Dodgers struggling to hit .. make changes for Game 5

[ramfandan]

CF Andy Pages not in lineup tonight . He is 1-15. .067 on WS
He is not the only Dodger struggling at the plate.
With exception of Ohtani, the rest of Dodgers lineup is batting below the Mendoza line.. a whopping .194
MLB Now is covering the story this afternoon.
Mookie Betts is hitting .158. 3-19
Cardinal fan favorite Tommy Edman who has made several gems in the field is struggling too with a 3-18 .167 BA.
Kiki Hernandez us nig much better 3-16 a .188
Last night Dodgers had just 5 hits.
Besides Pages sitting ( 1st time this postseason) , the Dodgers are sacrificing some defense by hoping for more offense .
Dave Roberts had moved C Will Smith to 2nd spot in lineup dropping Mookie to 3rd to try to get some traffic on bases.

Will see if the moves work tonight.
BTW in case you are wondering Ohtani is hitting .400

[Banner29]

Things working in the Blue Jays favor tonight despite being in the road. They have the winning momentum from game 4, handled Blake Snell pretty well in game 1. If they can jump out to an early lead and get a struggling lineup pressing it could be long night for LA

[ramfandan]

Things working in the Blue Jays favor tonight despite being in the road. They have the winning momentum from game 4, handled Blake Snell pretty well in game 1. If they can jump out to an early lead and get a struggling lineup pressing it could be long night for LA

Unsure if 'winning last night gives much momentum ' ... Heck the Dodgers won an 18 inning game the night before and the 'experts' touted big momentum in winning that game . Sure didn't show in last night's game.

[swatski]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

[ramfandan]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

[sp25]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

[dugoutrex]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

yup - Snell will not struggle twice in a row imo

[sp25]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

As I predicted, that Yesavage kid is for real!

[scoutyjones2]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

yup - Snell will not struggle twice in a row imo

Um...

[ramfandan]

One at bat left for the Dodgers... the 'Dodgers struggling to hit ' continues tonight. If they do not make a major comeback in 9th, they can still win the WS. The 82 Cardinals were down 2 and won the WS but had the final two games at Busch Stadium . Dodgers will have to win it on the road .

[ramfandan]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

As I predicted, that Yesavage kid is for real!

I bet Chaim Bloom watching Yesavage tonight is making him think. ' I sure hope later in 2026 I can watch P Liam Doyle come up to our team and pitch similarly . Go Liam ! Go Cardinals !

[icon]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

As I predicted, that Yesavage kid is for real!

I bet Chaim Bloom watching Yesavage tonight is making him think. ' I sure hope later in 2026 I can watch P Liam Doyle come up to our team and pitch similarly . Go Liam ! Go Cardinals !

Yesavage has 2 secondary pitches that look unhittable when located. Doyle will need some of that.

[ramfandan]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

As I predicted, that Yesavage kid is for real!

I bet Chaim Bloom watching Yesavage tonight is making him think. ' I sure hope later in 2026 I can watch P Liam Doyle come up to our team and pitch similarly . Go Liam ! Go Cardinals !

Yesavage has 2 secondary pitches that look unhittable when located. Doyle will need some of that.

Agree ! Sure important to have that . Sure pitching director Matt Pierpont will be working with him . This was the report from Baseball America regarding his secondary pitches .
BA report on Doyle :
Doyle’s secondaries are a bigger question. He throws a low-80s slider, an upper-80s cutter and a mid-80s splitter, all of which earn differing grades depending on whether you talk to scouts or analysts. The latter are more optimistic. Both parties agree that Doyle’s splitter has above-average potential and is his most advanced secondary pitch.

[ramfandan]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

As I predicted, that Yesavage kid is for real!

I bet Chaim Bloom watching Yesavage tonight is making him think. ' I sure hope later in 2026 I can watch P Liam Doyle come up to our team and pitch similarly . Go Liam ! Go Cardinals !

Yesavage has 2 secondary pitches that look unhittable when located. Doyle will need some of that.

Agree ! Sure important to have that . Sure pitching director Matt Pierpont will be working with him . This was the report from Baseball America regarding his secondary pitches .
BA report on Doyle :
Doyle’s secondaries are a bigger question. He throws a low-80s slider, an upper-80s cutter and a mid-80s splitter, all of which earn differing grades depending on whether you talk to scouts or analysts. The latter are more optimistic. Both parties agree that Doyle’s splitter has above-average potential and is his most advanced secondary pitch. So appears refining that splitter may be the first secondary to perfect . I did see him throw some good change ups watching a couple of his games. Of course that is vs. college talent not the pros. The pros would be fooled less time.
His fastball was lights out especially the ones he throws up in the zone . He can make the batters 'climb the ladder' as they call it swinging higher and higher at them .

[ramfandan]

a PS Here is the future 'Madman ' Cardinal fans will love to root for . Kinda our next Mad Hungarian guy .

Watch this .. enjoy
Liam Doyle is a Madman !
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z0pX2KbLp-o

Doyle threw his fastball 74% of the time . (Highest in MLB was 70% ). Because he touched 100 MPH on heater , that was his go-to pitch when going for strike 3 . Why throw the splitter when you know you can blow it by them was his thinking ?
He has an above average splitter . It's just that he will need to throw if more often and bring his 4 seam fastball % time in the MLB.
That whip-like delivery makes it tougher to pick up any pitches. Fielding wise it will hurt him as he falls off the mound big time to 3rd base.
As I said, he is a super fiery competitor and Cards fans will probably embrace his super intense competitiveness . Just needs to keep it under control.

[Strummer Jones]

Momentum is the next day’s pitcher, so Dodgers have the momentum in Blake Snell.

Well , that is debatable. Snell in Game 1 had a rough outing .. allowed 5 runs , 8 hits in 5 innings with 4 SO and 3 BB.
No doubt Snell is very good pitcher but based on his Game 1 , it's not like Blue Jays will be intimidated by him .

If I recall, Snell had trouble locating his fastball in game 1, so Toronto was sitting on his breaking pitches. If he corrects that he could be lights out again.

Likewise, the Dodgers will be seeing the inexperienced Yesavage for a second time. The young man will be pitching in the huge Dodger Stadium, that would have to be intimidating.

Predicting the Series goes back to Toronto with the Dodgers up 3 games to 2.

As I predicted, that Yesavage kid is for real!

Not that I'm complaining about taking JJ, but I'd had some outside hope that we'd pick Yesavage last year.