I know this is getting to be an old tune. philjones, Badger, STB, tedraymond, and so many others have been consistent with their highlighting the problem with the LAD pitcher injuries. I know it has engendered a lot of jokes about the fragility of the Dodger pitchers, but with the latest “shoulder” injury to Roki Sasaki it really is not a laughing matter.
At the current time of me writing this post, the Dodgers have 14 pitchers on the IL. Sure, Clayton Kershaw comes off the IL this weekend, but there is still time for yet another LAD pitcher to hit the IL before then, so I will stay with 14. The teams with the second most pitchers on the IL are Cleveland and both NY teams with 8.
Pitchers on the other four NL West teams: San Diego 6, Arizona and Colorado 4, and San Francisco 0.
Suffice to say, there is certainly something not right with what the Dodgers are doing. There was so much written last winter about the Dodgers planning to study the problem and try to make changes to whatever they were doing…offseason workout, ST, how best to develop MiLB pitchers to be successful MLB pitchers.
But it sure doesn’t appear that the Dodgers learned a thing. Since last season ended, and the study was supposedly conducted, the Dodgers have placed 8 pitchers on the 2025 IL. There are multiple MiLB pitchers also on the IL.
Three 2025 starting pitchers out with shoulder injuries. Why?
I have no idea what the answer is. But one question has to be, who is looking at the medicals for the pitchers they are looking to acquire?
- Blake Snell
- Tyler Glasnow
- Roki Sasaki
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (last year)
- Michael Kopech
BTW, both Japanese pitchers have had shoulder injuries in their first year with the team. Kodai Senga was also out last year due to a shoulder injury. Is there a reason why Japanese pitchers seem to come down with shoulder injuries? It certainly deserves a question. At least Shota Imanaga’s injury is not his shoulder (hamstring).
I am an unapologetic Tyler Glasnow fan. When he is good, you can count the better pitchers in MLB on one hand. While I preferred Max Fried to Blake Snell I was still happy about Snell to LAD. However, the same can be said about Snell…when he is good he is elite. So yes, Snell and Glasnow are elite when healthy, but they cannot stay healthy and the Dodgers have committed $318,562,500 just for those two pitchers. Add $325MM for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and that is a HUUUUGE commitment.
The Dodgers could have paid Tyler Anderson $39MM for 3 years after resurrecting his career. However, apparently throwing 90 MPH on your 4-seamer just isn’t good enough. He ate up innings in 2022 with LAD (178.2). Dropped to 141.0 in 2023, but back up to 179.1 in 2024.
Of course the Dodgers could have gone the route that KC did and sign Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo in 2024.
Seth Lugo threw 206.2 innings in 2024 (#2 in MLB) and is currently at 56.2 IP in 2025 (#2 MLB). Michael Wacha threw 166.2 innings in 2024 (more than any LAD pitcher), and is currently at 51.2 IP in 2025 (#20).
Yamamoto has 45.0 IP in 2025 (#58 in MLB). He is the only LAD pitcher in the top 100 pitchers with IP. Dustin May is the LAD #2 pitcher with 39.2 (#101 in MLB).
- Lugo throws 10 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting at 92.
- Wacha throws 6 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 93.2.
- Max Fried throws 7 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 93.9.
- Matthew Boyd throws 5 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 93.2.
- Griffin Canning throws 6 pitches with his 4-seamer (#2 pitch) sitting 93.8.
- Nick Pivetta throws 6 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 93.7.
- Snell has 4 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 94.8.
- Glasnow has 4 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 95.2.
- Yamamoto has 6 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 95.4.
- Roki Sasaki throws 3 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting at 96.0.
- Dustin May throws 5 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 95.0. That is actually his #3 pitch. His sinker is his #1 pitch and it sits 94.4.
- Tony Gonsolin has 4 pitches with his 4-seamer sitting 93.5. Perhaps he does not throw hard enough for LAD front office.
Last year’s playoff teams and number of pitchers > 100 IP:
- KC – 5 pitchers with > 129 IP
- Detroit – 5 pitchers with > 102.1 IP
- Baltimore – 5 pitchers with >107.1 IP
- NYY – 4 pitchers with > 151.2 IP
- Houston – 4 pitchers with > 145 IP
- Cleveland – 3 pitchers with > 103.2 IP (Relied heavily on bullpen)
- Atlanta – 5 pitchers with > 123.2 IP
- Phillies – 4 pitchers with > 150.2 IP
- NYM – 4 pitchers with > 120.1 IP
- Milwaukee – 4 pitchers with > 104.2 IP
- San Diego – 3 pitchers with > 146.2 IP
Other playoff contenders:
- Cubs – 5 pitchers with > 130.2 IP
- Seattle – 5 pitchers with > 121.1 IP
- Arizona – 4 pitchers with > 117 IP
- San Francisco – 4 pitchers > 104 IP
The Dodgers had 2 pitchers that topped 100 IP:
- Gavin Stone – 140.1
- Tyler Glasnow – 134.0 IP
That’s it.
If I am Mark Walter, I am asking AF why can’t the Dodgers find pitchers who can stay healthy and go deeper into games. Maybe the Dodgers should look more for pitchers with more than 4 pitches and not worry so much about 4-seam velo. Have no clue if that is an answer, but whatever is driving their decisions, they have to change. It is not working.
MiLB GAME SUMMARIES
Round Rock Express (Texas) 5 – OKC Comets 0
Adrian Houser threw 8.2 scoreless innings and kept the Oklahoma City Comets without a hit until the seventh inning as the Round Rock Express blanked the Comets, 5-0. Houser’s no-hit bid ended with a two-out single by Michael Chavis in the seventh inning. He was on the brink of a complete game shutout but was lifted from the game after Alex Freeland hit a double with two outs in the ninth inning.
Round Rock took a 1-0 lead in the second inning and extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning, including a two-run homer by Alex De Goti. All three runs were scored off Michael Kopech, who allowed the three runs on 2 hits, 1 BB and 1 K. The hits were the 2-run HR by De Goti and a Blaine Crim double with a runner on 2nd after a BB and SB.
The Express tallied the game’s final run in the sixth inning. The Comets were shut out for the first time this season and did not have a runner reach scoring position until the ninth inning.
Nothing else to report on this one.
Tulsa Drillers 5 – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC) 2
Just one day after the bullpen could not protect a lead for the Drillers, a trio of Tulsa relievers shined brightly in a victory over Northwest Arkansas. Kelvin Bautista, Jerming Rosario and Antonio Knowles combined to blank the Naturals over the game’s final 5.2 innings to lead the Drillers to a 5-2 win over the Naturals.
The game started as if would mirror Tuesday’s night’s high-scoring affair that finished 10-8. Tulsa quickly opened the scoring with a pair of runs in both the first and second innings to jump in front.
Taylor Young and Yeiner Fernandez began the bottom of the first with consecutive singles, and both came home to score. Young scored the game’s first run on a fielder’s choice grounder from Chris Newell, and Fernandez came home on a double by Aaron Bracho.
In the second, Sean McLain tripled home the first run, then scored himself on a sacrifice fly from Young.
The Naturals scored single runs in the second and fourth innings, as Tulsa used three different pitchers to get through the first four frames.
With the score at 4-2, the pitchers on both sides took control of the game.
Bautista was outstanding for the Drillers, allowing just one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings. More importantly, he did not walk a batter while striking out three.
Jerming Rosario followed Bautista to the mound in what was his first relief appearance of the season. The right-hander gave up only one hit in 2.0 shutout innings. Rosario did not issue a walk and registered two strikeouts.
Antonio Knowles took it from there. He pitched around a pair of singles in the ninth inning to complete the victory and pick up his third save of the season.
Catcher Frank Rodriguez gave the Drillers an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. His two-out single plated Bracho who had drawn a walk to open the inning. Rodriguez finished the game 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
With his first-inning single, Young extended his on-base streak to 16 straight games.
McLain continued his hot streak, finishing 2-3 at the plate while also making a pair of outstanding plays in the field. The shortstop has hit safely in six of his last eight games, going 9-26 (.346) in that stretch. This is more like what LAD was hoping for from McLain.
- Yeiner Fernandez – 2-4, double (6)
- Frank Rodriguez – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Sean McLain – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (2)
- Aaron Bracho – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, double (5)
Great Lakes Loons vs Lake County Captains (Cleveland) – Postponed due to wet grounds
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 12 – Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 8
The Rancho bats enjoyed a second straight night against Inland Empire pitching, as the Quakes downed the 66ers by a final of 12-8 on Wednesday night.
One night after posting 25 runs on 23 hits, the Quakes’ offense went off for 12 runs on 14 hits, also taking advantage of five Inland Empire errors on the night to help win their fourth straight game overall.
The two teams went back-and-forth in the early stages, as both teams blew a three-run lead over the first four innings.
Trailing 7-6 in the fifth, Rancho got even thanks to a balk, scoring Elijah Hainline from third base. They then exploded for five runs in the sixth, capitalizing on three defensive miscues.
Joendry Vargas highlighted the five-run inning with his first homer as a Quake, while Jaron Elkins had an RBI triple, one of three hits for him on the night.
Kellon Lindsey had a pair of RBI singles, finishing with a career-high four RBIs on the night.
Octavio Becerra was credited with the win in relief, while Inland Empire reliever Najer Victor suffered the defeat.
The Quakes, who now have a nine-game lead in the South Division, will send Hyun-Seok Jang to the mound on Thursday, while Inland will counter with Chris Clark at 6:30pm.
- Kellon Lindsey – 2-6, 1 run, 4 RBI
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Jose Meza – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run
- Jaron Elkins – 3-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (6), triple (1)
- Elijah Hainline – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 runs, 1 RBI
- Mairo Martinus – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (3)
- Joendry Vargas – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (1)
Dave Roberts reported that Snell threw from 60 feet, so the doctor visit must have gone well. I do not care about velocity, and neither should the powers that be, Charlie Hough and Jamie Moyer could not break glass with their fastballs, but Moyer pitched until he was 49 winning 269 games, Charlie pitched until he was 46 winning 216, and averaging 199 innings pitched a year, Moyer averaged 208. Those kinds of guys save bullpens.
Four homers tonight, including Muncy’s second and Kim’s first career shot. Ohtani leading off the game, and Pages leading off the third inning. Pitcher for the A’s tomorrow has given up 9 in 41.2 innings. Sauer will get the bulk of the innings in a bullpen game. Only pitcher announced for the Angel series is Kershaw on Saturday. Rushing set to start tomorrow night’s game.
If I had to guess, Outman goes down when Teo comes back, Taylor will get DFAd when Edman returns. Feyereisen will be sent down when Kersh is activated.
Sorry to see Barnsy getting DFAed but it was the right move. Rushing has earned it. Will make the team 10 years young and gives more pop off the bench.
Dodgers made it clear they will make moves if the production is not there.
CT and Outman probably next in line. Maybe even MM.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From Bluto’s post in conversation with Glaser:
“Here is Kyle’s response:
The Dodgers generally hunt for prospects with really good fastball velocity and characteristics. That’s their priority in pitching prospects, and a lot of those guys are more wild when younger. Dodgers approach is to take the good fastball and teach them control.”
The Dodgers methods aren’t likely to change. They sign and develop prospects who throw hard and they sign free agents who strike people out. Injuries and injury history be damned. And if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, it’s not wise to expect different results.
What’s the answer to this problem? Apparently nobody knows.
Good post. I agree. RC is loaded. Kim might be here to stay.
When does Ryan Ward get a shot??
If you had to put a picture next to the words “Baseball Player” it would be Freddie Freeman’s. He is just so damn good!
Last night was an enjoyable game to watch. Back to the HR ball to score.
I’m excited for Andy Pages and his recent success. He has the tools to be a productive player for the Dodgers. I think his improvement with the mental aspect of the game has been the difference. And, this includes his OF play. At the plate he appears to have a plan. He’s always seemed to have two strikes on him with most of his AB’s. Now has a solid two strike approach and is turning potential K’s into opposite field base hits. Let’s hope he can continue to develop.
Kim is an exciting addition to the lineup. The Dodgers haven’t had a player like him in years. His HR last night was a surprise. If he can continue to make contact and put the ball in play, with his speed, many singles will become doubles. He would be a ideal 9th place hitter and set Ohtani up with more RBI situations. I enjoy Kim’s play at 2B. It’s nice to see a second baseman with a strong, accurate arm.
Kiki and Rojas have picked up there offense somewhat.
I believe Conforto is 7 for 12 and is still hitting .175. Ouch.
It’s painful to watch the continued deterioration of James Outman. He had such a solid 2023 season, then a poor 2024 and even worse start to 2025. It looks like he can’t wait to get each AB over with. No confidence at all.
Muncy’s mammoth HR lasts night brought back some memories from the past. He is still hitting below .200 and continues to strikeout at a high rate.
I like the Rushing callup. Hopefully, he can have success both at the plate and on defense. It would be beneficial to Will Smith to get a couple of games off within every 10 game span or so. Will is off to a great start to the season, but we have seen this scenario before. Understandably, he gets worn down as the season progresses and is not “fresh” for the postseason. Maybe, Rushing can help minimize that problem for Will.
When learning of the prep Freddie has to endure before and after each game one has to marvel at his production. Right now he is a hitting machine and continues to play GG defense. How lucky are we? Maybe, the pitching staff can get some pointers on how to play with an injury. (Bluto – sarcasm alert).
Mookie looks like he is getting stronger and I am impressed with his SS play. I think he would be better at leadoff and dropping Ohtani into the third spot.
Carry on
Dodgers have optioned Feyereisen and called up Wrobleski.
Kersh is going to face Tyler Anderson on Saturday, Kikuchi is starting on Sunday for the Angels.
Perhaps it’s just me, but the homepage is rendering weirdly and incorrectly.
I understand the excitement over kershaw’s return and we certainly could use a starting pitcher. But I think both Kersch and the Dodgers would be better served putting him in the bullpen. One time through the line up or for an inning would allow him to save bullets and his body. With that slider and curve he can spot that 88 mph fastball and get outs. I’m seriously not sure his stuff will play as a starter trying to get 5 innings out of him. I don’t want to see him break down again and go back on the IL.
Now, he would have to agree to that role and he may want to start. It’s going to be his call and maybe a hard sell. But I think that role better serves him and the club.
https://x.com/SportsNetLA/status/1923142939489788286
Tonight’s lineup
For those of you who are having issues with the home page, I have already put in a slip for it to be fixed. I am not a high priority for them, so hopefully it will not be too long.
In the interim, you can scroll down to the actual post and click on Read More, and it will go to the article.
Has Muncy finally found it
Now that Barnes has set a new precedent with regard to underperforming, overpaid vets.
Has his release done that?
Clock’s gotta be ticking on Taylor, no?
Pending active roster squeeze when Teo and Edman return. Kim playing well. Even Outman showing flashes.
CT3 went 0-3, is down to 42 OPS+.
If Kim keeps progressing and earns his way into being an everyday player, then the Dodgers have found their perfect 9-hole batter.
What a nice start to the Dalton Rushing Era… even if Rushing’s BA fell 500 points during the game, all the way to .500.
The Dodgers were bound to beat up on the A’s after the drubbing the A’s dealt them a couple days ago. Great day for padding stats, but I think some of those numbers are more significant than others:
–Rushing delivers two singles (including one with a 110 mph exit velocity) and a walk in his debut, scoring three runs and showing admirable plate discipline. Sauer, Banda and Wrobleski only gave up only three hits, so I assume Rushing has a share of that success too.
–Kim again proves he belongs by scoring 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks (his first bases on balls in the ML). He improved his BA to .429. Not sustainable, of course, but if he keeps producing, he may replace Sasaki in the ROY conversation. Does anybody still want to send him back to OKC for a little more seasoning? (Good news for Kim does not bode well for Taylor, who came off the bench early and went 0 for 3.)
–Much-maligned Max, granted the clean-up spot, delivers another HR, two singles, a sac fly and 4 RBI. His slump was so bad that he only raised his BA to .207 and his OPS to .664. The new spectacles keep working.
–Another HR for Pages, who’s playing so well that Robert subbed for him early, letting him rest with oldtimers Freddie and Mookie. Speaking of whom, Mookie scored 3 times in 3 plate appearances, after logging a single and two walks, while Freddie went 2 for 3, raising his BA to .370 and OPS to 1.132.
–My man Outman came through with an HR, single and a walk–leading to 3 runs scored– and only one K in five plate appearances. This game probably won’t prevent Outman’s return to OKC, but let’s recognize that he’s out-performing Conforto, who had another lackluster game, going 1 for 5 and scoring zero runs. Plus, Outman is a better defender. No doubt the people who paid Conforto $17 million expect him to improve…but at the 1/4 mark of the season his numbers took a lot like Taylor’s. The strong play from Pages and Kim could relegate him to the bench once Edman returns…while Outman plays in OKC, waiting for another opening.
–And yeah, Shohei hit a couple more bombs to reach 15 for the season, while collecting six RBIs. His BA is now .310 and his OPS is 1.032. Just Shohei being Shohei. He was kind enough to strike out against catcher-turned-mop-up pitcher Jhonny Pareda, who will be able to brag about this feat for the rest of his life.
–Finally, a shout out to the pitchers, especially Wrobleski. His last ML performance was awful, but he finished the game with four shutout innings with 4 Ks while allowing only one hit to a lineup that isn’t shabby at all. The curious scorekeeping rules credited Wrobo with the W even though Sauer exited with a big lead. Whatever. It’s said that hitting is contagious. Perhaps not-hitting is contagious too.
Dodgers teaching Sasaki a new pitch? Sinker or two-seamer, it’s all synonymous.
https://x.com/Baseball_Namiki/status/1923147704965693465
This is so cool.