Rants & Raves

Grove’s kryptonite is left hand batters (OPS of .756 vs 1.121). It would be great if he could fill the role of the multi-inning relief pitcher but we need to see how he fairs against LHB’s.

10 runs scored in last 5 games. 3 wins , 2 losses

I agree bear, why not take a shot with Will Myers? At least he’s healthy! (I think). Dodgers need to put. Up 8 or more on the assstroles tonight!

DODGERS ACTIVATE PHIL BICKFORD

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford from the injured list and optioned left-handed pitcher Alex Vesia to Triple-A.

Bickford, 28, missed 14 games with lower back tightness. He made one rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City, tossing one scoreless inning with one strikeout. He has appeared in 23 games this season for the Dodgers, posting a 7.33 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 27.0 innings. He has been in the Majors parts of four seasons with Milwaukee (2020) and Los Angeles (2021-23) and he is a combined 7-5 with a 4.75 ERA (74 ER/140.1 IP) and 164 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round (18th overall) of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Southern Nevada College.

Vesia, 27, pitched on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning with one strikeout against the Los Angeles Angels. On the season, he is 0-4 with a 7.58 ERA (16 ER/19.0 IP) and 30 strikeouts in 23 games for the Dodgers. He is in his third season with Los Angeles, and he is a combined 8-5 with a 3.10 ERA (39 ER/113.1 IP) and 163 strikeouts in 127 games. He has been in the Major Leagues parts of four seasons with Miami (2020) and Los Angeles (2021-23) and he is 8-6 with 168 strikeouts in 117.2 innings. He was originally acquired from the Miami Marlins on February 12, 2021 along with right-hander pitcher Kyle Hurt in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro.

I highly doubt the sequencing theory had much if anything to do with the bullpen improving the last three games.

Sequencing didn’t cause Graterol to make two horrible defensive plays to cost games and hang a two strike slider for a HR against Giants. Sequencing didn’t cause Caleb to walk 3 and hit another batter to blow a game.

The pitchers executed this week and it also helps that Kershaw and Sheehan had great starts which allowed only two well rested relievers to throw in 2 of these games.

I need to give Dave Roberts credit also for his bullpen moves the last 3 days. He showed confidence in many relievers in the bullpen game against Ohtani and he stuck with Grove last night in a tight game. I didn’t agree with all of his moves but they worked and Dave deserves credit. Hopefully, Hudson and Nelson can return soon and Shelby Miller can come back to add even more depth to the bullpen.

What a roller coaster the last 6 games!

Give it a try…………

7:15 PM ET

Astros (41-35)

Dodgers (42-33)

SP Ronel Blanco R

1-0 4.66 ERA

SP Bobby Miller R

3-1 2.83 ERA

Confirmed Lineup

RF Mookie Betts R

1B F. Freeman L

C Will Smith R

DH J. Martinez R

LF J. Heyward L

CF James Outman L

2B M. Vargas R

SS Miguel Rojas R

3B M. Busch L

Clear-day

0%rain

76° Wind 9 mph Out

High-A: Catcher Dalton Rushing was activated off the IL.

Pitcher Ben Serunkuma, who the Dodgers signed out of Uganda in January 2022, joined the Quakes after pitching four games in the Arizona Complex League.

Friday scores

Las Vegas 7, Oklahoma City 2

Northwest Arkansas 5, Tulsa 4

Great Lakes 8, West Michigan 6

Rancho Cucamonga 4, Lake Elsinore 0

Saturday scores

4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Hyun-il Choi) at West Michigan (Carlos Pena)

5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) vs. Las Vegas (Adrian Martinez)

5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Nick Nastrini) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Drew Parrish)

6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (TBD) vs. Lake Elsinore (Henry Williams)

AA Tulsa was eliminated from winning the first half division.

David Vassegh

@THEREAL_DV

Noah Syndergaard is warming up in the bullpen to throw a simulated game at Dodger Stadium. #Dodgers

Team Dodger Bautista is 15-0 in the Dominican Summer League with their win today.

* Emmet Sheehan looked great. And what I like best was what happened after his first taste adversity in the Big Leagues. He was sailing along again with 3 more shutout innings. And then wham-bam, back-to-back bombs. Than a second walk to Bregman on 4 pitches and it looked very much like he may have been scared out of the strike zone. But no. He regrouped, got a pop up and 2 swinging strike-outs. That showed me something. I like the kid and he needs to continue to challenge hitters with that fastball up. Seems like it must have high spin.

* I think Grove has looked way better than his 7.59 ERA. I like his stuff. And he may have found a nitch in the bullpen.

* I’m with RC Dodger on this one “I highly doubt the sequencing theory had much if anything to do with the bullpen improving the last three games.”

We have tons of scouting reports on hitters that goes into a game plan. It may be predictable the first time through but after that is’s more about adjustments; how the hitter has looked against certain pitches, what’s working for the pitcher that day, what was saved up the 1st time through. It also has to factor in a pitcher’s strengths as much, or more, then the hitter’s weakness. And it is almost always the pitch location versus the pitch type that determines success or failure. I might buy some guys tipping pitches maybe but I’m not buying that we had become that predictable in pitch sequencing.

* Nice to see the bottom of the order carry the mail. Rojas with 2 hits and the rookies with 4. Nice to see Outman get it going a bit.

* Really good game. And 2:08, too.

Indeed it was. And what was best about it was who got the L

He might just be–dare I say it?–a trade chip, but Jahmai Jones is playing awfully well at OKC.

I was looking ups something else but noticed that Jones’ offensive performance has been remarkably similar to Busch’s.

Jones’s OPS is .983, while Busch is at .968. His OBP is .429, one point higher than Busch. Also impressive: 41 walks against 50 Ks. Good plate discipline.

Some of us have assumed Yonny is higher on the depth chart, but Jones’s offense is substantially better. His slugging percentage is .554, slightly better than Busch, while Yonny’s is .392. Yonny is also great at getting on base, with a .407 OBP and nearly as many walks as Ks.

I assume that once Muncy or Taylor is back, Busch will return to OKC. But if there are more injuries, perhaps Jones and Yonny will get called up.

Hunter Feduccia is also playing well. His OPS is .843, with a .401 OBP.

When you throw 100 mph, you just can’t walk the #9 hitter! Miller has to learn to throw his 4 seamer up in the zone like Sheehan. And he needs to keep his composure when things unravel a bit. Gonna be interesting in his next start.

Rookies!

Roberts keep Miller soooo muuch.. Even Smith did not talk to him (The picher). They saw Miller fall down the slide and did nothing.

Go Dodgers

Growing pains, the kid will learn and he will get better.

Jerry Reuss look alike = Emmet Sheehan. The blond hair and moustache reminds me of Reuss.

Vargas can’t hit the 94+fastball, his bat looks like a newspaper, his hands are slow.

Frustrating game so far today. Get out 3 – 0 and bats fall asleep until Peralta homers. Freddie and JD are really struggling and Vargas is about to dip below the Mendoza line. Busch has had more competitive at bats than either Outman or Vargas of late. Not like he is tearing it up but looks like a hitter. The growing pains of young starting pitchers. Miller seems to have had issues getting on to next pitch – got out of sorts in the last two starts. Phil mentioned it but that impressed me about Sheehan last night after the back to back homers.

If Dodgers decide to go get a starter I would like to see them get either Flaherty or Giolito. FA at end of year, just entering their prime, and LA ties which may make it more likely to re-sign them if Dodgers decide. Cardinals need young pitching which Dodgers have a lot of. Seems like a good match.

Like Mark, I think Grove could be a nice bullpen piece. I think Ryan Pepiot, Frasso, and Kyle Hurt might also be guys that fit that profile in the short term. Not a fan of trading good young prospects for relief pitching. So much variance from year to year and within a year.

Great at bat by Outman. Be great to come back to beat the Astros. Especially, the Astros.

Twice with Busch on base ahead of him in the late innings, Mookie comes up empty at the plate.

I don’t know why they didn’t send Deluca they wouldn’t have thrown through. If he was on second base, we would’ve taken the lead with are the ground rule double

Good for Outman! He comes thru to drive home some runs. He’s so critical to the fate of this team.

Let’s please close this out now

Wild game. Go for the sweep tomorrow and a five game win streak. Six game road trip to Denver and KC and then six game home stand before the ASB. Put another another 10-11 wins in the W column and we will be on our way.