I was working on a post, but once I heard about Clayton Kershaw, I decided to put that post on the shelf, and start a new post on Clayton. I did not get too far in it as I was watching the Giants TV feed and listening to Steven Nelson and Rick Monday on the Dodgers radio feed.
Yoshi Yamamoto was effectively wild. Can I say that?? He threw 108 pitches in 5.1 scoreless IP. He only allowed a 2nd inning single by Patrick Bailey. He stuck out 7, but he walked a career high 6. After walking Willy Adames a 2nd time, he struck out Matt Chapman and was relieved by LHRP Jack Dreyer. Dreyer ended the inning by retiring both batters he faced including striking out Casey Schmitt to end the ending.
The Dodgers scored two in the bottom of the 6th. The first one was thanks to a dropped throw to the plate by catcher Bailey that Ben Rortvedt scored on. Freddie singled home Shohei Ohtani who doubled earlier in the inning. Teoscar followed with a hit to the right of Willy Adames in short left field, made a great stop, and threw Teoscar out a 1B to save another run.
In the 7th, it got interesting. The Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen duo struck out the side…but they walked 4 to give the Giants their lone run.
Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia retired all 6 batters they faced 3 via the K. Vesia got the save. The Dodgers have now beat Logan Webb twice in his last two starts. Webb now needs just 4.1 IP in his next start to reach 200 IP for the third straight year.
Dodger pitchers struck out 14 SFG batters, while only 5 LAD batters struck out. The Dodgers were 1-6 wRISP, while the Giants were 0-7. Dodgers had 4 LOB while SF had 9. Rortvedt got another hit, and threw out another would be base stealer.
I think it is telling that with Dalton Rushing reportedly healthy, it is Rortvedt who is starting every game. It looks like Rushing is the backup catcher again. They are both LH hitters, so that is not a factor. Benny Biceps has started 9 of the last 11 LAD games. Will Smith and Chuckie Robinson started the other two. Rushing has been activated for the last three games. Dalton came in to catch 2 innings and got 1 AB on 09/16. Hopefully he will get a start soon.
With the win, the Dodgers now have a 7-3 lead in the season series vs the Giants, and have now clinched the season series.
The Dodgers magic number to 6 to clinch the NL West and the magic number is down to 1 to clinch a pl, ayoff spot.
Friday’s game will feature Clayton Kershaw in his final regular season start in Dodger Stadium. His next start and final in his illustrious HOF regular season career, could be in Seattle. I believe the game is on Apple TV, and I would rather watch that feed than the Giants feed.
Tulsa was shut out by Springfield (St. Louis) 3-0 to lose the first round of the playoffs 2 games to 0. They had a very good 2nd half, but it just wasn’t good enough. Sunday should be the final game of the MiLB season as that will be OKC’s final game of the 2026 season.
In Thursday’s game, OKC built an 8-0 lead, went down 10-8, and then scored 4 to win the game 12-10. Andrew Heaney started and went 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit, 1 BB, and struck out 3. Roki Sasaki came in to pitch 1 inning in relief, 1 BB and 2 K. He got his 4-seamer up to triple digits, and was in the upper 90’s for several 4-seamers. Kyle Hurt also pitched a perfect inning with 1 K.
Sasaki will pitch again on Sunday, then a decision will be made.
Ryan Ward had 2 HR on the night for this 35th and 36th of the season. He had 3 RBI, and now has 122 for the season.
Alex Freeland had three hits and 4 RBI. He hit his 30th double of the season and his 15th HR. Alex has 80 RBIs on the season.
Esteury Ruiz had another pair of hits, including his 24th double.
Noah Miller had 3 hits including his 11th double.
Box Score
Weird game. 10 walks, 1 hit, 14 Ks. Melvin must be fuming. HPU was awful. He missed a bunch of calls on both sides.
Got a win in a game we probably should have lost. A nice change as we have lost a lot of games lately that we should have won.
Very weird. According to one report, it was the first 1-hit, 10-BB shutout in MLB history.
Seems plausible.
Congrats to Kersh on his retirement, and good job on the timing of the announcement. Kersh, I think, has exceeded most fans’ expectations this season, and nothing would be better than to cap it off with another championship. Do I think this Dodger team needs extra motivation?
Yes I do.
Looking forward to Will Smith getting back while we wait for the playoff pitching staff to be sorted.
Wow! Just woke up to see that Kersh has announced his retirement. Thank you Kersh for all these many wonderful and memorable moments that you have given us. Baseball just won’t be the same for me without you. Can’t wait for Charlie to make his mlb debut. One of the greatest to ever put a uniform on. But beyond that even a better person. A great teammate, husband and father. And a great ambassador for baseball and the Lord.
This doesn’t seem too promising
https://dodgersway.com/dave-roberts-ominous-will-smith-injury-update-should-have-dodgers-fans-worried?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=2886516fdf4c1bbd0df3e577e8537ffae31f9cb863e3598a2891ce7bddb0fbce
And having his best season ever. Big blow to Will and the team if he misses time in October. And Watford, why didn’t you warn me about all the rain in the Cotswolds last week? 😂 Loved every moment!
I think the magic number is 6.
There’s been some talk about Ohtani playing the outfield. Makes me wonder if Smith is able to DH but not catch.
Magic number fixed.
Doc has already said that there will be a lot of one-handed swings. His top hand will come off the bat. Doc also says Will is going to play in October. I usually do not like to follow Doc’s medical status statements, but because Will is needed, I have to hope Doc is right on this one.
Unfortunately guys are going to have to play injured if they want to win. We saw how injured Freddie was last year. Hope that he’s as close to 100% as possible when the playoffs start.
Agreed, and I am sure Smith will play with a bad hand, and will catch.
Oh, that’s a good point
5 hits and 1 RBI. And a win. Yeah. Strange.
Dodgers starters have a “pitch count struggle” that has been concerning all year. What can be done about it? Nothing really. Stack the bullpen with shutdown arms.
A lineup without Will Smith sounds like a lineup that is one bat short. That article at Dodgers Way about him to third base makes sense to me.
The Tower Buzzers?
Heaney and Sasaki. Find room and see if they can shut down hitters in late innings. Add Hurt as well.
Stewart needed in the pen too.
And Kersh?
CK you are a total class act!
Smith injury update is ominous.
Edman healthy now, yet Conforto still plays. Infuriating!
Even Call a better option than him.
Just enough time for Roberts to use Sasaki in the postseason and blow it.
Assuming Big 3 starters, Kershaw & Ohtani, remaining 9 spots go to:
LHP: Vesia, Scott, Banda, [Wrobleski]
RHP: Treinen, Yates, Sheehan, Henriquez, Casparius, Kopech, [Hurt/Stewart/Sasaki]
Who did I forget?
Heaney & Knack
I do not believe that Knack is a consideration for the postseason.
Me neither, he has not been very good or consistent at OKC.
I’m still a Koufax man. In several ways his numbers, in 6 fewer years, are superior to Kershaw’s. Koufax was the best of his generation, and Kershaw can make the same claim, but being old school, give me complete games, 137, complete game shutouts, 40, no hitters, 4 and a 0.95 ERA in 4 World Series. I was also lucky enough to be one of 92,000 who saw Koufax go 7 innings, giving up only 1 earned and losing 1-0 to the White Sox and Bob Shaw in 1959. What a thrill. Met Joe DiMaggio and Nat King Cole. I sat behind Doris Day, my uncle pointed out some guy named Frank Sinatra, (I had no idea who either were) and toured some of William Randolph Hearst home on that same day. What a memorable day that was. I was 11 at the time. But, I digress….
Long time Dodger fans are fortunate to be able to say they have witnessed both of these HOF pitchers perform.
Same here, and with all respect to Kershaw, I would take Koufax in his prime to pitch a game seven for all the marbles over Kersh any day. Kersh’s post season numbers are very pedestrian. 2 of the 3 games Sandy lost in the World Series were definitely not his fault. 1-0 and then the last series game he pitched where Willie Davis made 3 errors in one inning and the Dodger offense was abysmal.
I.wonder if the Dodgers.medical staff is missing something with Smiths hand. Xrays don’t always show small fractures. I know they have a good medical staff but I have seen way too many missed calls from experts. I hope it is just a bone bruise like they are saying.
Deep bone bruises can be very painful for a long time. Got one on my knee that lasted well over a month.
I had a hip pointer my senior year. Hurt like hell for a month. Along with a hairline fracture in my elbow, courtesy of a defensive lineman’s helmet, I was a wreck. Smith? A bone bruise on the throwing hand could last a month or more, maybe eliminating him from the playoffs
Unlikely their docs missed anything. More likely we’re missing the (full) truth of what they actually know.
Ain’t that the truth. 
This weekend could get interesting. When do we bring up Roki, Hurt, and Brock Stewart? When we do, who goes down (obviously Yates should sent with the Giants back to SF)
Pads at the White Sox this weekend. Chicago was horrific to start the year, but they’ve been much less horrific lately, so hopefully they can take 1-3.
As Badger said I feel blessed to have seen Sandy and Kersh pitch best in Dodger.history. Duke was’the icing on the cake.
Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Gil Hodges. Did I tell you I met Snider at his restaurant/bar in Fallbrook? He was tending bar. Me and a buddy were the only two at the bar. Duke Snider poured me a beer. Another great memory.
Met Duke at a card show in Orange. He signed an 8X10 for me, the only autographed Dodger photo I have. I do have Erskine’s on one of his baseball cards, and Karros and Mondesi. Most of my autographs have been of country music singers. Have all of Alabama’s, Johnny Lee and Larry Stewart who was with Restless Heart. I also have Hank Aaron’s.
Pretty cool also Bear lived in Mt. Juliet TN. Daughter went to school with Charlie Daniels kids
I met Charlie at the Crazy Horse Saloon in Santa Ana. Got to go backstage and meet him and the band. Like a dummy, I forgot to ask for his autograph. I did a lot of his songs when I was playing in California. Two of my favorites were Simple Man and Drinking My Baby Goodbye.
That is pretty cool indeed a great memory. Liked wills alot myself.
Wills sat down next to me at the Kaiser Grill in Palm Springs. We shared a pizza, had some laughs, and he signed my receipt. I have it framed in my office. Great guy. My wife ran into him at the grocery store in Sedona. He lived there. The two of them shared a pleasant conversation. She didn’t let on she knew who he was until the end of the conversation, when she said “bye Maury”. He laughed.
I met Rollie Fingers at Universal Studios. His moustache was impressive. Down to earth and easy to talk to.
Stewart did not have a great outing last night. He pitched .2 innings gave up a hit and a walk, struck out 2 and was charged with 4 unearned runs. Miller, the SS made an error behind him. Bobby Miller got the save with a 2 K ninth stranding some runners.
Wow, thank you Giants. How do you receive 10 walks and score one run? Oh yeah, get one hit.
It also helps that the Giants do zero to manufacture a run. I think it was the 7th, after Kopech had walked 2 that Drew Gilbert, hitting .210 in the 9 hole, comes to bat. 2 runs down. Maybe it’s old school but that situation just screams sac bunt but to move the tying runs into scoring position.
Of course, there was NO bunt attempt and Gilbert struck out.
As frequently happens, Joe Davis reported that Gilbert’s last sac bunt was 4 years ago when he was in college.
My question is why?
A 9 hole hitter, batting .210 needs to help his club and be able to sac bunt. It’s just basic fundamental baseball to me. I will absolutely give up an out to get guys on 2nd and 3rd, in that situation.
Yamamoto has good stuff but throws way too many pitches. 20 pitches per inning is too many and he gets him through 5.1. Too much nibble. I think it’s an issue for the entire staff. We pay top dollar for front line pitchers and ask them to avoid challenging hitters.
Kopech and Treinen took 42 pitches to complete 1 inning. I thought Doc might break his leg running out to pull Kopech after his 3rd hitter. He’s just horseshit. And Treinen isn’t much better. I can’t trust either in a high leverage situation and along with Yates they have no spots on a playoff roster.
Treinen thought he was getting squeezed and maybe had a case if ABS was in place. But a human was behind the dish calling pitches and Treinen has been around long enough to know he had not established shit and didn’t earn close strikes. He was all over the place. He actually got a couple of calls that were balls. Pitch better and you’ll get more calls.
Against better teams that are going to get more than 1 hit, this act won’t last. There are 3 things that won’t last long; dogs that chase cars, 10 footers for pars and 10 walks dished out in a baseball game.
While I agree with most of what you wrote, I have to take exception a bit about Yamamoto. He had a bad outing with his command, but still gave up no runs. Putting that aside, not considering his disastrous start against Milwaukee on July 7, since July, Yamamoto has 11 starts, 72.0 IP, 976 pitches, 86 K, and 18 BB (4.78 K/BB). That is 6.5 IP/start, and 97.6 pitches/start. For today’s pitchers, that is very good. He will get less starts than most pitchers because the Dodgers are using a 6-man rotation.
Since July, Yamamoto:
BA Against – .166 (best in MLB) – 46 hits in 78.0 IP.
K% – 30.6% (5th best) – K/9 – 10.73 (6th best)
K/BB% – 22.0% (7th best)
WHIP – 0.92 (6th best)
ERA – 2.58 (5th best)
Yes, he still walks too many batters, and I agree with you that this is organizational issue.
IMO, he is the 3rd best pitcher in the NL behind Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sánchez.
Yamamoto – 5th best, 6th best, 5th best, 7th best, 6th best and 5th best. And all that for just 12-year, $325 million contract, which includes a $50 million signing bonus and a total guaranteed amount of $325 million. His average annual salary is approximately $27.1 million.
I would expect at least that performance for that kind of money with fewer walks.
If you are making this about $$$, Yamamoto has justified his 2025 salary. He only needs a 3.4 fWAR to justify $27.0MM. The contract Yama was based off was Gerrit Cole’s $324MM after 2019 season. Since 2020 Cole has been paid $193.3MM but the value he earned is $136.8MM. I noticed you did not include the best BAA in MLB. So if he allows less hits than any MLB pitcher, I can take the walks. There were reportedly 2 other teams looking to spend $300MM+ on Yamamoto, so the team paid the market rate. I am glad he is a Dodger, and I do not care about the $$$.
Yamamato is a #1 starter. He’s paid like it, and more importantly, he’s pitched like it.
He’s 11-8, with an ERA under 2.6 and a whip under 1.00. The only reason he doesn’t have near 17-19 wins is because he gets the worst run support in baseball AND the bullpen has blown 3-5 of his games.
I’d personally start him in a Game 2, after Snell in Game1
I am glad the Dodgers have Yamamoto. He can be frustrating to watch as he will go 1,2,3 and the next inning with 2 outs he suddenly can’t find the zone. Or he gets 0-2 and ends up 3-2 on every batter. Last year and half of this year I felt he has been very inconsistent n really not elite but on occasion. However, not counting last night his last 3-4 starts he has been elite. He looked like what I was expecting when they signed him. Mb his transition is finally here. His fastball has really been good n he has carried 97-98 into the seventh. He just can’t pitch on short rest. He is who he is. I blame Roberts n Af for trying to change his routine because the results are not good. It hurts in the playoffs because he will fewer starts.
Bobby, are you going to Fri nights game?
Noooooooo unable to. I’m sure it’ll be electric inside and I’m so hoping he pitches a great game
Cassidy – glad you enjoyed your time in the Cotswolds. A special place. We’ve had the Donald Trump state visit this week. One things for dure, the US and the UK will always have each other’s backs.
What to make of Kershaw’s announcement?
My first reaction in hearing the news was that Clayton knows. He knows that this is as good as it’s gonna get. He knows that he if he wants to finish his career as a Dodger, this is it.
He had 2 operations last off season, shoulder and toe and this is what is left. A 90 mph Fast Ball, and some astute, experienced Pitching that occasionally blows up. He knows there is no place for him on the Dodgers next season with the stacked Rotation and players coming back from TJ like Ryan and Grove. It wasn’t his intention to leave the stage now, but now is the right time. He didn’t have those off season ops to call it a day a year later, but he knows his time as a Dodger is almost over. And he doesn’t want to play for another team. He wants to manage the situation and doesn’t want to have the decision taken out of his hands, and feel like the Dodgers are honouring his name by giving him another contract when they don’t need him. A class act.
It’s also a spur, a rallying call to his teammates. Let’s go out on a high. He’ knows this is the right time.
Dalton Rushing to catch Kersh final Dodger stadium regular season game. What an honor for him!
A lot of emotions tonight at the ballpark. Kersh struck Devers out, the last batter he faced. He also struck out the first batter he faced at Dodger Stadium, Skip Schumaker when he was with the Cardinals. I was happy they got the win, Padres lost, D-Backs lost LA in the playoffs for the 12th straight year. Looks like they will play the Mets at Dodger Stadium. I think they start Yoshi and Snell in games 1 & 2. Unfortunately, they are on the same side of the bracket as the Phillies, so if they do win the Wild Card, they have to find a way to beat Philly on the road, where they have not been very good this year. Kopech back on the IL with knee issues. Klein recalled.
Philly is last thing to worry about now
I did not say they had to worry about it now, their first job will be winning 2 of the Wild Card games, most likely against the Mets. If they do that, then they can start worrying about the Phillies. I know what I am talking about, you do not need to say stuff like that.
Bear, Can’t you let ANYTHING go? Not every response is meant to be a criticism of you. Its just a harmless comment