What started out being a great game turned into another Kiké Hernández joke. I am generally okay when the position player pitches when the team is on the losing end of a blow out, but not on the winning side. It seemed very much to me that Kiké did not take the game seriously. I would have much rather had Anthony Banda come in to pitch a clean 9th.
This was closer to vintage Clayton Kershaw, albeit without his fastball and double digit strikeouts. His slider was the best it has been all year. The old man is now the 2nd LAD pitcher to go 7.0 innings in 2025. He did not allow a run. He did give up a pair of doubles, a single, and 1 BB, along with 5 K. He now has 2,988 strikeouts in his HOF career, 12 shy of the 3,000 K milestone and becoming the 4th LHP ever to record 3,000 K.
Kersh was also extremely efficient. He threw just 81 pitches in his 7.0 innings.
For the month of June, Kershaw has 3 starts and has completed 16.2 innings. For those 16.2 IP, Kershaw has allowed 4 earned runs, on 15 hits, 4 BB, 14 K, a 2.16 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. He has averaged 85 pitches per game for the 3 starts.
Kershaw has 5 starts after his 2025 debut. For those 5 starts, Kershaw has thrown 23.2 innings, allowed 21 hits, 5 earned runs, 7 BB, and 18 K. That calculates to a 1.90 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Of his last 5 games, the first one was limited to 2.0 IP because of rain at NYM.
The sample size continues to grow, and there is enough there now to tell us that Clayton Kershaw is not a problem in the rotation. He is not elite any longer. He is not a CY candidate. But he is darn good. More importantly, Kershaw led the Dodgers to a victory on Bear’s birthday.
But Kershaw was not the only star on this night. From the pitching side, it was great to see Michael Kopech pitch a scoreless 8th inning with 2 K. Kopech and Kirby Yates now give the Dodgers much needed late inning high leverage RHRP.
Shohei Ohtani finally brought back his HR swing. He slugged 2 HRs, and his 25 HRs lead the NL by three, and is 1 behind MLB leaders, Aaron Judge and Seattle’s catcher Cal Raleigh. Ohtani scored 3 runs, and now has 71 runs for the MLB lead in runs scored.
Shohei Ohtani's SEVENTH leadoff homer of the year! pic.twitter.com/VK2Q79Km2X
— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025
Shohei Ohtani's SECOND homer of the night! pic.twitter.com/vgaf9GhSoC
— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025
Teoscar Hernández slugged a HR in his 3rd consecutive game. He is showing signs of coming out of his slump. In his last three games, he has 4 hits in 11 AB, and 6 hits and 2 BB in 13 PA. He does not have a strikeout in these games.
TESOCAR HERNÁNDEZ 2 RUN BOMB
pic.twitter.com/NPEFTlNI1K— Jack (@MidWestLAFan) August 6, 2024
Max Muncy had 2 hits including his 9th double, and reached base 4 times with 2 BB. Michael Conforto got an early needed RBI double, his 10th.
Every LAD starter had at least 1 hit except Freddie Freeman, but he did have 2 walks. This was probably the most complete game the Dodgers have played since the 18-2 win over NYY.
The Dodgers now are alone again in 1st in the NL West with a 1.0 game lead over SF, and 3.0 games over San Diego. Glasnow faced MiLB hitters in a sim game on Friday, and looked good. Doc commented:
“The velocity was there, the swing-and-miss, the delivery. Talking to him after, he was really excited. There’ll be another simulated game, two innings, next week. Not sure exactly which day. But we’re very encouraged. I thought the stuff was really good, and Tyler was pretty excited.”
On Blake Snell who threw another bullpen:
“I think he got to 20, 25 pitches and it was crispy, it was good,” Roberts said. “Really good. I’m not sure what his next one is, but he came out of it really well which is exciting for all of us. I’m sure the next one we’ll probably start incorporating some spin.”
Blake Treinen is also throwing but he is not yet far enough along to get a positive feel as to where he is in his rehab.
Shohei Ohtani is getting closer, and Emmet Sheehan could be reinstated sometime next week. I am sure they cynics will comment that they will not stay healthy, and that is possible. But what if they do? All of them?
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 8 – Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) 7
Michael Chavis hit for the cycle and the Oklahoma City Comets pulled off another late comeback to defeat the Albuquerque Isotopes, 8-7, Saturday night.
SATURDAY NIGHT CYCLE ☄️@Dodgers farmhand Michael Chavis goes single, homer, triple, double to help spur a comeback @OKC_comets victory 🎊 pic.twitter.com/EomdaxmPef
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 15, 2025
Albuquerque broke a tie in the bottom of the eighth inning and went to the ninth inning with a 7-6 lead. After the first two Comets hitters were retired, Michael Chavis doubled, completing the cycle, and Hunter Feduccia followed with a game-tying RBI single. Two batters later, Steward Berroa knocked a RBI single to give the Comets the lead at 8-7. The Isotopes put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning before Noah Davis induced a game-ending ground ball double play.
Albuquerque raced out a 5-1 lead through two innings. OKC scored twice in the third inning, including a solo homer by Chavis. Down, 6-3, in the sixth inning, Chavis tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly. Alex Freeland and James Outman each hit a RBI single in the seventh inning to even the score at 6-6 before the Isotopes went ahead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Chavis was the only OKC Comet to have a XBH. His cycle was hit as follows:
- Single – 1st inning
- HR – 3rd inning
- Triple – 6th inning
- Double – 9th inning
- Michael Chavis – 4-5, 3 runs, 1 RBI, double (18), triple (2), HR (12)
- Esteury Ruiz – 3-4, 1 HBP
- Steward Berroa – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI
- Kody Hoese – 2-5, 1 run
Tulsa Drillers at Springfield Cardinals – Game Suspended in bottom of 2nd inning
Great Lakes Loons 9 – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee) 2
The Great Lakes Loons had three multi-run innings as an offense, and the pitching struck out 17 in a dominant 9-2 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Mike Sirota led the Loons with a three-hit performance, the 21-year-old started the scoring in the first inning with a 100 mph RBI single to left field.
Timber Rattlers left fielder Tayden Hall had the response in the second inning with a solo home run. It was the only run permitted by Sean Linan. The right-hander struck out a High-A best seven through his 4.2 innings.
Kendall George drove in four runs, the most RBI in a game this season for George. An opposite-field bloop single scored two in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. A first-pitch attack and a hard groundball to right-center made it 9-1 in the fifth.
The Loons’ most productive inning was a four-run bottom of the third. Mike Sirota led off with a double, and Logan Wagner worked a six-pitch walk. With two outs, the next three Loons reached. Jake Gelof ripped a two-run frozen rope double to bring the lead to 5-1. Wilman Diaz walked and Frank Rodriguez drove in Gelof and Diaz with a line drive up the left-field line.
Joel Ibarra, Wyatt Crowell and Carson Hobbs combined for the final 4.1 innings. Crowell matched a season-high punching out seven, including the side in the eighth. Hobbs recorded the final three outs.
Josue De Paula, with an eighth-inning single, extended his hitting streak to nine games.
A complete victory for the Loons.
- Kendall George – 2-5, 4 RBI
- Mike Sirota – 3-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (6)
- Joe Vetrao – 2-5, 1 run
- Jake Gelof – 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (4)
- Frank Rodriguez – double (1)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6 – Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 4
One night after wrapping up the First Half South Division Title, the won their fourth straight win over Inland Empire, 6-4 on Saturday night.
Mairo Martinus had three hits and two RBIs, as the Quakes won their first series victory in nearly a month, as they’ve taken four of the first five in the series.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Rancho got even when Martinus drove home Samuel Munoz with an RBI single
.The Quakes took the lead for good, scoring three times and chasing the 66ers SP in the fifth. Niko Perez and Martinus each had a run-scoring hit in the inning, giving Rancho a 4-1 lead.
The 66ers threatened in the sixth, scoring twice against Marco Corcho, but Shawn Oduber (2-0) came out of the pen and left the tying runs stranded to preserve a 6-4 lead.
Jhonny Jimenez pitched around two hits in the ninth to earn his second save of the year.
The Quakes will send Jakob Wright (0-0) to the mound on Sunday.
Yes, Joendry Vargas is back on the 7-day IL.
- Mairo Martinus – 3-4, 2 RBI
- Samuel Munoz – 2-5, 2 runs
- Niko Perez – 2-5, 1 RBI, double (3)
- Jaron Elkins – Triple (3)
Excellent game by CK. I have to admit I did not think he had a game like that still in him. Glad I was wrong. Dodgers badly need starts like that. Coupled with the off day on Thursday and Wrobleski taking down 4.1 IP yesterday it reset the bullpen pretty nicely.
Would really like Sirota and dePaula put on the fast track to AA soon. not much to prove for both kids at high A.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope too
Kershaw is the ace of this staff?
Never thought I would be considering that. Not with an 88 mph fastball. The rest of the staff should take note. Learn how to pitch boys.
“i would have much rather had Anthony Banda come in to pitch a clean 9th.”
Amen to that. You have a chance to shut out your rivals. Shut ‘em out dammit.
Good news regarding Snell, Glasnow and Sheehan. No rush as far as I’m concerned. 4 months of pitching is more than fine with me. In fact I’d be ok with 3 months. August, September and October. The Dodgers could play .500 ball, which they are doing, until the trade deadline, still be 13 games over .500 in the standings, get everyone back healthy, then roll through October.
I doubt that happens though. They’ve already played 71 games. 10 more games and they are half way through the season. The second half actually starts sooner than one might think. These guys could get back in time to each get 15 starts and 90 innings before the playoffs start. Too much for them? Maybe. Sure would like to see Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, May and Kershaw well rested for October. 6 man rotation would help. If Sheehan and Sasaki are both healthy that could happen.
Clayton’s fastball sits in the same range as Kike’s!!
Good to see the great man pitch so well.
88 mph was good enough for Doc Brown, so it’s good enough for me!
Ah! 88 miles per hour! The temporal displacement occurred exactly 1:20 a.m. and zero seconds!
I like the picture your painting I thought Kershaw was through but alas glad to be wrong. Roberts using Hernandez can you say you cant fix stupid.
I thought Roberts was going to bring in Little to pitch. Had no problem seeing Hernandez. Everyone keeps complaining about the bullpen being used to much. This was the perfect time to save some bullets.
Thoroughly enjoyable game until the 9th. Sorry, I am of the mind that Doc should have just sent Banda out there anyway since he ended up using him. Kike is the team clown, and he threw like that last night. Except for the 87 MPH fastball that struck out Koss, he was throwing ephus balls. Why did he not throw one of those to Schmitt? To me it is not entertaining watching these guys clean up. It cost the team a shutout and a statement game. Sheehan will be activated this week.
You also don’t believe in Freeland so grain of salt.
That has absolutely nothing to do with last night’s game. It is not entertaining to see that guy taint a great game by Kersh. You don’t like that, too damn bad. As for Freeland, he is hitting in the .260’s in a hitter’s league, sorry if that doesn’t impress me.
Unfortunately, bringing in Kike tainted a gem of a game by the Dodgers. I get why he did it. It was disappointing to end that way.
Agree with those of you who were not happy using Kike in a very one sided game in which we were ahead.
I have no problem when we do this in a game where we’re on the losing end and want to save the bullpen but when you are leading by 11 and you use the team jester it’s like a slap in the face to your opposition. In my opinion it’s a sign of disrespect and is the equivalent of saying something about the other team that they can then post in their clubhouse for inspiration. A definite no no.
I am with you brother! Amen! LOL.
The Giants brought in a position player in the 8th, so it’s all fair game. Just so happened Kike didn’t have his best stuff yesterday.
They were down by 11. I get that, when you are up that much, with just 3 outs to get, it doesn’t make sense to screw around. SF scored 5 and had 2 runners on. Had Banda been off his game, it could have easily ended up 11-8. They had to use him anyway, so do it at the beginning and just beat the Giants. Another thing, them keeping the ball after Kike K’s Koss because it was his first career K is just dumb.
Bobby, I think there is a difference using a position player when you are on the losing end of a blow out, but not when you have an 11 run lead. I agree with STB that it shows disrespect to the other team. Go in, shut them down, and get ready for Sunday.
I’d ask if this was the first time we’ve used Kike or Rojas in a game we were leading by 10+, or do we only use them when we’re down 10+ late in games.
I don’t know the answer. If we’ve never done it before, perhaps I see your point.
Kiké did pitch in the 18-2 blow out against NYY. It was a clean inning, but I was against it then as well. It is not as if the Dodgers really needed to save relievers. Justin Wrobleski was the only reliever in Game 1 on Friday, they had a day off on Thursday, so the last time a lot of relievers were used was against San Diego Wednesday, which was a bullpen game.
I totally agree with this thinking, Jeff and Bear. I think it’s bush to rub the Giants nose in it with Kike. I understand Bobby’s thinking as the Giants opened that can of worms by using a position player in the 8th. But while that saves the pen for the team getting blown out, I’m not a fan of closing the game that way by the winning team.
But the unwritten rules on what’s bush these days and what isn’t are blurred. Anyway, I don’t like it.
Well, I think it’s CD Bucknor tonight. Oh Boy.
This has to be the lamest umpiring crew in MLB with Beck, Iassogna and Bucknor. You can toss in Scott Barry, who we haven’t seen, as well. He’s not very good either.
Oh yeah, I forgot. I’m not bitching about umpires this year.
The giants actually won the last 6 innings of that game 5-4. Momentum going into today’s game?
Jeff, will Seth Hernandez fall to 40? If so, do the Dodgers take him?
Anybody read Dylan Hernández this morning? Some of you are not going to like it.
There is no way that Seth Hernandez falls to #40. He is on the short list of 1/1.
Corona’s #3 prospect, 3B Brady Ebel, should be available at #40. He has dropped from early mock drafts. Brady is #38 on Baseball America and #61 on MLB Pipeline. Oaks Christian SS/3B Quentin Young could also drop to #40 (MLB Pipeline #33 and #55 BA). Yes, Quentin is from that Young family. But both Ebel and Young are committed to LSU so that could make them tough signs.
i thought it was an interesting comment, one that doesn’t breach but raises the question if you be pro-immigration and not anti-ICE.
you should be able to be, but it’s a weird time out there.
i think it’s right to not comment, probably cowardly but right.
Not bad for an old man who…….
-“is done as an MLB pitcher”
-“is a shell of his former self”
-“to those who think CK will be any better, at some point the cold, hard facts can not be overlooked. Only if you’re a moron.”
-“the stuff is no longer there.”
-“his future is out of the bullpen.”
-“every ab feels like an agonizing struggle.”
-“his slider no longer bites.”
-“he’s a shadow of what he once was.”
-“he looks like he’s lost more than he’s retained.”
-“Kersh looks like he’s just done in.”
And my favorite!
-“he’s a bandaid on a festering sore.”
So much wisdom in one place!