News
Wolf enjoys resurgence with Dodgers
Los Angeles (40-22) at Texas (35-25), 5:05 p.m. PT
By Daniel Paulling / MLB.com
06/12/09 11:27 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- A small adjustment has turned around Randy Wolf's career. He was struggling through a 6-10 record with a 4.74 ERA to start the 2008 season with the Padres, who traded him to the Astros on July 22. |
"What happens is, before surgery, pitchers will alter their mechanics," Wolf said. "They'll start developing bad habits and that messes with location when they come back."
Wolf said he was guilty of changing his delivery before undergoing Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on July 1, 2005. Wolf also had surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder. With the Astros, he realized he was dragging his arm behind his body while throwing in the outfield. "It's huge," Wolf said. "When I was with the Padres, I was awful. I didn't have a good idea where the ball was going. This year, I feel good. About 90 percent of the time, the ball goes to the area I want it to go." Wolf finished on a high note with the Astros: he went 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA. He then signed with the Dodgers last offseason and is 3-2 with a 3.62 ERA over 82 innings pitched. "He's been terrific," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "Both he and [Chad] Billingsley have been the 1-2 punch. He's been good ever since Spring Training. I've been impressed." Pitching matchupLAD: LHP Randy Wolf (3-2, 3.62 ERA)
Wolf didn't have one of his best starts on Sunday against the Phillies, one of his former teams. In the second inning, Wolf gave up a double to Raul Ibanez, who later scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Wolf then gave up three singles during a two-run fifth that gave Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Wolf was finally chased from the game in the seventh after giving up a two-run homer to Carlos Ruiz and a solo shot to Shane Victorino. In all, Wolf lasted 6 1/3 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits. This will be Wolf's first career appearance against the Rangers. TEX: RHP Scott Feldman (5-1, 4.01 ERA)
Feldman allowed four earned runs, all of which came on a pair of two-run home runs, over six innings against the Blue Jays on Monday. He had started the season 5-0 but took his first loss. Since joining the rotation after three appearances as a reliever, Feldman has posted a 2.67 ERA (18 earned runs over 54 innings). His ERA as a reliever was 12.15 (nine earned runs in 6 2/3 innings). Monday's start raised his season ERA to 4.01, the first time Feldman's ratio has increased after an appearance this season. Tidbits
Jonathan Broxton is away from the club after his wife, Elizabeth, had a baby boy Thursday. Torre expects Broxton to return to the club Saturday, assuming everything goes well. ... Jason Schmidt, who has been on the disabled list since June 18 of last season, threw a simulated game of 30 pitches Friday and Torre expects him to begin his rehab assignments next week. ... Eric Milton (on the disabled list since Sunday) and Will Ohman (on the disabled list since May 30) threw bullpen sessions Friday. ... Eric Stults (on disabled list since June 1) threw off flat ground and experienced a bit of stiffness but nothing out of the ordinary. ... Hong-Chih Kuo (on disabled list since May 3) is expected to throw a bullpen Saturday. Tickets
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• Sunday: Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 8-3, 2.73) at Rangers (Derek Holland, 1-3, 6.54), 12:05 p.m. PT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 3-5, 4.50) vs. Athletics (Dallas Braden, 5-5, 3.33), 7:10 p.m. PT
Daniel Paulling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
