Dodgers try lefty bats this time against Bumgarner to no avail
The Dodgers, like every other team in the league so far, have gone almost exclusively right-handed when facing left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner this year. Until Thursday, Bumgarner had only faced three left-handed position players. In his two prior starts against the Dodgers this season, opposing pitcher Clayton Kershaw was the only left-handed batter to face him.
Perhaps because the Dodgers hadn’t beaten MadBum in either of those games, manager Don Mattingly decided to keep left-handed sluggers Joc Pederson and Adrian Gonzalez the lineup. According to ESPN LA, Mattingly called Pederson’s reaction to being in the lineup the “highlight of the night.” He said:
“He had a huge smile on his face,” Mattingly said. “That was cool. It’s obviously a huge challenge facing Madison. The fact he had a smile on his face and was kind of like, ‘Yeah.’ I like that. It would be very easy for a young guy to say, ‘Man, I don’t have to get myself ready for that.’ ”
Neither man made much of a difference for the Dodgers on Thursday as they were shut out for the third consecutive game at AT&T Park. Gonzalez picked up a single against Bumgarner and Pederson got a double on a pop fly to center which might usually be caught.
(h/t ESPN LA)
Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
