Game 25 Thread: April 23 @ Cubs, 4p

TBD vs. Matthew Boyd (1-2. 2.01).

After one of the most crushing losses we've had so far this year, the Dodgers will try to pick our beleaguered relievers off the floor and salvage a series split in today's game. There were soooooooo many mistakes yesterday: Dustin May giving up seven runs and ceding a 3-0 lead in the first inning; Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernandez' misadventures in the field (and Tommy Edman also gave up a RBI triple, to be fair); Alex Vesia giving up a two-run jack to narrow our comeback 10-7 lead; Tanner Scott, needing only one more out, giving up a game-tying HR in the bottom of the ninth. My god, what a disaster.

The Dodgers slipped back into second place in the NL West by a game and honestly don't look that good. Mookie Betts went 0-for-4 and is batting a woeful .231 this year, and Shohei Ohtani had three Ks in 4 AB. But that bottom of the order, anchored by Max Muncy and Kiké Hernandez, is simply putrid. We have to get Muncy out of the lineup. He is an automatic out.

Sigh.

Game 24 Thread: April 22 @ Cubs, 4.40p

Dustin May (1-1, 1.06) vs. Shota Imanaga (2-1, 2.22).

Start the game, I know a carrot top
Who didn't pitch last year, but now he just won't stop
And we can watch Shohei, and then see Muncy K
And all...
that...
jazz

Game 23 Thread: April 20 @ Rangers, 11.30a

Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 4.85) vs. Tyler Mahle (3-0, 0.92)

First off, congratulatons to Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka for the birth of their daughter yesterday!

Now, if Kirby Yates hadn't coughed up a game-winning walk-off home run to Adolis Garcia yesterday, we would also be talking about this game making a three-game sweep of the Rangers. Alas, it's only a rubber match now. Let's still get the win.

Game 22 Thread: April 19 @ Rangers, 1p

Roki Sasaki (0-1, 3.29) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 2.55).

Fresh off another great performance from fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto (who outdueled the Rangers' Jacob deGrom (7.0 IP, 7 Ks, 1 ER) by pitching 7.0 IP, 10Ks, 0 ER), young Roki Sasaki takes the mound this afternoon at Globe Life Field.

Sasaki has been shaky and hasn't gone deep into games all year long. Maybe this is the one where he figures it out?

Game 21 Thread: April 18 @ Rangers, 5p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.23) vs. Jacob deGrom (0-0, 4.30).

Oh, Corey. We loved you when you won the World Series MVP in 2020, but not so much in 2023. And here you are again, now batting .306 on the season with 4 HR,...and we do miss you. Except now we have Mookie Betts at shortstop, and well, he's been pretty good too (batting .266 on the season but also with 4 HR, and four more RBI at 10).

Texas leads the AL West by two games over Seattle. We're in second place, a game and a half behind the Padres in the NL West.

I hope we bring it this series.

Game 20 Thread: April 16 vs. Rockies, 7p

Bobby Miller (0-0, -.--) vs. Germán Márquez (0-2, 4.60).

Before we get to the game, I gotta say: I really enjoy hearing Jessica Mendoza calling the game on color commentary. She is interesting, engaging, insightful, analytic, and even a little bit goofy. And she pairs really well with Stephen Nelson, who is much more controlled and not just bellowing hyperbole into the mike when he's sharing the booth with Mendoza.

But back to the series. Last night's win was a good one, and now the Dodgers are on the verge of a series sweep and have moved to second place, tied with the Giants, and 1.5 games behind the Padres despite our mediocre record, only 5-5 in their last 10. So let's get that sweep, Bobby!

Game 19 Thread: April 15 vs. Rockies, 7p

Landon Knack (1-0, 10.38) vs. Feltner (0-0, 2.81).

Is one squeaker victory over the lowly Colorado Rockies enough to start feeling more positive about this 2025 Dodgers team?

Not on tax deadline day, that's for sure.

We're still in third place in the division, 2.5 games behind the Padres.

Geez.

(It's Jackie Robinson Day as well, but given the economy, I'm freaking out about this tax bill. Even with the wildfire-related deadline exception.)

Game 18 Thread: April 14 vs. Rockies, 7p

Dustin May (0-1, 0.82) vs. Antonio Senzatela (0-2, 5.14).

Is it too early, in mid-April, to call the Dodgers a disappointment? Now having dropped three straight series, including a dispiriting couple of flops to the Cubs over the weekend, the Dodgers look nothing like the juggernaut we thought they might be in 2025.

The Dodgers, once 8-0, have been freefallin' and now start the day 2.5 games behind the Padres and a game behind the Giants. That's how bad it is.

It's a long day, living in Reseda.

Watch us lose this series to the 3-12 Rockies. Then, we'd call it a dumpster fire.

Game 17 Thread: April 13 vs. Cubs, 4p

Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 6.43) vs. Colin Rea (0-0, 0.00).

In Tyler Glasnow's last start in Philadelphia, Glasnow was swimming along through two innings before some rain started falling and impaired his throwing and got into his head. Glasnow couldn't even get an out in the third inning, walking a total of five batters and leaving the bases loaded so reliever Alex Vesia could enter the game and give up a dagger grand slam that put the game out of reach (the Dodgers did fight back to lose by one run, but it was still a loss).

It would be nice if Glasnow showed a little bit more backbone this time around. There's no forecast of rain today.

It's all you, Tyler.

Game 16 Thread: April 12 vs. Cubs, 6p

Roki Sasaki vs. Ben Brown.

It's another Sasaki turn. Hold on to your hats.

Game 15 Thread: April 11 vs. Cubs, 7p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 1.69) vs. Matthew Boyd (1-0, 0.00).

Finally, we get to play the storied team from Wrigley Field on home soil. It will be nice to see our old friend Justin Turner back at the Stadium, even if he is in a different shade of blue.

But I'm getting increasingly concerned about the bottom half of our lineup, which thankfully reduces by one slot with the expected return of Freddie Freeman to the lineup Friday. That move would be great, as it gets Kiké Hernandez and his .103 batting average out of the lineup.

That said, we're still stuck with the black hole that has been Max Muncy in 2025 (0-for 4 with 3 Ks on Wednesday, which makes it six strikeouts in his last seven AB). Andy Pages had a HR Wednesday which was nice, but he's still batting .171 and that's not even accounting for his mixed defensive play (just like Muncy).

On the bright side, the Dodgers currently have one of the best records in the majors against teams above .500 (6-2)--which should also contextualize the Giants' record as they still haven't even played a team above .500 this year (they are at the Yankees this weekend). Padres, who are ahead of the Dodgers ans Giants by a half-game, host the Rockies, so I'll expect them to still be on top after Sunday.

Game 14 Thread: April 9 @ Nationals, 1p

Landon Knack (1-0, 0.00) vs. Jake Irvin (0-0, 5.40).

Doomed to a losing roadtrip, the Dodgers try and salvage the last game of this three-game debacle in Nationals Park. And the bottom of our lineup is absolutely putrid:

• Michael Conforto (0-for-4 with 3 Ks yesterday, batting .235);
• Kiké Hernandez (HR anad a 1-for-3 outing raises his average to .111);
• Max Muncy (1-for-4 yesterday with 3 Ks, batting .190);
• Andy Pages (2-for-3 to raise his average to .162, so forgive me for not giving a shit about his meaningless HR late in the game);
• Austin Barnes (hitless for the 2025 season, and had 2 Ks yesterday).

Without Freddie Freeman in the lineup, the pain starts as early as the five-hole. We're currently in second place in the NL West despite being an impressive 6-2 against teams above 500 (the "surging" Giants, who are tied with us in the standings, have not played a winning team all year long). But this really can't go on like this.

Who's up for some serious fun today?

Game 13 Thread: April 8 @ Nationals, 3.45p

This Lord was a frogettable role in entertainment that no one saw. Let's hope for a sequel in today's game.

Justin Wrobleski (0-0, -.--) vs. Brad Lord (0-0. 4.50)

It's only Game 13, and the Dodgers are back to spot starters, thanks to Blake Snell's stint on the IL; not to mention an overworked bullpen due to Tyler Glasnow failing to keep composure during the elements, and Roki Sasaki's parade of short starts.

Justin Wrobleski gets the nod for the Dodgers. He was 1-2 with a 5.70 ERA in eight games last year.

The Dodgers have lost three of their last four games and have already made three errors on this roadtrip.

Oh yeah, and we're in second place to the Padres.

WTF.

Game 12 Thread: April 7 @ Nationals, 3.45p

Dustin May (0-0, 0.00) vs. MacKenzie Gore (0-1, 2.45).

The doubtful guests Dodgers visit Washington to face Gore(y). Will Dustin May's start be another horror show (just like Sunday's disastrous debacle, starring Andy Pages)?

Andy Pages' route from center field on Bryce Harper's leadoff double, B7, in yesterday's 8-7 loss.

Game 11 Thread: April 6 @ Phillies, 10.30a

The case of the missing H.

Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 0.00) vs. Cristopher Sanchez (0-0, 1.69).

Holy cow, this game is on early. How am I going to watch this from church?

Game 10 Thread: April 5 @ Phillies, 1p

Not exactly the opposing starting pitcher, but close.

Roki Sasaki (0-0, 5.79) vs. Aaron Nola (0-1, 8.44).

Roki Sasaki has not been good this season, beset by a combination of nervousness and wildness that has prevented him from getting into the fourth inning in either of his starts. He's given up 3 ER, 5 Ks and 9 BBs, and basically...looks like a 23-year-old pitcher competing in a foreign country on the biggest stage. Which he is!

Luckily, the Dodgers have a chance in this one, as we face Aaron Nola, who got shellacked for 5 ER in his only start this year (3/30 vs. WSH: 5.1 IP, albeit 8 Ks and 0 BB).

Game 9 Thread: April 4 @ Phillies, 3.45p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 2.70) vs. Jesús Luzardo (1-0, 3.60).

Jesús Luzardo only lasted five innings in his first start (vs. Washington 3/29), giving up two ER and five hits--but struck out 11. That's almost as many Ks as Yoshinobu Yamamoto has (14) in two games and 10.0 IP.

Max Muncy and Andy Pages are probably good for at least two Ks each. So it's up to the rest of the order to see if they can pound out some hits at Citizens Bank Park today and extend this undefeated start to the season.

Post-Game 8 Thread: Ohtani Walks It Off On First 2025 Bobblehead Night

SoSG AC got there early for the bobblehead, and stayed late for the walk-off HR.

DODGERS 6, BRAVES 5

Jack Harris of the LAT had a great recap of last night's game at the Stadium, where a Shohei Ohtani walk-off HR in the ninth allowed the Dodgers to win the game 6-5, open up the year with an unprecedented 8-0 record, and sweep the Braves (who are now 0-7 on the year, notable because no team has ever started 0-7 and made the playoffs).

But what was funny was, as bad as the Dodgers were playing early, those of us who had been watching this year knew what was coming. Sure, Max Muncy made two throwing errors and three feeble at bats to start the game (Muncy did hit a two-run double in the eighth to tie the game at 5, but before we all get excited, let's remember that Muncy's hit lifted his pathetic 2025 average to .120 and his his OPS to .414 (which translates to an OPS+ of 21, 79% worse than the major league average)).

Andy Pages' dropped ball in center was also coupled with a feeble batting line (0-for-3 wwith 2 Ks, sitting on a .120 BA). And big contract Blake Snell, who only lasted five innings last start, was even worse this outing, with a 4.0 IP, 2 K night that does not portend well for the remaining 4.9 years of this contract.

But when the Dodgers are down 5-0, great things seem to happen. Tommy Edman and Michael Conforto homered for the first three runs of the comeback; Muncy got two runs across the plate in his last AB; and then Shohei hits the first pitch for a game-winning HR in the bottom of the ninth. Aaron Judge didn't even need to drop a ball in this contest; the Dodgers were capable of winning this game anyway.

Said Dave Roberts in the aforementioned LAT piece, "We had no business winning that game. But to our guys’ credit, we just kept fighting.” In eight games, we've had six comeback victories. Imagine how this team might be if we actually put all the pieces together and / or had a complete lineup (our outfield bats are still questionable outside Teoscar Hernandez, and Freddie Freeman was out of the lineup for the third straight game).

Off to our road trip!

Game 8 Thread: April 2 vs. Braves, 5.30p

Blake Snell (1-0, 3.60) vs. Bryce Elder (0-0, -.--).

The Dodgers' 7-0 start is pretty surprising, but what's more surprising is the Braves' 0-6 start. Atlanta was picked by many as one of a small handful of teams that could vie for the 2025 title--and they still might, given their lineup is not at full strength yet--but a 0-6 start might reflect bad timing (running into buzzsaws against the Padres and Dodgers, both undefeated so far) and / or bad luck.

Another loss from Elder tonight, and the Braves might face...oblivion?

The Braves are batting .137 this season with a .458 OPS, 30th in the majors (the Dodgers are .226 with a .791 OPS: 16th for average, and 8th for OPS). So the Braves, collectively, are basically Andy Pages-level offense (.136 BA, .451 OPS).

(And to be fair to Pages, that's better than Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas, and Austin Barnes.)

Blake Snell faced 24 batters in his debut against Detroit (where he got the win, 5.0 IP with 2 ER, 2 Ks and 4 BB). We expect more from Snell's starting rotation spot. Show me, Blake!

Game 7 Thread: April 1 vs. Braves, 7p

Dustin May (0-0, -.--) vs. Chris Sale (0.0, 5.40).

Dustin May last pitched on May 17, 2023.

He returns to major league play against the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Chris Sale.

No pressure, Dustin!