Game 2
6:40pm
Hiroki Kuroda (13-16) vs. Jarrod Parker (0-0, --)
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| Bison & Hiro Celebrate During Winning Times |
Two games left, and two homeruns left for Matt KeMVP to reach 40/40. Can he do it? Even if he doesn't reach that mark, he has most certainly already rightfully captured the National League MVP award. Matt now has 123 RBIs, 38 homeruns, and a .324 batting average. There's no way Ryan Braun is even close in my opinion. Yes, he may have a few measly percentage points higher in his batting average, but overall KeMVP is clearly the best player in the league and possibly in all of Major League Baseball. Let's root for our Bison tonight since we will be without Bison Blasts for 6 long cold months.
The real story tonight is whether this will be Hiroki Kuroda's last start as a Dodger. He has said that it is a 50/50 chance he will go back to Japan or stay and play another year in Los Angeles. Kuroda has had a great season even with low run support throughout most. He will be vying for his 14th win tonight, and trying not to pick up a 17th loss. He's pitched in 31 games this season and needs 4 more innings to reach 200 innings pitched. Kuroda is 9th in the NL in ERA. I'm pretty confident that Kuroda will stay on board for another season with the Dodgers. I'm not sure he's ready to leave just yet, especially after having a solid year. He said he may play a farewell season for his old team in Japan, the Hiroshima Carp. Let's hope that farewell season is down the road, and Kuroda will continue to wear Dodger Blue. There's plenty more baseball left in Hiro.
Hiro will be pitted against the rookie Jarrod Parker making his Major League Debut. Parker was the #1 pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He had Tommy John surgery in 2010 and has a 11-8 record with a 3.79 ERA in AA this season.
The D-Backs have won 10 of 17 this season against the Dodgers. But the Dodgers have been playing red hot since July 7th going 44-27 since. They have won 8 of their last 10 and now are 3 games above .500. The Dodgers will have to hold a lead going into late innings, because the Snakes are the only team who are undefeated (83-0) in the NL when leading after 8 innings.
Russell Mitchell, who had been apparently been playing with an injury to his wrist will be undergoing surgery on his left wrist to repair torn cartilage. I guess unknowingly to us, he was playing with the assistance of injections, but his wrist became inflamed and his surgery had to be moved up to Tuesday. He should be okay to play some winter ball this season.
Lineup:
Gordon 6
Sands 7
KeMVP 8
Rivera 9
Loney 3
Miles 5
Big Rod 2
Carroll4
Kuroda 1
Tonight is my last game to write about for the season and somewhat bittersweet. I'm excited about our first full season here on DBF, but I also know how boring and long the postseason will be. Continue following DBF during the offseason, and we will have some surprises and new features to come!!
Watch the boys in blue on KCAL for our second to last game, and stay tuned after for our postgame wrap up.
Go Hiro! Go Bison! Go Blue!
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