It’s no secret that the Dodgers have the highest annual payroll in all of baseball – $308,740,533 at last count. But on Wednesday evening, they fielded a starting line-up that totaled a mere $29,400,400 – a drop in the bucket in the big scheme of things for Mark Walter and the rest of the Guggenheim Baseball Management group. In fact, the highest paid player in Wednesday’s starting line-up was 36-year-old Chase Utley, who the Dodgers acquired at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, with a portion of his $15 million salary being paid for by the Philadelphia Phillies.

At first glance, Wednesday’s starting line-up against the last place last place Colorado Rockies resembled one that you might expect to see during a spring training game, and with good cause. Aside from A.J. Ellis, Alex Guerrero and Joc Pederson, none of the other starting nine were even on the Dodgers 25-man roster on Opening Day. In an amusing  pregame tweet by L.A. Times Dodgers beat reporter Bill Shaikin, he noted exactly where each of Wednesday’s starting nine were on Opening Day 2015:

The reason Dodgers manager Don Mattingly went with a lineup that he himself called “weird” was because of Tuesday night’s marathon 16-inning game against these same Rockies in which a record-setting 24 pitchers were used – a game that lasted five hours and 23 minutes and half of which was played in a light but steady rain. Mattingly opted to start his back-up players over his regulars to give them a little extra rest. He did, however, insert starting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez as a defensive replacement late in the game in one of his trademark double-switches.

In spite of a very good outing by Rockies ace Jorge De La Rosa, who allowed only two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts in his eight innings of work, the Dodger replacements beat the Rockies by a score of 2-0. Their first run came on an a solo home run by old Dodger A.J. Ellis in the bottom second inning and their second on an RBI single by new Dodger Corey Seager in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis absolutely owns September. He provided what would prove to be the game-winning run with his solo home run in the second inning of Wednesday night’s game. It was his sixth home run of the season and second in three games. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Rookie phenom Corey Seager provided a huge insurance run with his RBI single in the sixth inning. It was his second hit of the night, now giving him seven multi-hit games in the 14 games he has played in since his September 1 call-up. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But without question the star of Wednesday night’s Dodgers victory was left-hander Alex Wood, who the Dodgers also acquired at the trade deadline – he from the Braves in the deal that sent Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez and minor league pitcher Zach Bird to Atlanta. Wood tossed eight scoreless innings allowing only one hit – a two out single to Rockies left fielder Kyle Parker in the second inning – while striking out five and walking none. It was a far cry from Wood’s previous outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 11 when he allowed six runs on eight hits and never made it out of the second inning.

“My last start I didn’t command my fastball, I couldn’t throw my changeup and, obviously, I threw some pretty bad breaking balls,” Wood told reporters after Wednesday night’s win. “Usually you have at least one [of your pitches working] even on your worst days. Tonight my fastball was moving in and out, I commanded my changeup and threw breaking balls. It was a good night.”

After the worst game of his career only five days ago, Alex Wood had the best game of his career on Wednesday night when he allowed no runs and only one hit in his eight innings of work.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Good indeed. So good, in fact, that the 24-year-old Charlotte, NC native had thrown only 78 pitches through eight innings (no, that is not a typo). As such, you can imagine his surprise when Mattingly told him that Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was going to replace him in the ninth inning.

“I was a little surprised [that Mattingly was taking me out],” Wood said. “He came to shake my hand, I was pulling it back a little bit.”

After the initial shock wore off, Wood realized that with the NL West title at stake, it was the right move and was relieved when he learned that Mattingly wasn’t mad at him for declining his handshake.

“He looked at me kind of funny,” Mattingly said with a laugh after the game. “I just said ‘That’s it, don’t even ask.'”

After Today’s off day – their final one of the season – the Dodgers will host the red hot Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend and then entertain the Dbacks for a four-game set before heading out on their final road trip of the season. After three games at Coors Field against the Rockies the Dodgers will finish up with a potentially huge four game series against the hated Giants at AT&T Park. They then return to Dodger Stadium to conclude their 2015 regular season with three against the San Diego Padres.

Strap in and hang on, it’s going to be a wild ride to the finish line.