Well overall an interesting weekend. With the Padres playing as well as they have been, all the games have must win affairs for the Dodgers. They scored 9 runs on Friday. Jack Flaherty started his first home game as a Dodger. The Dodgers scored in the first on a homer by Freddie Freeman. His first since his return. Then they scored five in the bottom of the third.
With one out, Pages walked and then Ohtani hit a 2-run homer. Hernandez walked and Freeman doubled him to third. Smith then hit a little duck snort fly to right that scored Hernandez and Freeman. Cruz homered to get Pittsburgh on the board in the top of the 4th. In the bottom of the 4th, Heyward doubled. Pages and Ohtani made outs. Hernandez then singled home Heyward and LA was up, 7-1. Flaherty then gave up a 3-run shot to Bart in the top of the 5th and it was 7-4. Kike then hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the fifth and LA led 9-4. It stayed that way until the 9th when the Pirates touched Hudson for a run. Flaherty got his 2nd win as a Dodger.
On Saturday, the starting pitcher was River Ryan. But before he took the mound, an important event was happening in Oklahoma City. Max Muncy and Tommy Edman made their first re-hab starts for the OKC team. Both had hits and were involved in scoring the first run for OKC, Max drove in Edman with a double.
It was also a weekend to celebrate some Dodger legends. On Friday, Dusty Baker was inducted into the Legends of Dodger baseball. On Saturday, before Ryan’s start, there was a ceremony to add Walter O’Malley into the Dodger ring of honor. Many former Dodgers were in attendance. It was great to see guys like Boomer, Kirk Gibson, Sandy Koufax and many others on the field. On Friday they also brought back Garvey, Cey and Reggie Smith back to pose with Baker for a photo of the four players who were the first Dodger quartet to hit 30 or more homers.
Ryan pitched a scoreless first in his start. The Dodgers once again jumped out to a lead with 1 run in the bottom of the 1st. Hernandez doubled with one out and then Lux, who was hitting cleanup, doubled him home with 2 outs. Ryan would pitch well and in the bottom of the third, the Dodgers scored 2 more to help the kid have a little breathing room. A couple singles put two runners on. With one out, Freddie hit a ground ball for an out, but Ahmed and Teo moved up a base. Lux then drove in both with a singled them both home.
Ryan had worked out of a jam in the top of the third. Taylor singled after a Grandal out, but Ryan picked him off. He then gave up singles to Falefa and Reynolds. He then got Cruz on a ground out to Lux. In the top of the fifth inning, with 2 outs, Ryan grimaced after throwing a pitch and was shaking his right arm. Taking no chances, the Dodgers pulled him from the game. Vesia came in to finish the inning. The Dodgers scored their fourth and last run on a Kike Hernandez homer in the bottom of the 5th. Pittsburgh would score their only run in the top of the 9th when Hayes homered off of Hudson. Kopech got his first win as a Dodger.
On Sunday, it was Matt Kemp Day as he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Dodger. Many of his family were there and there were video tributes from several teammates. Tyler Glasnow got the start. He set the Pirates down in order. In the bottom of the inning, with 2 outs, Freeman hit a ground rule double to left. Smith then doubled Freddie home. Rosario, making a start with a lefty on the mound, singled to right to score Smith. In the bottom of the second, Kike singled and Pages doubled. Kiermaier and Ohtani made outs. Teo then doubled to left scoring both of them. Dodgers up, 4-0.
Glasnow got an out. Bae then doubled. He retired Taylor on a fly to center. Then McCutcheon homered to right on a ball that barely cleared the wall. 4-2 LA. The game stayed that way, and the Dodgers missed chances to score in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings. Glasnow went 7 full and Banda came in to pitch in the 8th. Some asked why he was brought in with so many RH bats due up. Banda this season has reverse splits. RH batting only .200 against him, lefties, .210. Taylor got an infield single and then McCutcheon hit his second homer of the game for a tie.
Banda got Reynolds and Cruz and gave up a single to Bart. Joe came up as a pinch hitter and Grove replaced Banda. He walked Joe and then got Kiner-Falefa to ground out. The blown save by Banda was the Dodgers 29th of the year, most in the league. Pages got a double in the top of the 8th but was left stranded when Ahmed and Ohtani popped out and Teo struck out. Joe Kelly retired the Pirates in order in the 9th.
Lux had the only Dodger hit in the 9th, and the game went into extra innings. With the ghost runner on 2nd, McCutcheon was struck out by Phillips. Reynolds then singled in Taylor. Cruz hit into a double play to end the inning. Rojas started the bottom of the 10th as the ghost runner. The Pirates left Bednar in to pitch his second inning of relief. Kike doubled to left scoring Rojas to tie the game. Pages walked and then Heyward struck out. Ohtani popped out making him 1-6 on the day and dropping his average to .298. His only hit was a 6th inning triple. With 2 strikes and 2 outs, Teo singled to right, Kike scored, and the Dodgers completed the sweep and finished with a 4-2 homestand. They picked up a full game on the Padres who lost a close game to the Marlins, and the Giants who lost to the Tigers. The D-Backs are now tied for second with the Padres both are 3.5 games back, and the Dodgers are tied for the best record in the NL with the Phillies who lost to Arizona.
It was a much-needed sweep and a must-win game. The D-Backs will be playing the Rockies for the next 3 days and San Diego will be playing the Pirates who head to San Diego. Dodgers need to concentrate on winning their own games and not on the scoreboard. Mookie will return to action tomorrow as the right fielder, and Buehler will make a start probably on Wednesday. Yamamoto will throw a sim game in St. Louis. At OKC, Muncy was 1-3 with a K. Edman was 0-1 with 2 walks, one of the walks drove in a run.
Minor League Report
OKC 3 Round Rock 0: Ben Casparius pitched 6 shutout innings. OKC got its first run on a bases loaded walk to Tommy Edman. He gave up 5 hits, no runs and struck out 8. It was his 3rd win. OKC scored another run in the bottom of the 6th and their final run in the bottom of the 7th on Lipsius’s 21st homer. Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th, striking out 2 and giving up 1 hit. Dreyer got his 2nd save.
Tulsa 4 Arkansas 3: Tulsa overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Arkansas by scoring a run in the 4th and 3 more in the top of the sixth. Travelers scored their last run in the bottom of the sixth and Ortiz-Mayr made the lead hold up with 5 innings of relief. He gave up the last run by the Travelers. He allowed 2 hits and a walk and struck out 4. Only 2 of the Drillers runs were earned. They totaled 8 hits in the game with Miller and Young getting 2 apiece.
Great Lakes 8 Lansing 2: Great Lakes scored a win at home over Lansing with the win going to Payton Marting who pitched 5 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits. He struck out 4 and did not walk anyone. Both of the runs were on solo homers. It was his second win against four losses. Campbell was 2-4 with his 8th homer and an RBI. Thompson was 1-4 with 2 runs scored, his 3rd homer and an RBI. Rodriguez and McLain also had 2 hits in 4 at bats and Rodriguez drove in 2. Romero pitched 4 innings of scoreless relief allowing only 2 hits and striking out 3.
Fresno is all over Rancho at home right now, 7-2 in the top of the 8th. RC has just two hits, Hope and Diaz. UPDATE: Rancho lost the game 9-2 and had just 3 hits. Hope had a first inning homer, his sixth. He also had a double and so did Diaz. Zazueta took the loss working four innings allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, walking 1 and striking out 7. Tiburcio went 1.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, he struck out 2. 1 of the hits was a homer. Cabrera went 1.2 innings allowing 2 runs on a hit and a walk, he struck out 2. Santillan pitched a clean 8th inning striking out 1. Yean pitched the 9th and gave up 2 runs on a hit and a walk and struck out 3. The hit he gave up was a 2-run homer.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
The status of Ryans season ending injury was updated last night as a UCL strain. Still unclear if it can be treated without surgery at this point. Per MLBTR and Jack Harris at 7:40 PM Sunday night.
Pitching matchups in Milwaukee. Game 1 Kershaw-Peralta, Game 2, Stone-Rea, Game 3, TBA-Montas, Game 4, TBA-Myers. All of the Brewer’s starters are RHP.
Monday, Monday…
Can’t trust that day…
River Ryan sure looks like a top-tier talent. I wanted him for the playoff bullpen. Hopefully this injury is a minor detour on a long, successful career.
Landon Knack, called up to replace Ryan, seems more like a mid-rotation talent. (I have dealt Knack in several of my blockbuster fantasies, particularly the ones for Corbin Burnes.) Some people complain about Knack’s weight and seeming lack of fitness. But if Knack can stay healthy, he’ll prove to be more valuable than the more fragile pitchers.
Right now, the rotation shapes up in some order of Glasnow, Kershaw, Flaherty, Stone and Knack, with Buhler in the wings and Yamamoto due a bit later. Could we call see Bobby Miller and Wrobleski again?
That’s a pretty impressive group of SPs, even with Ryan joining May, Gonsolin and Hurt on the long-term IL. (Who am I forgetting?)
The Dodgers really didn’t “need” to sweep the Pirates, but it sure felt good after alls the sputtering that turned the West into a real race. When Mookie, Max and Edman arrive, the Dodgers should be primed for the playoffs.
Monday. Trash day. Also have an appointment with my VA rehab doctor for cortisone shots in my knees and shoulders. Being an old athlete has its disadvantages. My dad never played sports, never exercised and lived to 91 without a single injection into any joint. Nearly all my joints are screaming at me. Was it worth it? Well, I’d do it all over again so yeah, I guess it was worth it.
Ok. Trash day. Gotta deal with that.
Pick ‘em odds today but so far 61% of bets are on Milwaukee. No travel day might something to do with that. Also, Kershaw just doesn’t carry the fear and respect he usta did. 8 runs O/U, 91% of bets are on the over. I’ll take the Dodgers and the over for 20 push-ups.
Nice Dodger win. I suspect that the Pirates have had a gut-full of Teoscar for awhile.
The injury to River Ryan has really bothered me. That, in addition, to Graterol’s hamstring injury just this week.
I’m not sure of River Ryan’s fate but I know what it looks like and he’s done for the year.
To me, the pitching injuries, especially elbow injuries, are ruining the game.
I was really looking forward to the Skenes / Ryan match up. When Ryan got injured, I turned off the game and felt sick for the kid. It’s just hard to watch all the hard work, the hopes and the dreams get washed down the drain, for 2 years.
It’s sort of like the NFL. A guy is on the turf with a blown ACL and it’s a “back after this commercial break”. Upon return to the action, the victim is off the field and after a sideline report, the game goes on like nothing ever happened. In the meantime, this poor player is facing pain, surgery and a long, grueling recovery and rehab. You can’t get around the house and your friends and family have to wait on you. Plus the doubt that goes through his mind concerning his future.
But Hoo-Hum, next man up.
Same with blown elbows and Tommy John. Dustin May is a forgotten man. He went from being a valuable, top of the rotation dude, to an after thought. It may be the same for Gonsolin, Buehler, Miller, and Sheehan.
Football players know it’s part of the game but that doesn’t make it easier.
I’m not sure pitchers believe elbow injuries are inevitable for them but maybe they do. Maybe they are resigned to the fact that they will throw as hard as they can, for as long as they can, and deal with the consequences, now days. They’re just going go let it eat until it blows; you take your money and run?
Ryan blaming it on the pitch clock is odd. Hasn’t he pitched his entire career in the minors, with a pitch clock? What’s different now.
I contend he was never properly prepared and stretched out in the minors and never built up pitch counts and arm strength. It’s double edge sword. They baby these kids along in the minors and save their injuries for the big leagues, I guess. Low pitch counts and minimal innings are preventative measures in the minors. I question whether that is good preparation for pitchers, with the demands of the big leagues.
And then the is the question of wear and tear of the ACL at high velocity with high spin rates. An Arm is just not made for the wear and tear of today’s pitching? Or can it be addressed with new training methods and new medical procedures?
And are the Dodger just unlucky with the number of injuries to their pitchers or are they doing something wrong. Are we just snake bit?
I don’t know. But I know it’s interesting. And it’s going to have to be figured out.
On a slow day, I looked at current injury totals for all 30 teams, just trying to stumble on information about organizations and injuries. The Dodgers lead MLB with 13 players on the IL now, followed by the Red Sox with 12. As we know we’ll get some guys back soon. The Cards and Rays have the least IL players with 5 each.
What I’m more interested in is the number of pitchers who are “Out Indefinitely” or “Out for the Season”. And how many of the players suffered from elbow injuries?
The clubs that lead in “Out Indefinitely” or “Out for the Season” are the Dodgers and the Brewers with 9 pitchers each. The Orioles lead in elbow injuries with 6, followed by the Dodgers and Rockies with 4 elbow cases.
The Cubs, Royals, Phillies, Cards and Rangers have NO elbow injuries.
Is that luck or are those teams doing something different?
The Mariners have had the most stable rotation for the last few years. Their starting rotation of Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller is on about their 3rd year together. They are very solid and just don’t miss starts. Woo had a 15 day stint with elbow soreness and that’s it for the group. The starting cast has a minimum of 24 starts for each of the last 3 seasons. This season they are at 24, 24, 24, 24 and 23 starts collectively, and counting. A nice, long, reliable starting rotation. They do have 2 relief pitchers down with TJ, Kowar and Brash. But no starters, for 3 years or so.
So, why is that? Is Seattle just lucky? Do they train and prep differently? Do they throw more flat ground or long toss? Do they ice? Is it weighted balls? Do they run? Do they drink Margaritas more, between starts?
Or, are they doing what The Dodgers do? Is it blind luck?
I don’t have any answers but it is certainly something to analyze for the future of baseball, by people with more resources and information at their fingertips than I do. Like MLB.
Ohtani can look so bad at the plate and the next pitch hit it 479. He can be spent on a pitch away and just wrist it 100 mph. He did it yesterday on a pitch away. Ohtani wrists allow him to pull the ball down the right field line, for a triple. That’s impossible. Not many players can do that.
Rojas makes hard plays look so simple.
Aroldis Chapman is really is a specimen. He can be up and down but how many 36 year olds throw 103? It’s a pretty short list.
So, we got Joseph tonight. This is what he can do. A hundo and a slider from hell.
Mookie has been activated and Rosario has been DFA.
We just couldn’t handle a .300 hitter on the roster.
Needed to keep all those guys hovering around .200.
I thought Nick Ahmed would get the DFA. Great glove but can’t hit a lick. I believe Ahmed Rosario is more versatile with his ability to play some OF.
in AF we trust?
Tonight’s starting lineup. Ohtani DH, Betts, RF, Freeman, 1B, Hernandez, LF, Lux, 2B, Smith, C, Rojas, SS, Hernandez, 3B, Kiermaier, CF, Kershaw, P. 1-6 not bad if Smith can pick up the pace.
Just got an email from Jeff, Make Mine Blue, he is going to get on his computer later today and check out why your comments have been going into moderation. He is feeling better guys.
Red Sox suspended Jared Duran for 2 games for the homophobic slur he shouted at a heckler the other day. He apologized, but Sox felt they needed to suspend him.
No minor league games tonight.
@Badger, did you see the note that Kike’s “resurgence” may be due to corrective glasses?
Timmons has an interesting take on why Rosario was shown the door. Attitude.
Perfect managing by Doc.
Kike got on base, and Doc had Kiermier bunt to get Kike to scoring position, with his top hitters coming up.
Shohei failed (not shocked), but wow, welcome back Mookie!!
So if Joe Kelly has inherited 14 runners, and now 8 have scored, that tells me perhaps he should just come in to start an inning?
Wild man Kelly strikes again!!
Why in the hell did AF sign Kelly?? He sucks..
As of this moment, the Dodgers are tied with Baltimore and Cleveland for the best record in MLB at 70-49
Definitely time to consider firing the front office that is considered, by its peers, to be the best in baseball.
Mookie. Kershaw. Shohei.
Suddenly, all is right in the world….
Snell had his no-hit bid broken up in the seventh by Ozuna. Padres, 2-1 and D-Backs, 5-4-win squeakers with both teams scoring late. D-Backs came back to beat the Rockies. They scored the tying run on a wild pitch with Pederson at bat. Then the go-ahead run on a single. Braves and Giants are into extra innings.