Dodgers’ only run came in the sixth inning when Max Muncy homered off Tampa right-hander Yonny Chirinos.
In terms of team rankings, the Rays have the top pitching staff in the American League with an overall 3.65 ERA. However, they’re right in the middle of the pack in run production with 719 runs scored—good enough for ninth in the AL.
24-year-old center fielder Austin Meadows—a former top prospect for the Pirates who the Rays snagged in the Chris Archer deal—leads the team in just about every offensive category. In 492 AB this season, the left-handed hitting native of Atlanta is slashing .289/.357/.563 with 28 doubles, 31 homers and 87 RBI.
Conversely, the Dodgers are the top run-producing team in the National League with 818 runs scored. On the pitching front, Los Angeles far and away has the best overall team ERA in the NL at 3.39—the next closest squad is the Cardinals at 3.80.
Regarding the pitching matchups, Ross Stripling (4-4, 3.40 ERA) will face southpaw Blake Snell (6-7, 4.28 ERA) in the opener. In the final game on Wednesday, Tony Gonsolin (3-2, 2.83 ERA) will square off against another lefty in Brendan McKay (2-4, 5.27 ERA). Look for a right-handed dominant batting order from the Dodgers in both contests.
Tuesday’s first pitch is slated for 7:10 PM Los Angeles time while Wednesday’s game will begin at 5:10 PM.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Wow it sure is a good thing we didn’t sell the farm for Felipe Vazquez. Turns out he’s a sick pedophile. Disgusting.
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Not exactly the kind of character trait AF looks for when adding guys to the roster.
They were idiots not to trade him to us because they are not a good team and had no reason to keep an All Star closer when they could have gotten a boatload of prospects for him. We got very lucky.
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Pittsburgh sports has had a rough couple of days. Steelers announced yesterday that Roesthlisberger is done for the season.
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Wow! Horrible! That would have been a disaster! If guilty he should never pitch again!
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I’m waiting to hear the whole story. You never know. People have been known to lie about their age. No, it’s true. People lie.
But if true, the idiot is done.
I wonder how long the investigation has been going on?
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Inappropriate! That’s a 13 year old girl we’re talking about who allegedly has been abused! NOT a joking matter!
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Point taken.
But It’s a 15 year old girl we are talking about Rich. There are countries where you can marry at that age. Maybe you still can in Mississippi. You can be tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison at 14. And from what I read she was apparently encouraging him. Her mother intercepted the communications. Yeah, he’s an idiot, and it looks bad for him, but when read the word “child” I was thinking maybe it was an 8 year old.
Again, I’m waiting to get to the bottom of this. I know from years of experience it’s often just a headline. Right now he’s been charged. If he’s found guilty, well, then we can express outrage.
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It began when she was 13 years old! How would you feel Scoop if this were your granddaughter?
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It began with a photo together at the ballpark when she was 13. She then contacted him on social media and they struck up a friendship.
Of course I’d be pissed. And I’d want answers from him AND from her mother.
I knew to you I may be sounding cavalier here, but unless there is more to the story, this doesn’t sound like a rape.
The story is quickly evolving. New reporting (minutes ago) said he drove to her home and allegedly attempted to have sex with her. Ok. Let’s hear more about that.
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It was a bad day for us in Louisiana too Dennis. List Drew Brees for 2 months on top of getting screwed over AGAIN by the refs against the Rams.
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If I was a Saints fan I’d really be pissed right about now. Luckily I’m a lifelong Rams fan, but I feel your pain Alex.
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I’ve been a Browns fan since I was six years old. No fooling. Big weekend coming up.
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I was honestly dumbfounded that they managed to do it again. I guess it wasn’t enough for the refs to take a Super Bowl away from us they needed to put the cherry on top with that. I can’t be mad at the Rams y’all were just the beneficiaries.
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Do you live in L.A. or La. Alex? Or neither?
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You were robbed of a touchdown Alex. We Ram fans are willing to give you those 7 points.
And in other news….. Severino starts tonight.
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Is that the dude from the Sopranos?
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I think he’s a baritone.
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Tenor. Though I wouldn’t necessarily know a tenor from two fivers.
He went 4. No runs, 4 Ks.
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Were you guys all watching laugh-in or something? You’ve all become comedians.
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I think Rowan, Martin and Arte Johnson would resent your mentioning us in the same sentence as their show.
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Tyrone F Horneigh
Would you like to call me Cutie?
(hit with a purse)
Would you like to call me Sweetie?
(hit again)
Would you like to call me an ambulance?
(falls off the bench)
Great show. Dated of course, but the best show of that era.
Another bullpen game. Maybe that’s the plan for Game 4
Hill is going to pitch again.
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Dodgers 7 Rays 5 and it should not have been that close. Dodgers did not get their first hit until the 6th. Seager with 2 doubles and 4 ribbies. Nice night. Cody hit a ringing double too. They took advantage of the worst Rays pitcher and most of the others shut them down. They miss Turner and the miss Muncy hitting the ball instead of being hit by the ball. Smith his a couple of balls hard, but one went foul and the other drove the CF to the wall. Maeda gives up another dinger in the 8th after they scored 5 to take the lead. Seems that right after they score the pitchers having a hard time shutting the other team down. Baez gave up a dinger to Choi that tied the game at 2. Lux and Pollock and Bellinger drove in the other 3 runs. Kenley a 4 out save. Belli made an error at first something he rarely does and Baez got in Freese’s way on an infield pop up and it fell for an error. Sloppy, but they ended up with the W on a night when Atlanta lost.
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Bellinger doesn’t belong at first, Smith needs to get lucky, and the box score shows you exactly why reliever’s win totals are meaningless. We beat a good team in a bullpen game. I’m impressed. Of course, it might have been different if Snell had gone 7.
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He is still the best 1st baseman on the team by a long shot. His error ended up meaning nothing, so no harm no foul. But on this team, he is a multi position player and good anywhere he plays. No way Snell was going 7 just coming off of the IL. Rays are a god team, and like the Dodgers they have some relievers who are reliable and others who are not. The Dodgers happened to jump on the one who was not. Yankees lost Betances for the rest of the year. Achilles tendon problem. Maeda got the win simply because he was the pitcher of record when the Dodgers scored 5 in the 7th. He nearly gave it all up in the 8th. I think a revision of scoring is in need in the majors. Guys who make one pitch should not get credit for a win.
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He’s also the best centerfielder by a long shot.
I know Snell is just coming back. Good thing for us.
Betances is a big loss.
I agree about the scoring. There could just be a team win. Same with a BS and a win. You shouldn’t be able to get both.
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What Scoop, you don’t think Maeda deserved the win! He’s got to be better! But at least Jansen looking much better and he’s throwing his slider more often and it looks good. But where is Kelly? Doesn’t pitch often. Is he still hurting? He’s a big post season piece!
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Hopefully he will be ready. So far in September, 10.2 innings, 6 earned. Last night was maybe just a glitch. We will need him to close the door on good hitters in October.
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