Rants & Raves

• Last night, Clayton Kershaw looked like a 37-year-old pitcher who was returning from knee and toe surgeries for the first time in a year. What can we take away from the game? He’s rusty, but looks to be healthy. We need to see progress in his next start.
• Will Dalton Rushing be Clayton’s personal catcher? I doubt it. If a tough LH is pitching when Clayton Starts, Will Smith will likely catch the GOAT.
• Kirby Yates is likely headed to the IL… no significant loss. Next man up! As of May 18, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers have 14 pitchers on the injured list. This includes both starting and relief pitchers, such as Roki Sasaki, who was recently sidelined with a right shoulder impingement.
• This number is among the highest in Major League Baseball. For comparison, the Cincinnati Reds have 13 pitchers on the injured list, including Hunter Greene and Brandon Williamson. Other teams like the Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Rays also have significant numbers of pitchers on the IL, but the Dodgers’ count places them at or near the top league-wide.
• The Dodgers’ rotation has been particularly affected, with key starters like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the 60-day injured list. Additionally, Shohei Ohtani has yet to return to pitching following his recovery from elbow and shoulder surgeries . While Clayton Kershaw was recently activated from the 60-day IL to make his season debut, the team continues to manage a high volume of pitcher injuries.
• This injury situation has necessitated frequent roster adjustments, including the recall of pitchers like Justin Wrobleski to fill gaps in the rotation . The Dodgers’ depth and resilience are being tested as they navigate these challenges in the 2025 season.
• It seems that Michael Conforto is now the latest Dodger Fans’ Whipping Boy. It’s funny to me that the “Ditch Conforto” crowd’s emergence has coincided with him breaking out. Over the past seven games, his batting average is .360 with a .429 OB% and a .560 Slug. The 17 million he makes is not what is keeping him on the team, and his bad defense is really not bad. He is average to below average as an outfielder and has actually played more RF than LF, and has 146 games in CF. Michael Conforto came to the Dodgers to see if RVS and Company could help him return to the time when he hit like a beast. In 2017-2019, he hit 27, 28, and 33 HR. From 2017 through 2020, he had an OPS of over .900. That’s why he signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers. He just turned 32, and his hard work with the Dodgers’ hitting instructors is starting to pay off. If he continues down that path, he will shut you up like Muncy and others have done many times. If he can hit .270 with 25+ HR, he will be a huge asset!
• While trying to ditch Conforto, many fans are pining to keep Chris Taylor, who is hitting .167 in his last seven games. “But he’s a good guy and more versatile!” Give me a break! He’s toast! Conforto still has some runway… especially with the turnaround he has shown in the last seven games. It actually started 15 games ago.
• We might see Nick Frasso soon. Wrobleski will likely be up too.
• Stay Calm. This, too, shall pass.

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