Florida Marlins Vs Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Live Streaming Link Early Game Review with Radio Commentary Espn 360 Gamecast May 29, 2011. After using a slew of relief pitchers to earn their latest win, the Florida Marlins hope Ricky Nolasco can pitch deep into his scheduled start.
The six-year veteran should be up to the task.
The six-year veteran should be up to the task.
- 4:10 PM ET, May 29, 2011
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Pitching Matchup
Florida | Los Angeles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Ricky Nolasco 4-0, 3.04 ERA Last appearance: 5/24 at SF 8.1 IP, 1 ER Dec = Win | Clayton Kershaw 5-3, 2.96 ERA Last appearance: 5/23 at HOU 6.0 IP, 1 ER Dec = ND |
Nolasco looks build on one of his best outings and lead the Marlins to a fifth victory in six games in Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.
With staff ace Josh Johnson still on the disabled list because of shoulder inflammation, Florida manager Edwin Rodriguez relied heavily on his bullpen Saturday.
Brian Sanches made his first major league start after 166 relief appearances and allowed one run in three innings. Four more relievers followed, and the Marlins' pitchers combined to six-hit Los Angeles in a 6-1 victory.
"Winning 6-1 on a bullpen day, you have to feel good," Rodriguez said. "After we announced that J.J. was down, all the starters started stepping up -- and now the bullpen did."
With the bullpen taxed, the Marlins (30-20) hope Nolasco (4-0, 3.04 ERA) can duplicate his last outing.
Nolasco pitched scoreless ball into the ninth inning of Tuesday's 5-1 win over San Francisco. The right-hander gave up one run and seven hits in a season-best 8 1/3 innings to earn his first victory since May 1 at Cincinnati.
Nolasco last faced the Dodgers (23-30) on April 25, when he allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings and did not get a decision in Florida's 5-4 comeback win.
The Southern California native is making his second start at Dodger Stadium. He gave up two runs in six innings of a 5-3, 11-inning Marlins victory July 12, 2008.
The Marlins, who dropped Friday's series opener 3-2, are 10-5 at Dodger Stadium since 2007. Greg Dobbs has pounded out three hits and driven in two runs in each of the first two games of this series for Florida, which has won four of five overall and is trying to move 11 games above .500 for the first time since finishing 87-75 in 2009.
Los Angeles, loser of 10 of 14, is trying to avoid falling eight games below the break-even mark for the first time since July 27, 2006, when it was 47-55.
Anemic offense is the biggest reason for the Dodgers' current struggles. The team has managed six hits in each of its last four games and has plated three runs or fewer in 11 of 14.
"I think that when a team is kind of in a funk, guys try to press a little bit and try a little too hard to pick up their team," third baseman Casey Blake said. "We just need to realize that we need to let the game come to us and try not to do too much and just let it happen."
One key bat, Andre Ethier, could be emerging from his slump.
Ethier is 3 for 7 with a solo homer and a double in the first two games of this series after going 2 for 31 in his previous 12 contests. His .368 career average versus Florida is his best against any NL opponent, and he is 3 for 7 lifetime versus Nolasco.
The Dodgers will counter Nolasco with Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.96), who gave up one run and four hits while striking out seven in six innings of Monday's 4-3 loss to Houston. The left-hander, who didn't get a decision, has permitted two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.
Kershaw yielded four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Florida on April 26.
With staff ace Josh Johnson still on the disabled list because of shoulder inflammation, Florida manager Edwin Rodriguez relied heavily on his bullpen Saturday.
Brian Sanches made his first major league start after 166 relief appearances and allowed one run in three innings. Four more relievers followed, and the Marlins' pitchers combined to six-hit Los Angeles in a 6-1 victory.
"Winning 6-1 on a bullpen day, you have to feel good," Rodriguez said. "After we announced that J.J. was down, all the starters started stepping up -- and now the bullpen did."
With the bullpen taxed, the Marlins (30-20) hope Nolasco (4-0, 3.04 ERA) can duplicate his last outing.
Nolasco pitched scoreless ball into the ninth inning of Tuesday's 5-1 win over San Francisco. The right-hander gave up one run and seven hits in a season-best 8 1/3 innings to earn his first victory since May 1 at Cincinnati.
Nolasco last faced the Dodgers (23-30) on April 25, when he allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings and did not get a decision in Florida's 5-4 comeback win.
The Southern California native is making his second start at Dodger Stadium. He gave up two runs in six innings of a 5-3, 11-inning Marlins victory July 12, 2008.
The Marlins, who dropped Friday's series opener 3-2, are 10-5 at Dodger Stadium since 2007. Greg Dobbs has pounded out three hits and driven in two runs in each of the first two games of this series for Florida, which has won four of five overall and is trying to move 11 games above .500 for the first time since finishing 87-75 in 2009.
Los Angeles, loser of 10 of 14, is trying to avoid falling eight games below the break-even mark for the first time since July 27, 2006, when it was 47-55.
Anemic offense is the biggest reason for the Dodgers' current struggles. The team has managed six hits in each of its last four games and has plated three runs or fewer in 11 of 14.
"I think that when a team is kind of in a funk, guys try to press a little bit and try a little too hard to pick up their team," third baseman Casey Blake said. "We just need to realize that we need to let the game come to us and try not to do too much and just let it happen."
One key bat, Andre Ethier, could be emerging from his slump.
Ethier is 3 for 7 with a solo homer and a double in the first two games of this series after going 2 for 31 in his previous 12 contests. His .368 career average versus Florida is his best against any NL opponent, and he is 3 for 7 lifetime versus Nolasco.
The Dodgers will counter Nolasco with Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.96), who gave up one run and four hits while striking out seven in six innings of Monday's 4-3 loss to Houston. The left-hander, who didn't get a decision, has permitted two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.
Kershaw yielded four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Florida on April 26.