Dodgers Welcome New York Yankees to Dodger Stadium

For the most part, the Los Angeles Dodgers keep plugging away. Plugging in players and pitchers when another has a slump, or has inexplicably imploded on the mound.

And yet, the team is still tied for first in the NL West with the (still!) productive Arizona Diamondbacks, tied for best record in the NL, and third in all of the major leagues.

It’s really not too bad for a team that feels like there’s a new injury or bad reliever every other day.

The offense has definitely been producing, leading the NL in home runs, runs, slugging, and OPS. They also lead the NL in taking their walks.

One player in particular has been on another planet as of late.

On Friday, Freddie Freeman was named the National League Player of the Month for May.

Freddie posted a whopping .400 average, six home runs, 26 RBI, and a 1.184 OPS. He also is currently in the middle of a 21 game hitting streak. Freddie also leads all baseball in total bases so far in 2023, with 1,214.

Freeman and the Dodgers now welcome the New York Yankees and Aaron Judge to Chavez Ravine. Judge is Freeman’s counterpart in the AL, taking home his own Player of the Month award. He returned from an injury May 9th, and took off. He doubled Freddie’s home run amount with 12, batted .342, and had 25 RBI and a 1.356 OPS.

The Yankees started their season slow, mired in the basement of the AL East for weeks. They now have started surging, and are up to third in what is the best division in all of baseball, with all five teams having a winning record.

The Yankees will also have Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton returning to the team from their respective IL stints, adding even more power to this already powerful lineup.

Clayton Kershaw will be the first to face the Yankees, Friday night. Kersh has not pitched well his last three starts, but it sure to be fired up for this matchup at home. He will face Luis Severino who has only pitched 11.1 innings so far for the Yankees, but has a 1.59 ERA, allowing one homer and striking out 10.

Saturday will see Gerrit Cole, who is 6-0 on the season, facing Micheal Grove, who made one start and went on the IL. Sunday will be Domingo Germán and Bobby Miller who looks to get his third win on the season.

On Friday before the game, Manager Dave Roberts spoke to the media. He stated that the Dodgers have decided that Noah Syndergaard will make his next start, in Cincinnati. There has been some discussion of whether or not that would happen, but the Dodgers seem intent to try to let Thor have as long as possible to try to figure things out. Syndergaard has allowed five and six runs in his last two outings, and seems uneven at best. So far, even Mark Prior does not seem to be able to work his magic with the once top-tier pitcher.

“When he makes that start, I’m going to feel the same way I do every time he takes the mound. That he’s going to pitch well and it’s going to turn,” said Roberts. Let’s hope that Doc’s never gets being optimistic output comes true.

Dodgers Pitching Will Be Tested on Longest Road Trip of Season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are embarking on their longest road trip of the season, which will take them to three cities for 10 games.

The team was the last in the majors to play any American League teams, but finished their last home stand by taking two of three from the AL Central leading Minnesota Twins.

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Dodgers Bullpen: More Thoughts on the 2023 Closer Role

For the first time in what could be decades, the Los Angeles Dodgers will apparently begin regular season play without a designated closer. Of course, this idea could change as the year progresses — or even by the end of Cactus League play. But, for now, all indications are the team will employ a closer-by-committee strategy that enables the coaching staff to utilize the bullpen more on specific matchups rather than a role-by-inning approach.

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Dodgers News and Notes from Day One of Spring Training

Happy Pitchers and Catchers Report Day to all who celebrate!

The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team is going to look quite different this season than it has previously. 12 members of last years team are off to other various baseball adventures, or retirement. (Godspeed, Jake McGee. And probably David Price).

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Dodgers’ Bullpen Remains Hot Topic as 2022 NLDS Approaches

While five days certainly feels like a long time for a team to have off, it sure seemed like it went by in the blink of an eye for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shortly, the final MLB Wild Card round will produce a winner and determine what team the Dodgers will face in the 2022 NLDS beginning Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

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Who Will Close Games for Dodgers During Postseason?

There are only two games left in the 2022 MLB regular season. Back in spring, no one knew if we would even get to this point due to the lockout. But, here we are about to commence the postseason, where stress levels rise with every pitch and every swing.

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Dodgers News and Notes- Gonsolin Returns, Chris Taylor Neck Issues, and More

Welcome to the last few days of stress free Los Angeles Dodgers baseball for the 2022 season!

The Dodgers have their last three games of the season, at home, continuing what is essentially a six game series with the Colorado Rockies. So far, the Dodgers have won two of three from their NL West counterparts.

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Dodgers Injury News and Notes: Tony Gonsolin, Blake Treinen and More

The 2022 regular season will be over a week from today, on Wednesday, Oct 4th. The Los Angeles Dodgers are still treading water, just trying to keep in shape, in game mode, and not getting injured.

Last weekend, Craig Kimbrel was officially demoted from the closer position. Tuesday night, he blew another game, allowing the winning run to score in the bottom of the tenth inning. Not only did he allow the winning run, he walked in that run with the bases loaded.

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Dodgers News and Notes – Pitching Updates and More

Happy Monday once again Dodger fans – the second to last Monday of the regular season. Next weekend the Wild Card round begins, and then the Los Angeles Dodgers will know who they will face in the Wild Card race.

In the different format that MLB has this year, the Wild Card round will be the best out of three instead of a one and done like previous seasons.

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Dodgers Roster: More Bullpen Thoughts as 2022 Postseason Approaches

About the only two good things happening lately in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen are the continued dominance of righty reliever Evan Phillips and the progression of right-hander Yency Almonte in his recovery from elbow issues.

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