Miami Marlins at Los Angeles Dodgers - 4/28/16
Kenta Maeda, the 28-year-old native of Osaka, has had remarkable start to his first season in the major leagues, opening with four straight quality starts. The history book reveals that 76 pitchers have opened their careers with four straight quality starts (since 1913) but Maeda ranks as the ONLY one to allow just one ER in that four-game span. He's worked at least six innings in each of his four outings with that lone ER coming on a solo HR by San Francisco's Joe Panik back on April 17 .
Some predicted that he would fall victim to the high altitude of Coors Field but he limited Colorado to three hits while striking out eight over 6.1 scoreless innings of a 4-1 LA win last Saturday. Maeda is 3-0 with an 0.36 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, as opponents are batting just .189 with a .240 on-base percentage against him. He has had excellent command of his pitches, issuing only five walks while striking out 23 in 25.1 innings.
The bad news is, that Miami has limited LA to a measly five runs, 15 hits and an 0-for-13 showing with runners in scoring position over three games to take its first series at Chavez Ravine since 2010. The Dodgers will take the field tonight looking to avoid being swept at home by the surging Marlins for the first time-ever and it's even more of a bitter pill to swallow as Miami is led by Don Mattingly, who managed LA from 2011 through 2015.
Mattingly will hand the ball to Jose Fernandez (1-2, 4.37 ERA), who looks to bounce back from a rough outing at San Francisco this past Saturday (he allowed four ERs on seven hits and three walks in six innings). The 23-year-old Cuban has been a different pitcher on the road during his brief career, going 5-10 with a 3.81 ERA as opposed to 18-1 with a 1.61 ERA at home. Los Angeles has yet to defeat Fernandez, who is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three outings (Marlins are 3-0).
As noted, Fernandez can be had away from Marlins Park and losing FOUR in a row at home to the Marlins (who entered the series just 6-11 to open the 2016 season), is "NOT an option." Maeda leads the way as the Dodgers avoid the dreaded home sweep.
Play On: Los Angeles Dodgers
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Kenta Maeda, the 28-year-old native of Osaka, has had remarkable start to his first season in the major leagues, opening with four straight quality starts. The history book reveals that 76 pitchers have opened their careers with four straight quality starts (since 1913) but Maeda ranks as the ONLY one to allow just one ER in that four-game span. He's worked at least six innings in each of his four outings with that lone ER coming on a solo HR by San Francisco's Joe Panik back on April 17 .
Some predicted that he would fall victim to the high altitude of Coors Field but he limited Colorado to three hits while striking out eight over 6.1 scoreless innings of a 4-1 LA win last Saturday. Maeda is 3-0 with an 0.36 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, as opponents are batting just .189 with a .240 on-base percentage against him. He has had excellent command of his pitches, issuing only five walks while striking out 23 in 25.1 innings.
The bad news is, that Miami has limited LA to a measly five runs, 15 hits and an 0-for-13 showing with runners in scoring position over three games to take its first series at Chavez Ravine since 2010. The Dodgers will take the field tonight looking to avoid being swept at home by the surging Marlins for the first time-ever and it's even more of a bitter pill to swallow as Miami is led by Don Mattingly, who managed LA from 2011 through 2015.
Mattingly will hand the ball to Jose Fernandez (1-2, 4.37 ERA), who looks to bounce back from a rough outing at San Francisco this past Saturday (he allowed four ERs on seven hits and three walks in six innings). The 23-year-old Cuban has been a different pitcher on the road during his brief career, going 5-10 with a 3.81 ERA as opposed to 18-1 with a 1.61 ERA at home. Los Angeles has yet to defeat Fernandez, who is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three outings (Marlins are 3-0).
As noted, Fernandez can be had away from Marlins Park and losing FOUR in a row at home to the Marlins (who entered the series just 6-11 to open the 2016 season), is "NOT an option." Maeda leads the way as the Dodgers avoid the dreaded home sweep.
Play On: Los Angeles Dodgers
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