Dodgers’ win streak comes to an end as they fall to Miami in series finale.
Corey Seager to miss at least four weeks, won’t need surgery for broken hand
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Corey Seager won’t need surgery on the right hand he fractured in Saturday’s win over the Marlins.
“I think we dodged a bullet right there, on that one,†Roberts said. “No surgery required. He’s in a splint. And we’re just going to let it heal.â€
That’s the silver lining in the newest dark cloud hanging over a club that has dealt with a barrage injuries six weeks into the season.
Seager will still miss at least four weeks, according to Roberts. The Dodgers said X-rays revealed a fracture in his fifth metacarpal, the bone at the base of his pinky finger. He joined 10 teammates currently on the injured list who’ve been sidelined since the start of the season: Scott Alexander, Cody Bellinger, Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Corey Knebel, Dustin May, Zach McKinstry, AJ Pollock, David Price and Edwin RÃos.
“That’s why you play 162,†Roberts said. “That’s the thing that pulls your hair out. But the great thing about baseball and we’re tapping into the depth and giving guys an opportunity and you got to figure it out because no one’s going to feel sorry for the Dodgers and tha’s OK. But I still love our guys.â€
Seager sustained his injury when he was hit by a 90-mph sinker in the fifth inning Saturday. He immediately exited the game. He emerged from the bowels of Dodger Stadium on Sunday morning to speak to his agent Scott Boras wearing a splint under a cast.
The Dodgers recalled catcher Keibert Ruiz to take Seager’s spot on the roster. At least three more roster moves are expected Monday when the Dodgers undergo a mini roster overhaul.
Roberts said Price, out since Apri 26 with a strained hamstring, and Yoshi Tsutsugo, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, will join the team Monday. Albert Pujols, who agreed to terms Saturday, is also expected to be in uniform for the first time, but Roberts hasn’t commented on the acquisition because it’s not official yet.
Pujols will be chiefly used as a pinch-hitter with the occasional start at first base, which could be more frequent after Seager’s injury.
The plan is for Tsutsugo to split his playing time between first base, third base and left field. A left-handed hitter, he’s effectively replacing RÃos, who is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder this week.
Tsutsugo batted .187 with eight home runs and a .628 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 77 games with the Rays across the last two seasons after leaving Japan on a two-year, $12 million contract. He’s particularly struggled against high velocity since coming to the major leagues. Roberts said the Dodgers’ hitting department has identified ways in which he could improve.
“If you do a side-by-side of him in Japan and him with the Rays, he’s a shell of himself,†Roberts said. “And so there’s obviously some things that we got to talk through and we want to hear his take on where he’s at mechanically, process wise so we can have a conversation to kind of work together to figure this thing out because there’s a lot of upside. There’s life to the bat. He’s a professional hitter.â€
But Tsutsugo isn’t Corey Seager. Neither is Pujols, not at this point at the end of his career. The Dodgers will have to navigate at least the next month without him, primarily using Gavin Lux at shortstop. The hits keep on coming.
Dodgers lose; Corey Seager out a month
The Dodgers, as they have all season at Dodger Stadium, were introduced before their 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday as the World champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A more accurate description would be what’s left of the World champion team, because it’s not much at the moment.
Corey Seager officially became the 13th Dodger on the injured list Sunday morning, joining Scott Alexander, Cody Bellinger, Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Corey Knebel, Dustin May, Zach McKinstry, AJ Pollock, David Price, Edwin RÃos, Caleb Ferguson and Tommy Kahnle.
Ferguson and Kahnle won’t pitch in 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. May (elbow) and RÃos (shoulder) won’t return this season. The rest of the players’ returns range from days to months away.
Seager’s timetable is somewhere in the middle. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects the shortstop to miss at least four weeks after he fractured the fifth metacarpal, a bone at the base of his pinky finger, when he was hit by a 90-mph pitch in the fifth inning Saturday.
We head to the ninth, 3-2 Marlins
Marlins: Right-hander Joe Kelly now pitching for the Dodgers. Diaz flied to left. Anderson grounded to third. Sierra lined to left.
Dodgers: Former Dodger Dylan Floro now pitching for the Marlins. Muncy flied to right. Turner flied to center. Beaty singled to center. Lux singled to right-center, Beaty to third. Raley struck out swinging. Dodgers strand two.
Score after eight: Marlins 3, Dodgers 2
Still 3-2 Marlins after seven
Marlins: Chisholm singled to center. Cooper lined to center. Chisholm stole second. Dickerson struck out swinging. Duvall flied to left.
Dodgers: Right-hander Anthony Bass now pitching for the Marlins. Lewis Brinson in the game in left. Barnes grounded to short. Keibert Ruiz, recalled today when Corey Seager went on the IL, batted for the pitcher and struck out swinging. Betts struck out swinging.
Score after seven: Marlins 3, Dodgers 2
And there were free Jumbo Jacks throughout the land
Marlins: Anderson flied to center. Sierra singled to second. Neuse made a nice diving stop, but Sierra is just too fast. Wallach struck out swinging. Free Jumbo Jacks throughout the land tomorrow! Jesus Aguilar, batting for Lopez, grounded to short.
Dodgers: Left-hander Richard Bleier now pitching for the Marlins. Lux grounded to first. Raley grounded to first. Neuse struck out swinging.
Score after six: Marlins 3, Dodgers 2
Marlins take 3-2 lead on Adam Duvall’s three-run blast
Marlins: Right-hander Edwin Uceta now pitching. Lopez reached first on Neuse’s error. Chisholm singled to center, Lopez to second. Cooper struck out swinging. Dickerson grounded to the pitcher. Second and third, two out. Duvall hit a ball a mile high and a mile out. 3-2 Marlins. Diaz struck out looking.
Dodgers: Betts doubled to left-center. He is heating up. Muncy popped to third. Turner popped to first. Beaty singled to right. The throw home beat Betts by a lot. He tried to leap over the catcher but was tagged on the foot. As Vin Scully would say, “He was out from me to you.â€
Score after five innings: Marlins 3, Dodgers 2
Nothing doing in the fourth, still 2-0 Dodgers
Marlins: Diaz grounded to second. Anderson doubled to right-center. Sierra lined to center. Wallach struck out swinging.
Dodgers: Neuse grounded to first. Barnes grounded to short. Santana struck out swinging.
Score after four: Dodgers 2, Marlins 0
Dodgers still lead 2-0 after three
Marlins: Chisholm struck out swinging. Cooper walked. Dickerson struck out swinging. Dennis Santana replaced Vesia. Duvall flied to center.
Dodgers: Turner popped to second. Beaty flied to left. Lux walked on eight pitches. Raley struck out swinging.
Score after three: Dodgers 2, Marlins 0
Dodgers take 2-0 lead after two
Marlins: Isan Diaz fouled to right. Brian Anderson walked. Magneuris Sierra struck out swinging. Anderson stole second. Chad Wallach walked. Alex Vesia replaces Nelson. Pablo Lopez struck out swinging. Marlins strand two.
Dodgers: Luke Raley grounded to first. Sheldon Neuse doubled to right-center. Austin Barnes doubled to deep left, Neuse scoring. Barnes missed a home run by about a foot. Vesia struck out swinging. Betts singled to left-center, scoring Barnes. It looked like the shortstop and third baseman had a chance to catch the liner, but were afraid of running into each other and backed off the play. Muncy flied to right.
Score after two: Dodgers 2, Marlins 0
No score after one inning
Marlins: Right-hander Jimmy Nelson pitching for the Dodgers. Jazz Chisholm struck out swinging. Garrett Cooper doubled to left. Cooper took third on a passed ball. Corey Dickerson fouled to third,. Adam Duvall struck out looking.
Dodgers: Right-hander Pablo Lopez pitching for the Marlins. Mookie Betts flied to right. Max Muncy singled to left. Justin Turner fouled to right. Matt Beaty beat the shift by singling into the hole left at third base, Muncy to third. Gavin Lux lined to left-center.
Score after one: Dodgers 0, Marlins 0
Chris Taylor scratched from Sunday’s lineup
The hits keep on coming and coming and coming for the Dodgers.
Minutes before first pitch Sunday, the club announced that Chris Taylor was scratched from the starting lineup. Taylor was supposed to play second base and bat fifth.
Sheldon Neuse took his play at second base and bat seventh.
The Dodgers haven’t yet disclosed the reason for Taylor’s scratch. The development came about an hour after the club officially placed shortstop Corey Seager on the injured list with a broken right hand. Catcher Keibert Ruiz was recalled to take his place on the roster.
Here’s the new lineup:
Mookie Betts CF
Max Muncy 1B
Justin Turner 3B
Matt Beaty LF
Gavin Lux SS
Luke Raley RF
Sheldon Neuse 2B
Austin Barnes C
Jimmy Nelson P
With Corey Seager out, Gavin Lux will play shortstop and Max Muncy will bat second
The Dodgers will take the field Sunday reeling from another major injury after Corey Seager broke his right hand in Saturday night’s win.
They’ll replace Seager, at least on Sunday, as expected, with Gavin Lux moving from second base to shortstop and Max Muncy jumping from the cleanup spot to No. 2 in the batting order.
Matt Beaty, as a result, will move up to four-hole in the lineup. He’ll start in left field. Chris Taylor, who’s made most of his recent starts in center field, will play second base. Mookie Betts will play center field and Luke Raley will start in right field.
Seager is expected to be placed on the injured list shortly. A corresponding move also hasn’t been announced.
His fracture was just the latest in a long list of significant setbacks for the Dodgers this season. The club is also currently without Cody Bellinger, Zach McKinstry, AJ Pollock, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Scott Alexander, David Price and Corey Knebel.
Price is expected to rejoin the club Monday or Tuesday. McKinstry is scheduled to be on a rehab assignment by tomorrow. Bellinger should start his assignment by the end of the week.
Jimmy Nelson will start Sunday as an opener to a bullpen game. The Dodgers decided to push Walker Buehler’s start back to Monday to give him extra rest.
DODGERS (22-17)
Mookie Betts CF
Max Muncy 1B
Justin Turner 3B
Matt Beaty LF
Chris Taylor 2B
Gavin Lux SS
Luke Raley RF
Austin Barnes C
Jimmy Nelson P
Betting lines and odds for Dodgers vs. Marlins on Sunday
The Dodgers enter Sunday’s series finale with the Miami Marlins winners of four straight following a 4-15 stretch. Another win against the Marlins would give them their first three-game series sweep in more than a month.
The Marlins will turn to Pablo Lopez to try to avoid the sweep. He has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his eight starts, but has an 0-3 record to show for it. Lopez also has very demonstrative home and road splits, going 6-10 with a 6.00 ERA with 1.6 home runs per nine innings allowed on the road versus a 7-9 record with a 2.92 ERA and 0.6 home runs per nine innings surrendered at home.
The Dodgers will be using Jimmy Nelson as their starter in more of an opener role, and it will be his first start since becoming a Dodger this offseason. Nelson finished ninth in the Cy Young Award voting as a starting pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017.
The Marlins have scored four runs of fewer in six of Lopez’s eight starts this season. The Dodgers are 1-7 in the last eight games Nelson has pitched in.
The Dodgers are 10-7 on the run line as a favorite at home while the Marlins are 2-6 on the run line in their last eight games but are sixth in the MLB in bullpen ERA at 3.19.
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Corey Seager heading to injured list with right hand fracture
Corey Seager sustained a fracture in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the Dodgers’ win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday, the club announced after the game. The shortstop will be placed on the injured list Sunday.
The Dodgers’ latest round of bad luck surfaced when Seager couldn’t evade a 90-mph sinker from left-hander Ross Detwiler in the fifth inning. The plunking produce an ominous sound and Seager quickly exited the game in immense pain.
“I think that we’re all concerned about him and the extent of the injury,†Roberts said minutes before the Dodgers revealed that X-rays showed a fracture. “Obviously, you don’t want to lose any player for an extended period of time. I think it was more the thought of him and what’s going to happen, but as far as continuing to move forward, we have to, and we did tonight and a lot of good things came from tonight.â€
Seager’s misfortune came hours after AJ Pollock was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Pollock joined Cody Bellinger, Zach McKinstry, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, David Price, Corey Knebel, Scott Alexander and Brusdar Graterol on the current list of injured contributors.
The Dodgers began the weekend hopeful that they were turning the corner on the injury front. Price’s hamstring was pain-free in a two-inning simulated game Friday. McKinstry and Bellinger neared rehab assignments. Reinforcements were coming as they started winning again after going 5-15 over their previous 30 games.
Seager is batting .265 with four home runs and a .783 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 169 plate appearances this season, his last one before hitting free agency. Defensively, he’s displayed diminished range, particularly on balls hit to his right side. But he was showing improvement on both sides in recent games and the Dodgers, not coincidentally, started winning.
Now the Dodgers will probably turn to Gavin Lux to log innings at shortstop. Sheldon Neuse and Max Muncy can both play second base. Albert Pujols, who agreed to a contract Saturday, could start at first base when Muncy plays second base once he joins the club Monday. Muncy will likely assume Seager’s No. 2 spot in the batting order.
The Dodgers will have to piece it together for an unknown period of time the way they’ve had to piece together other parts through the season’s first six weeks. This weekend was supposed to be when things got better. They’ve won four straight games, but, somehow, things got worse.
Joe Kelly retires the Marlins in order as Dodgers beat Marlins 7-0
Joe Kelly retired the Miami Marlins 1-2-3 in the ninth as the Dodgers picked up their seventh shutout of the season in a 7-0 victory Saturday.
The Dodgers improved to 22-17 with the win and the Marlins fall to 17-22 heading into Sunday’s series finale.
DJ Peters and Mookie Betts drive in runs to give Dodgers a 7-0 lead
DJ Peters hit a two-run single and Mookie Betts drove in another run on a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers an 7-0 lead in the eighth inning.
Peters blasted a bases-loaded slider by Marlins reliever Braxton Garrett into left field to drive in Chris Taylor and Luke Raley. Peters didn’t have much of a chance to enjoy his first major-league RBIs on the field, though. After turning toward second, he was picked off after a fast relay throw by Jon Berti to first caught him out after he slid past the bag slightly on retreat.
Dodgers reliever Garrett Cleavinger walked the first batter he faced, but benefited from a couple of fielder’s choice groundballs. Blake Treinen took over with two outs and got Miguel Rojas to pop out to right.
End of eighth: Dodgers 7, Marlins 0
Garrett Cleavinger takes over for Trevor Bauer in the eighth
Trevor Bauer is done for the night after a dominating performance. He gave up two hits, struck out 10 and walked no one over seven scoreless innings. He also retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit after the fourth inning.
Garrett Cleavinger will take over on the mound for the Dodgers in the eighth.
In the bottom half of the inning, Max Muncy got the Dodgers’ fourth hit of the game on a blistering grounder that got past Miami second baseman, but was left stranded when Will Smith grounded out to reliever Braxton Garrett.
End of seventh: Dodgers 4, Marlins 0
Dodgers lead Marlins 4-0 going into the seventh
After striking out 10 through the first four innings, Trevor Bauer hasn’t struck out anyone since, but he’s still dominating. He retired the Marlins in order and will be back on the mound in the seventh. He’s allowed two hits over 103 pitches.
The Dodgers also went down in order, with Marlins reliever Braxton Garrett striking out the first two batters he faced (Gavin Lux, Bauer) in 2021. The Dodgers have four runs on just three hits.
End of sixth: Dodgers 4, Marlins 0
Corey Seager leaves game after getting hit on hand by pitch
Just when the Dodgers’ injury luck seemed to be reversing, they encountered another scare in the fifth inning Saturday when Corey Seager was hit on the right hand by a pitch.
Seager immediately left the game after taking a 90-mph sinker from left-hander Ross Detwiler off the top of the hand. Sheldon Neuse replaced him as a pinch-runner.
Seager’s departure comes one day after outfielder AJ Pollock re-strained his left hamstring. He was then placed on the injured list Saturday and is expected to miss at least two weeks.
The Dodgers are also without Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry, but both players are nearing returns. McKinstry is expected to go on a rehab assignment in the next two days. Bellinger is scheduled to follow by the end of the week.
Their returns were supposed to return the Dodgers to full strength on the position player side, but they find themselves dealing with another round of problems.
Dodgers score two more runs in the fifth to take 4-0 lead
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager left the game in the fifth inning after taking a pitch off his right hand while swinging at a pitch from Marlins reliever Ross Detwiler.
Two batters later, Max Muncy drove in Mookie Betts from second on a line drive to left field for a single. Sheldon Neuse, who filled in for Seager at first after his injury, scored from third on an infield dribbler by Chris Taylor to make it 4-0 Dodgers.
Seager initially looked like he was attempting to walk to first before manager Dave Roberts and a team trainer talked to him. Gavin Lux will shift over to shortstop in the sixth, with Neuse playing at second.
In the top half of the inning, Trevor Bauer retired the Marlins 1-2-3. He’s allowed two hits and struck out 10 over 87 pitches so far.
End of fifth: Dodgers 4, Marlins 0
Dodgers take 2-0 lead in the fourth; Matt Beaty ejected
Chris Taylor drew a bases-loaded walk off Marlins starter Jordan Holloway and Gavin Lux drove in another run to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
However, the inning was also marked by Matt Beaty being ejected by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild after the left fielder briefly argued a called third strike.
Turner started things off with single, then moved to second on a sharp liner to center field by Max Muncy. Will Smith then drew a walk to load the bases.
Ross Detwiler, who pitched in Friday’s loss for the Marlins, replaced Holloway after the run-scoring walk.
Muncy managed to score from third when Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz lost one of his shoes while trying to field a grounder by Lux. The mishap prevented Diaz from trying to make a play at home, so he threw to first to get Lux.
Trevor Bauer up to 10 strikeouts through four innings
It’s only taken Trevor Bauer four innings to hit the Jumbo Jack line — 10 strikeouts.
Bauer led off the fourth by striking out Corey Dickerson before Garrett Cooper singled to left. Bauer then struck out Isan Diaz and Brian Anderson to give him 10 Ks through four.
Dodgers acquire Yoshitomo Tsutsugo from Rays
The Dodgers’ determined pursuit of better major-league-ready depth continued into Saturday evening.
Hours after news surfaced of their agreement with Albert Pujols, they announced they acquired infielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo from the Rays for a player to be named later or cash.
Edwin RÃos was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster.
Tsutsugo is a left-handed hitter who has split time between third base, first base and left field since coming over from Japan before last season. He slashed .187/.292/.336 in 272 plate appearances with the Rays after signing a two-year, $12 million deal.
The team designated him for assignment Tuesday after he hit .167 with a .462 OPS in 26 games this season.
Tsutsugo’s addition is the latest in a splurge of acquisitions to bolster the team’s diminished depth. Since May 1, the club has signed veteran right-hander Kevin Quackenbush to a minor-league deal, claimed right-hander Phil Bickford off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, claimed infielder Travis Blankenhorn off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, signed veteran right-hander Nate Jones to a minor-league deal and came to terms on a big-league contract with Pujols.
The Dodgers’ depth in the bullpen and among position players, already thinner than usual after free-agent departures, has been further reduced by injuries to Cody Bellinger, Zach McKinstry, Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Corey Knebel and David Price.
Marlins pitcher gets his first major-league hit off Trevor Bauer
Trevor Bauer struck out six batters and was perfect through 2 2/3 innings when Marlins pitcher Jordan Holloway came to the plate and promptly singled for his first career hit. It’s also the only hit of the game so far.
Still, Bauer is looking strong so far — he’s up to seven strikeouts and the Dodgers are looking for a decent start from the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner with a bullpen game on deck for Sunday.
Bauer couldn’t replicate Holloway’s feat in his first at-bat, grounding out. Mookie Betts and Corey Seager then flied out.
End of third: Marlins 0, Dodgers 0
Trevor Bauer strikes out first five batters; Marlins hitting coach ejected
Miami Marlins hitting coach Eric Duncan was ejected after arguing with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild from the dugout. The ejection came immediately after Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer struck out the first five batters of the game.
Bauer struck out Garrett Cooper and Isan Diaz on a pair of called third strikes and hasn’t retired the first six batters he has faced.
Marlins starter Jordan Holloway retired the Dodgers in order in the top of the inning.
End of second: Marlins 0, Dodgers 0
Trevor Bauer strikes out the side in the first inning
Trevor Bauer looking impressive early on for the Dodgers. He struck out Miguel Rojas and Jesus Aguilar before getting a generous third-strike call from home plate umpire Chad Fairchild to punch out Corey Dickerson.
Corey Seager and Justin Turner drew walks off 6-foot-6 Marlins starting pitcher Jordan Holloway, who then struck out Max Muncy and got Will Smith to groundout to end the inning.
End of first: Marlins 0, Dodgers 0
Edwin RÃos’ miserable start to the season fueled by major shoulder injury
Edwin RÃos knew his right shoulder wasn’t right. He needed constant treatment, but the treatment was effective so he kept his mouth shut and kept playing. Then the treatment stopped working and the pain wouldn’t go away and RÃos felt impelled to speak up.
That happened, RÃos said, about sometime during the middle of April. The Dodgers kept playing him anyway and RÃos eventually became mired in a miserable slump. He was finally placed on the injured list May 5. Then an MRI exam this week revealed a surprise: a partially torn labrum in the shoulder. He is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery next week.
“I don’t want to put blame on the shoulder,†RÃos said in Spanish. “Obviously, when things weren’t going well, I was doing everything possible. But when we checked the shoulder with the MRI, it showed that I had a couple of things in there.
“Then you think ‘Wow, this is one of the reasons as to why these things were happening.’ But I’m not going to blame the shoulder. I’m just going to keep my head up, stay positive and get ready for next season.â€
RÃos will travel to Arizona for rehab after the procedure. He expects to be ready for spring training next season to put his 2021 nightmare behind him. RÃos went four for 51 with one home run this season. He was hitless in his final 32 at-bats. His last hit was an infield single on April 13. His last hit to leave the infield came on April 6.
“I would say a large majority of his struggles is related to the injury,†Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “As I look back and see certain things that the swing just didn’t look right and now it all makes sense. I wish he would’ve come forward a little bit earlier. But, as a player, you just don’t know at what point you can pllay through it and being hurt versus being injured but Eddie’s a great teammate.â€
RÃos’ injury further abated the Dodgers’ slim depth, which had already been exposed in recent weeks after injuries to Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry. As a result, the club agreed to a deal with 41-year-old first baseman Albert Pujols.
RÃos will watch from afar, getting right after so much went wrong.
“It’s frustrating because at the time you try and do everything possible,†RÃos said. “You try and get in the cage, you try and get in the gym, talk to the hitting coaches, try to do anything you can. When you see that, it just puts two and two together, it made a lot of sense. It’s not fun just missing the year.â€
Column: Why the Dodgers’ decision to sign Albert Pujols makes a lot of sense
On the surface, this doesn’t make sense, a 41-year-old with diminished bat speed who can play only one position on a team that values defensive versatility.
Look closer, however, and this makes complete sense.
Albert Pujols will be a Dodger.
Baseball’s most sabermetrically advanced team has a history of making deals like this.
Chase Utley. David Freese. And now Pujols, according to The Times’ Dodgers beat writer, Jorge Castillo.
Commentary: With Albert Pujols on Dodgers, one of baseball’s greats gets another title shot
When the Dodgers unveiled their latest stadium renovations last month, the club president proudly noted that pictures, posters and awards from the team’s storied past would delight fans wherever they walked.
Dodger Stadium, as Stan Kasten put it that day, would be an “open-air baseball history museum.â€
On the field too. The Dodgers’ active roster is a living, breathing baseball history museum.
Clayton Kershaw is here, and now Albert Pujols is too. The greatest pitcher of his generation, now teammates with the greatest hitter of his generation.
Dodgers place AJ Pollock on injured list, recall Edwin Uceta
The Dodgers placed outfielder AJ Pollock on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain. Right-hander Edwin Uceta was recalled to take his place on the roster.
Pollock re-injured the hamstring Friday running from first to third base in the second inning. He immediately exited the game. It was his first start since first straining the hamstring a week earlier in Anaheim.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Pollock will miss at least two weeks.
Without Pollock, Matt Beaty and Chris Taylor figure to assume the bulk of the playing time in left field. Beaty will start in left field and bat seventh Saturday.
Uceta joins the Dodgers for the third time this season, giving them 14 pitchers ahead of Sunday’s scheduled bullpen game. The 23-year-old Dominican has pitched in two games this season, surrendering two runs on four hits across 4 1/3 innings.
He made his major-league debut in Milwaukee last month as the opener for a bullpen game. He’s an option to do that job again Sunday.
DODGERS (21-17)
Mookie Betts RF
Corey Seager SS
Justin Turner 3B
Max Muncy 1B
Will Smith C
Chris Taylor CF
Matt Beaty LF
Gavin Lux 2B
Trevor Bauer P
Dodgers sign former Angels slugger Albert Pujols
The Dodgers and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols have agreed to a contract for the remainder of the season, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Pujols, 41, was abruptly designated for assignment by the Angels last week and officially released Thursday after clearing waivers. The first baseman batted .198 with a .622 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and five home runs in 92 plate appearances with the Angels this season. He was seven for his last 43 before his release.
The Angels remain responsible for his $30-million salary in the final year of his 10-year, $240 million contract. The Dodgers will pay him a prorated share of the $570,500 league minimum. That will be offset from what the Angels owe him.
Dodgers’ eight-run second inning powers victory over Miami Marlins
The Dodgers’ second inning Friday night against the Miami Marlins was the relentless barrage they envision themselves producing regularly, the explosion they know they can muster at any point of any game versus any pitcher. That confidence is why their recent three-week offensive slide was so ugly, so perplexing, so frustrating.
By the time the second inning was over at Dodger Stadium, they had scored eight runs to chase Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara and shifted their night into cruise control. It got dicey at points, but they held off the Marlins to win 9-6, extending their winning streak to three games.
Alcantara took the mound Friday as one of the best pitchers in the majors over the previous three weeks. The Marlins’ opening day starter surrendered eight runs in his last four starts. He logged at least six innings in seven of his outings on the season. He was pitching like an ace.
Dodgers defeat Marlins 9-6 in series opener to extend winning streak
The Dodgers extended their winning streak to three games with a 9-6 win over the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
Kenley Jansen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save. He opened the ninth by striking out Corey Dickerson on a 97-mph sinker. He ended the game by getting Garrett Cooper to swing through a 93 mph cutter.
The Dodgers improve to 21-17 on the season.
Marlins add another run; Dodgers lead 9-6 going into ninth
Dodgers reliever Victor González hit Sandy Leon with a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing a run across the plate to make it 9-6 Dodgers in the eighth inning.
González quickly regain his composure and got out of the inning when he sent a 94-mph fastball past Jon Berti for a strikeout.
Reliever Dennis Santana started the inning and managed to get the first two batters out before allowing a pair of singles and a walk.
The Dodgers went down in order in the bottom of the inning. Kenley Jansen will be on the mound in the ninth.
End of eighth: Dodgers 9, Marlins 6
Dodgers take 9-5 lead over Marlins in the seventh
Justin Turner scored from third after Marlins reliever Ross Detwiler made an errant throw to second to give the Dodgers a 9-5 lead in the seventh inning.
Gavin Lux hit a bases-loaded comebacker to Detwiler, who quickly caught the ball and spun around in attempt to pick off a retreating Max Muncy at second. However, Detwiler’s throw was wide, allowing Turner to easily score.
In the top half of the inning, Mookie Betts make a roar-inducing diving catch that was reminiscent of the game-saving catch he made against the San Diego Padres last month.
Betts made a full-speed diving grab on a fly ball to shallow center off the bat of Jesus Aguilar to cap a 1-2-3 inning for reliever Blake Treinen. Betts was all smiles after making the catch, and those back issues that hampered him a couple weeks ago seem to be long gone.
End of seventh: Dodgers 9, Marlins 5
Clayton Kershaw picks up 11th strikeout
Clayton Kershaw once again retired the Marlins in order, picking up a season-high 11th strikeout in the process. A heads-up, leaping catch by Justin Turner on a liner by Cody Poteet was the highlight of the inning.
Blake Treinen will be on the mound for the Dodgers in the seventh.
Sheldon Neuse, Mookie Betts and Corey Seager went down in order in the bottom half.
End of sixth: Dodgers 8, Marlins 5
AJ Pollock dealing with hamstring strain; Marlins score another run
The Dodgers confirmed AJ Pollock aggravated the left hamstring strain he initially sustained on May 7 against the Angels.
Pollock left Friday’s game after reaching third base on a standup double by Austin Barnes. Matt Beaty replaced him in left field.
Pollock was making his first start since sustaining the initial injury.
Miami scored another run in the fifth inning to make it 8-5 Dodgers after Garrett Cooper doubled in Miguel Rojas off Clayton Kershaw.
But Kershaw struck out Brian Anderson to end the inning and hit the Jumbo Jacks line — 10 strikeouts.
Marlins reliever John Curtiss retired the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
End of fifth: Dodgers 8, Marlins 5
Clayton Kershaw retires the Marlins in order in the fourth
After allowing four runs in the third, Clayton Kershaw retired the Marlins in order.
Corey Seager and Justin Turner each singled but were left stranded when Chris Taylor grounded out to short for the final out.
End of fourth: Dodgers 8, Marlins 4
Adam Duvall hits three-run homer for Marlins; Dodgers lead 8-4
Miami’s Adam Duvall hit a three-run home run to the left-field corner off Clayton Kershaw to help cut the Dodgers’ big lead in half as part of a four-run third for the Marlins.
Garrett Cooper scored the Marlins’ first run on a single to center.
Cooper’s hit drove in Magneuris Sierra, who opened the inning with a single to left. A sacrifice bunt moved Sierra to second before Miguel Rojas singled to left.
Kershaw, who looked strong over the first two innings, struck out Brian Anderson on an 86-mph slider to put the brakes on Miami’s rally.
Marlins reliever Zach Pop retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom half of the inning.
End of third: Dodgers 8, Marlins 4
Dodgers surge to 8-0 lead over Marlins; AJ Pollock exits with injury
Max Muncy extended his home-run streak to three games, crushing a 96-mph fastball from Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara to help give the Dodgers an 8-0 lead in the second inning.
Prior to Muncy’s three-run blast, AJ Pollock, Austin Barnes, Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts and Corey Seager each drove in runs. Muncy’s homer ended Alcantara’s night on the mound after 1 1/3 innings. Zach Pop, a former Dodgers prospect who was part of the team’s 2018 trade to acquire Manny Machado, took over in relief.
Muncy has five home runs in his last eight games and eight on the season.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t all good news for the Dodgers. AJ Pollock, making his first start since suffering a strained left hamstring, left the game after apparently aggravating the injury while running the bases. Pollock drove in the Dodgers first run, by left the game after reaching third on a double by Matt Barnes.
Barnes got as close as possible to hitting his first home run of the season when his run-scoring double bounced off the top edge of the left-field wall.
Clayton Kershaw rose his average to .333 with a RBI single to center before Mookie Betts kept the rally going with a sharp grounder to left to bring home Barnes. Corey Seager followed with a drive to right, scoring Kershaw.
Gavin Lux started off the hit parade with a standup double into left-center field, punishing the Marlins for their shallow outfield positioning. He scored on Barnes’ double.
Kershaw is up to four strikeouts and looks just as good as he did when he threw five shutout innings last week against the Angels. He got Brian Anderson to whiff on a perfect 86-mph slider before striking out Chad Wallach on three pitches for the third out.
End of second: Dodgers 8, Marlins 0
Mookie Betts left stranded at third in scoreless first inning
Mookie Betts worked out a bases-loaded walk against Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara to lead off before he stole second and reached third on a groundout by Corey Seager.
Alcantara then struck out Justin Turner with some high heat before throwing consecutive 99-mph fastballs to strike out Max Muncy and leave Betts stranded.
Clayton Kershaw hit Miguel Rojas with a pitch to lead off the game before striking out Garrett Cooper and Adam Duvall.
End of the first: Marlins 0, Dodgers 0
Here’s why Shake Shack, and not In-N-Out, is at Dodger Stadium
Shake Shack opened at Dodger Stadium this week. The most common reaction among the Dodger faithful: Where is In-N-Out? Why must we eat a good New York burger where we could eat a great L.A. burger?
You, gentle Dodgers fan, are not alone in your love for In-N-Out. Jason Giambi, the onetime American League most valuable player, grew up in West Covina. After he signed with the New York Yankees, he tried to open an In-N-Out in New York. He failed.
In-N-Out does not open locations in New York — or, for that matter, anywhere east of Texas. And sorry, hungry Dodger fan: In-N-Out does not open locations within major sports venues.
David Price nearing return; Zach McKinstry and Cody Bellinger to go on rehab assignments
The Dodgers’ bloated list of injured contributors is seemingly on the verge of thinning out over the next couple of weeks, starting with David Price and followed by Zach McKinstry and Cody Bellinger.
Price logged two simulated innings at Dodger Stadium on Friday afternoon in what could be his final step before activation. The veteran left-hander has been on the injured list since April 26 with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.
Price said the hamstring “feels completely normal†after his outing Friday. He threw close to 30 pitches and used his entire arsenal. He covered first base without a problem in his bullpen session Tuesday. He thinks he’s checked all the boxes in his recovery.
“Feel like it has progressed very well from the day that it happened,†Price said. “We did a lot of treatment on it. Continued to keep my arm moving, playing catch was good, to not let my arm regress. Hamstring feels good, I feel good, I’m excited to get back out there.â€
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the next step for Price will either be activation or another live bullpen session. He ruled out a rehab assignment or Price pitching in Sunday’s bullpen game; the Dodgers are pushing Walker Buehler back to Monday for extra rest.
Price began the season as a full-time reliever for the first time in his career. He made seven appearances and found a rhythm after a rough start before straining his hamstring April 25 against the San Diego Padres.
The 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner re-joined the club after deciding to opt out of the 2020 season, citing health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he decided to auction off his World Series ring and donate the money to The Players Alliance.
“I wasn’t a part of winning that ring,†Price said. “I made my decision and, personally, I didn’t think I deserved to get one.â€
McKinstry could follow Price off the injured list. Roberts said the McKinstry is scheduled to go on a rehab assignment with triple-A Oklahoma City early next week. He expects the utilityman to spend about a week in the minors before rejoining the Dodgers.
McKinstry has been on the injured list since April 24 with an oblique strain. The former 33rd-round pick was a surprisingly productive cog before the injury, batting .296 with three home runs and an .883 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 17 games.
Bellinger’s turn may be after that. The 2019 National League MVP, out since fracturing his left fibula April 5, posted a video on Instagram of him running hard without compensating. Roberts said he reached 19 mph, about 80% effort. Bellinger is expected to take simulated at-bats Saturday. He could go on rehab assignment by the end of next week. As for the length of the stint, Roberts said he wasn’t sure.
“Contingent on how he’s feeling, getting his legs under him, how he’s performing,†Roberts said. “Don’t want to put a number on it yet.â€
The 25-year-old Bellinger went 4 for 19 in four games before the fibula injury. He was working his way back from major shoulder surgery in November.
Roberts’s update on Scott Alexander wasn’t as encouraging. He said the left-handed reliever will miss more time than initially expected with shoulder inflammation and will miss another two or three weeks. Alexander was scheduled to play catch Friday.
Chris Taylor to see time at third base with Edwin RÃos out for the season
The Dodgers have committed to giving Justin Turner ample games off to relieve the 36-year-old third baseman’s workload. To do that, they gave Edwin RÃos starts at third base when Turner was given the day off despite his poor start at the plate.
But RÃos is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder next week, forcing the Dodgers to look elsewhere for innings at third base.
On Friday, manager Dave Roberts said Chris Taylor will get those starts. Taylor hasn’t appeared in a game at third base since starting four games there in 2019. But he spent time at third base in Cactus League games and regularly took groundballs there during spring training.
Roberts said Turner will get a start at third base early next week. Max Muncy has extensive experience at the position, but Roberts said Muncy will stay at first base.
The numbers say Muncy has been one of the elite defensive first basemen in the majors this season. Roberts has said his eyes support the statistics, saying Muncy become a Gold Glove defender at the position after splitting between first and second base the last two seasons.
Dodgers sign Nate Jones to minor-league deal, claim Travis Blankenhorn from Twins
The Dodgers made two minor roster moves Friday to bolster their depth in the upper minor leagues.
First, the club signed veteran reliever Nate Jones to a minor-league contract. The 35-year-old right-hander began the season with the Atlanta Braves. He issued 10 walks, hit a batter, recorded seven strikeouts and was charged with four earned runs in 10 1/3 innings across 12 appearances.
His fastball averaged 95.8 mph, but his command was deemed too inconsistent and the Braves designated him for assignment May 7.
Jones was one of the more effective relievers in the majors for the Chicago White Sox between 2015 and 2019, posting a 2.67 ERA in 147 games in the five seasons.
The Dodgers later announced that they claimed infielder/outfielder Travis Blankenhorn from the Minnesota Twins. Dustin May was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Blankenhorn, 24, has appeared in two major-league games; his debut last season and another game this year. He has a double in four career plate appearances.
A third-round pick in 2015, Blankenhorn slashed .277/.321/.466 in 108 games between high A and double A in 2019.
Like Jones, Blankenhorn is expected to report to triple-A Oklahoma City.
AJ Pollock returns to Dodgers’ lineup after hamstring injury
AJ Pollock is back in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Friday against the Marlins a week after straining his left hamstring.
Pollock came off the bench in the Dodgers’ two wins over the Mariners on Tuesday and Wednesday but hasn’t started a game since May 7 in Anaheim. He went 1 for 2 with an RBI against Seattle.
Pollock is batting .269 with a .778 OPS and four home runs in 31 games. He will play left field and bat seventh Friday opposite Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara.
Austin Barnes will catch Clayton Kershaw and bat eighth.
DODGERS (20-17)
Mookie Betts RF
Corey Seager SS
Justin Turner 3B
Max Muncy 1B
Chris Taylor CF
Gavin Lux 2B
AJ Pollock LF
Austin Barnes C
Clayton Kershaw P
Betting lines and odds for Dodgers vs. Marlins on Friday
The Dodgers enter Friday’s clash with the Miami Marlins on their first win streak in nearly a month, and will look to Clayton Kershaw for a quality start.
Kershaw has allowed one run or fewer in five of his last seven starts. In three home starts this season, he has 21 strikeouts and two walks in 20 innings with a 1.35 ERA against opponents averaging .192.
The Marlins are averaging more runs on the road than at home at 4.1 per game. They enter Friday having scored three runs or fewer in five of their last six games. They’ve also allowed three runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games.
While Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara has given up a home run in each of his past five starts, he has allowed two runs or fewer in his most recent four starts.
The Dodgers have covered five of their last 22 games on the run line, having allowed at least four runs in eight of their 10 games in May. They have played just one of their last 10 games under the total.
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ICYMI: Dodgers sweep Mariners for first winning streak in nearly a month
It had been almost a month since the Dodgers strung two wins together, a stretch of futility that seemed unfathomable in early April, when the defending World Series champions bolted out of the gates with 13 wins in 15 games.
Any air of invincibility the Dodgers had was punctured with a 3½-week nosedive in which they lost 15 of 20 games, but with Wednesday’s 7-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, which completed a two-game sweep in Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers may have regained some of that familiar swagger.
One night after Gavin Lux’s three-run, eighth-inning homer fueled a dramatic 6-4 come-from-behind win, the Dodgers busted open a one-run game with a four-run fifth and rode the dominant left arm of Julio UrÃas to a convincing win.