Dodgers travel to Miami seeking their 90th win – Dodgers Digest

The Dodgers had another short but promising start in Yoshinobu Yamamoto last night when he fought his way out of constant danger in four scoreless innings against Atlanta. It was a close game through six innings, but another explosive late inning helped the Dodgers to a 9-0 win and a series tie. There are 12 games left in the regular season, and nine of them are against the two worst teams in baseball besides the White Sox. The other three are against the Padres, who just won't let up and remain 3.5 games behind the division. The two teams meet in a week, so the Dodgers really need to get the job done in Miami and at home against Colorado this weekend. My mental health can't handle three games at Coors ending the season without it really mattering for the division.

First up is a Miami team that is currently 55-95. They have the second-worst record in baseball, yet are 19.5 games ahead of the White Sox. They have lost six of their last seven games, but just recently split a four-game set with the Phillies. The Dodgers swept them in LA in May, outscoring the Marlins 17-6 in the three games.

	15:40		Miami
DH	Ohtani (L)	SS	Edwards (S)
RF	Betting	3B	Norby
1B	Guest of Honour (L)	LF	Sánchez (left)
LF	T. Hernández	1B	Citizens
3B	Muncy (L)	DH	bride
CF	Edman (S)	CF	Stow (L)
2B	Lux (L)	2B	Lopez
SS	Red	RF	Cone (L)
C	Feduccia (L)	C	Strengthen
P	Müller (R)	P	McCaughan (right)

Bobby Miller gets another start even though he struggled last time out, prompting Eric Stephen to question why he should get one. Miller allowed six runs on five hits and four walks last Wednesday against the Cubs and now has an ERA/FIP of 8.17/7.13 in 54 innings. In his two starts in September, he allowed 13 runs in 9 1/3 innings and has allowed five home runs. He finished August with two solid performances where it looked like he might have turned things around, but things have been poor for most of the season. The Dodgers managed to win that game, and they are 6-6 when Miller starts, which isn't bad. Tyler GlasnowThe problems of could expand Miller's scope, but it would not be surprising if someone like Ben Casparius will be considered again if Miller struggles against a bad Marlins lineup. They were a top-five worst offense in some categories you don't want to be at the bottom of (third-lowest wRC+, second-lowest team OPS, lowest walk rate, fifth-lowest hard hit rate).

The Dodgers meet the former Dirtbag Darren McCaughan. The 28-year-old Long Beach native had a rough year in his first, somewhat extended major league appearance. He threw 13 total innings in the major leagues in 2021 and 2023, but has thrown 29 1/3 in eight games between the Marlins and Guardians this season. He's gotten a bit better since becoming a Marlin, with a 6.56 ERA/FIP/5.61 in 23 1/3 innings. He was claimed off waivers by Miami in July and spent most of his time in the minors, posting a 4.53 ERA in 11 starts. He made two relief appearances in August and has been in the rotation since September. In those three starts, he's allowed eight runs and 17 hits in 13 2/3 innings, but the Marlins have yet to lose a game he's started.

Of course, all of his samples are tiny, but McCaughan has thrown 40.3% sweepers, 31.4% sinkers, 18.3% four seamers and 10% change this season. Both of his fastballs average under 90 MPH and his changeup is his only pitch with a whiff rate over 20%.

Hunter Feduccia his second career start as Will Smith sits today. Freddie Freeman returns to his usual three-hole with Teoscar Hernandez click on Clean Up.

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Tony Gonzalez will get at least one more start in rehab.

Per #Dodgers Dave Roberts — Tony Gonsolin will make another rehab start with OKC and try to last 4 innings, after which there will be “a conversation” about whether he can help LAD

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) 17 September 2024

The goal is for him to make it through the four, and there's a chance he might actually return before 2025. For the record, I'd rather have him return as a left-hander than have Shohei pitch in October.

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First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on SportsNet LA.