Game 63 Thread: June 5 vs. Mets, 1p

Last night's game recap.

Landon Knack vs. David Peterson.

With yesterday's pathetic outing (Tony "Catman" Gonsolin giving up an early lead again, and an offense that forgot to show up, in a 6-1 loss), the Dodgers now have dropped the season series to the Mets, an outcome that might have implications this postseason.

That, of course, assumes we actually limp our way through the next four months and actually make the postseason, something that should happen but doesn't look assured, watching last night's debacle.

Landon Knack is on the mound for today's afternoon delight.

(cries)

Post-Game 58 Thread: Dodgers Rout Yankees And It Was Really Fun

DODGERS 18, YANKEES 2

I didn't get a chance to see SoSG Dusty at this game, which was pretty much the only disappointing part of what was otherwise an outstanding afternoon at the Stadium. My anxiety level was high, knowing Landon Knack was on the mound for the Dodgers, and my nerves were already fried having had awful traffic luck getting to Chavez Ravine (the crossing guards really need to let cars flow too, and not just pedestrians; or install some damn bridges for god's sake, Frank McCourt!).

Knack worked out of a leadoff walk to Trent Grisham in the first by getting Aaron Judge to ground into a double play, and then Cody Bellinger flied out to end the top of the first.

And then, it was on.

Four singles in the first five batters, including a solid RBI single from Max Muncy, put the Dodgers up 2-0. A sacrifice fly from Michael Conforto stretched the lead to three, and a hot shot off the bat of Tommy Edman tied up Yankees third baseman Jorbit Vivas and scored Muncy, for a 4-0 lead.

One inning later, the Dodgers had Will Warren on the ropes, knocking him out of the game on a three-run HR by Muncy. But it dind't stop there: a two-out walk to Conforto, a RBI double by Edman, and then a surprising two-run HR from Hyeseong Kim stretched the lead to 10-0 thorugh two frames. The Dodgers batted around in both of the first two innings, posting two very crooked numbers. And it kept getting silly.

Aaron Judge did have two solo HR this game, which was great for the reigning AL MVP. Max Muncy, on the other hand, had two three-run HRs this game, as well as an RBI single, to total 7 RBI on the day. Muncy went 3-for-6 and raised his batting average to .220. His .723 OPS at the completion of this game may have gotten him all the way back to replacement level (he had an OPS+ of 94 entering tonight's game), and if Muncy can break out of his year-long slump at last, that would be incredible for the bottom of our lineup.

Pages, another bat who has gotten really hot in the last 2-3 weeks, notched a HR of his own in the seventh to extend the lead to 15-1, and, following Judge's second HR, rookie Dalton Rushing came out in the eighth inning and hit his first major-league HR to make it 18-2 (a three-run shot off of Yankees position player Pablo Reyes).

Knack ended up earning the win with a 6.0 IP, 5 H performance (3 BB, 6 Ks). Anthony Banda had an impressive 2 K seventh inning; Chris Stratton gave up only one run in the eighth; and position player Kike Hernandez pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Dodgers. Knack's great starting effort, one night after Tony Gonsolin went six innings on his own, helped rest that Dodgers bullpen that has worked more than any other pen in baseball this year.

The Dodgers also had some sweet defensive play from Hyeseong Kim, in the third inning with an unassisted double play that douvbled Austin Wells off second with Kim diving to tag the second-base bag before Wells got back, and then an amazing strike from centerfield (where Kim had shifted to start the sixth inning), nailing Judge at second when Judge tried to stretch a leadoff single to a double (and instead, was nailed with a perfect throw and tag by Edman). No issues with Judge trying to make something happen there for the Yankees, but credit to the Dodgers for shutting that effort down quickly.

So that's the second straight game the Dodgers have taken from the Yankees on national television, with tomorrow's game also nationally televised (this time, on ESPN). It was a wonderful time for me, sipping that huge can of Michelob Ultra, and enjoying the fireworks on the field.

Let's go, Dodgers!

Game 58 Thread: May 31 vs. Yankees, 4p

Max, Fried.

Landon Knack (2-2, 5.22) vs. Will Warren (3-2, 4.09).

The Dodgers overcame their national-TV curse and actually won last night's game, staging a furious six-run comeback from 5-2 in the sixth inning to take the lead 6-5 off of Max Fried, and then extend the lead to 8-5 off of Andy Pages' two-run RBI single. The outcome was totally surprising, given Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin was serving up meatballs (four HR, in fact) to the Yankees' lineup--but to Gonsolin's credit, he hung in there through 6.0 IP, outdueling Yankees ace Fried and earning the victory.

We're going to need a lot of the same formula tonight, given Landon Knack's penchant for meatballs of his own, not to mention this game is also nationally-televised (this time on Fox, rather than Apple TV+). My expectations are very low for tonight's game, but I'd sure like to see a win.

SoSG Sax and Dusty will both be at today's game, so please give a shout if you're going to be there! Let's go, Dodgers!

Game 53 Thread: May 26 @ Mets, 4p

Landon Knack (2-1, 6.17) vs. Kodai Senga (4-3, 1.43).

The last time we faced the Mets in a key series (2024 NLCS), Tommy Edman stepped up big time to help us earn the series victory. In this 2025 regular-season series, Edman is 2-for-7 with a run scored. We're going to need a lot more from Edman, batting .237 on the year with a .758 OPS, especialy given the mediocrity of the bottom of our lineup--especially since we're trotting Landon Knack out there today, ahead of a beleaguered bullpen staff.

Let's go, Tommy Tanks!

Game 48 Thread: May 19 vs. Diamondbacks, 7p

Landon Knack (2-1, 5.89) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (6-3, 3.73).

Not feeling it, after that sweep by the lowly Angels this weekend. What a train wreck.

Game 42 Thread: May 13 vs. Sacramento Athletics, 7p

Landon Knack (2-0, 4.61) vs. TBD Jeffrey Springs (4-3, 4.81).

The Dodgers return home after their 6-4 roadtrip, the longest roadtrip of the year. Given the team is only 12-11 on the road, I suppose that's a minor victory?

But now that we're facing Sacramento (21-20) for the first time ever, let's make damn sure that it's a win tonight.

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 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?

Post-Game 2 Thread: Dodgers Sweep Cubs in Tokyo Dome

DODGERS 六, CUBS 三

Though they scheduled these contests way too early for me to watch either of the Tokyo Series games, the Dodgers still prevailed with a series sweep over the Cubs, following a 6-3 victory in the second game that featured a Shohei Ohtani home run, which followed taters from Tommy Edman (first MLB HR in 2025!) and Kiké Hernandez. All three of those Dodgers now lead the majors in HR.

Other crazy stats from the disparate number of games played (which reminds me of when Adrian Gonzalez led the majors in stolen bases, following the 2014 Opening Series in Sydney, Australia): Kiké Hernandez leads RBIs (3); Landon Knack co-leads Wins (1), along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto; and Will Smith is tied for the batting title at .500 (along with Chicago's John Berti).

More importantly, the Dodgers--sans both Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in this series--still opened up a dominant two-game lead in the NL West with only 160 games to play. Let's get the team back together here in Los Angeles, and hopefully get Betts and Freeman back to health.

ESPN's Doolittle Ranks Dodgers' Starting Rotation Fourth In Majors

ESPN's Bradford Doolittle had the Dodgers currently sitting at #4 among MLB teams, with still a lot of time left in the offseason for some additional pickups (namely, Roki Sasaki). The Dodgers' ranking is behind the Mariners, Phillies, and Braves. But note that Clayton Kershaw is not mentioned at all:

Los Angeles Dodgers:

Rotation index: 110.5
Ranks -- Stars: 3 | Depth: 13 | Length: 11 | Dominance: 2

Top 6: 1. Blake Snell (Rating: 121), 2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (115), 3. Tyler Glasnow (124), 4. Shohei Ohtani (119), 5. Tony Gonsolin (96), 6. Dustin May (103)

We went with Gonsolin and May at the bottom of the Dodgers' six-man rotation, though others -- Landon Knack, Ben Casparius, Bobby Miller -- could figure into the mix.

This is probably also a good place to highlight the possible impact of Sasaki, who could propel the Dodgers near the top of these rankings, or boost the fortunes of one of the teams below. The possibility is why the term "an embarrassment of riches" was invented.

2024 World Series Game 4 Post-Game Thread: Dodgers Sacrifice Hudson, Knack, Honeywell to Appease Fox Overlords

YANKEES 825, DODGERS 4

The Dodgers were always scheduled to throw a bullpen game for World Series Game 4, forgoing the opportunity for a World Series sweep and making the Fox network overlords happy. But even if it was planned, it doesn't mean today's loss was at all palatable.

Daniel Hudson was the sacrificial lamb tonight, throwing a meatball to Anthony Volpe for a grand slam that breathed life back into the Yankees' lineup. And though Landon Knack--who did the same thing against the Mets to lose the lead in NLCS Game 2--threw admirably from the fourth inning onward, Brent Honeywell served up some serious BP and let this game get way out of hand late.

Final score: Yankees 11, Dodgers 4. Yankees score a franchise record number of runs in a World Series game.

So now, the Dodgers are at a critical juncture. Either this was a brilliant tactical maneuver, resting all of our high-leverage arms while the Yankees had to use all of theirs. Or, we've just breathed life to a sleeping giant (including, literally, Aaron Judge), whose momentum won't be able to be stopped for three more games.

I'm really worried it's the latter.

This is a mess.

2024 NLCS Post-Game 2 Thread: So, Apparently There's A Limit To This "Bullpen Game" Strategy

METS 7, DODGERS 3

Brimming with confidence after a Game 1 drubbing, the Dodgers came out for the afternoon NLCS Game 2 and wasted no time getting behind the eight ball. Ryan Brasier gave up a run to the first batter (a solo HR by Francisco Lindor), putting an end to that record-tying 33 consecutive scoreless postseason innings streak. And then, in short order, Landon Knack gave up a grand slam to Mark Vientos in the second, putting the Dodgers in a 6-0 hole from which we could not claw back.

Not that we didn't have opportunities, and I'm particularly looking at Kiké Hernandez, who hit into an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth, squashing that rally (Tommy Edman's 2-RBI single brought us within three runs, 6-3). And then Kiké came out again in the eighth inning, with two RISP, and weakly popped to right to end that inning as well. It's tough to get on Kiké Hernandez just yet, though, given his heroics in NLDS Game 5.

And it's tough to get on Landon Knack, who ceded the big blast but also, as a rookie, shouldn't even be in the mix in the first place. But with all the injuries to the rest of the pitching staff, Knack is there. Sure, maybe he shouldn't have been inserted in that slot in the game. But we didn't pitch Michael Kopech, Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen, or Evan Phillips today (or yesterday, for that matter)--so I'm not questioning Dave Roberts' bullpen decisions at all (and certainly not after his mastery in NLDS Games 4 and 5).

It's not tough to point the finger at Will Smith, though: batting .087 this postseason, including an 0-for-4 day today. Mookie Betts is also subpar this postseason: 0-for-4 today with a run scored, but three Ks (one of three strikeouts to Edwin Diaz in the ninth). And even Shohei Ohtani, 0-for-3 today, is only batting .222 (and I don't recall a huge Ohtani hit since NLDS Game 1).

The Dodgers were 1-for-9 with RISP today, with 10 total left on base.

We need to get these bats going here. Three games at Citi Field means we may not even play another home game this year.

Get it together, Dodgers!

2024 NLDS Game 4 Post-Game Thread: I Will Not Go Quietly

Apparently, Don Henley never made a music video for this track, so this is all I could come up with for a visual image.

DODGERS 8, PADRES 0

Dylan Cease lasted 3.1 IP in NLDS Game 1 against the Dodgers. But the Padres, brimming with confidence after winning Game 3 and taking a 2-1 series lead in a best-of-five, sent Cease out there again, on four days rest, for the first time in his career.

Wednesday night, in Game 4, Cease lasted only 1.2 IP. His three ER tonight raised his ERA to 14.40. And the Dodgers jumped on the Padres pitchers all night at Petco Park, with home runs from Mookie Betts (his second in two days, in the first inning off of Cease); Will Smith (his first hit of the 2024 postseason, off of vowel-heavy Bryan Hoeing; and Gavin Lux (off of a fish called Wandy Peralta in the seventh inning).

Max Muncy even had a double, raising his postseason average to .188. Teoscar Hernandez went 2-for-5, and Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-3 with two walks (including an epic nine-pitch AB in the sixth that chased Jeremiah Estrada). Kike Hernandez went 2-for-4.

And sure, Chris Taylor looked like the 2024 CT3: 0-for-4 with 4 Ks (the famous golden sombrero). But in a 8-0 win, we can stomach that malaise.

The Dodgers were 5-for-9 with RISP on a 12-hit evening. The Padres were 0-for-9 with RISP.

And that's because Dave Roberts' use of the bullpen tonight--eight pitchers, in total--was masterful. Ryan Brasier, Anthony Banda, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen, and Landon Knack: you guys all stepped up and were superb. And as Ben Clemens of Fangraphs pointed out, a bullpen game usually doesn't go well--especially for the Dodgers--but tonight was a master class:

In a few days, no one is going to remember this game. It was a laugher where no one got eliminated. There were no unforgettable plays. Neither Ohtani nor Tatis made me spit out my drink in sheer wonder. These two rivals are about to play again, with higher stakes and a better pitching matchup. Why would you dwell on this one?

But without the Dodger bullpen, there wouldn’t be a fifth game. Every reliever did his part, with no hiccups. These games go wrong all the time. So give them their due. This was the platonic ideal a of bullpen game, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Friday is going to be spectacular. Buckle up.

I didn't watch this game, but I heard Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday indicating that Padres fans left Petco Park in a hurry tonight. I can't wait to watch the condensed game highlights.

On we go to a winner-take-all Game 5! Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Games 157-159 Thread: Sept 24-26 vs. Padres

Tue 9.24: Knack vs. King
Wed 9.25: Flaherty vs. Cease
Thu 9.26: Buehler vs. Musgrove

The Dodgers have a three-game lead on the Padres for the NL West division lead, and we play three games at home vs. the Padres in this, the second-to-last series of the season. We throw our three of our four most probable starting pitchers for the postseason (given the options available at this point) against the Padres' three best starters.

What could possibly go wrong?

Games 151-153 Thread: Sept 17-19 @ Marlins

If you look closely, there's a marlin in this photo.

Tue 9.17 3.40p: Miller vs. McCaughan
Wed 9.18 3.40p: Knack vs. TBD
Thu 9.19 1.40p: Flaherty vs. Cabrera

There have been four MLB expansion teams since 1993, and only the Marlins have won two World Series titles (the Diamondbacks have one, and the Rays and Rockies have none). And yet, the Miami Marlins are a shell of a team, following the unceremonious departure of GM Kim Ng (who was offered a demoted role, and chose to leave instead).

Miami's average attendance is 12K per home game--almost a quarter of what the Dodgers draw on average--29th in the majors, only ahead of the carpetbagging Athletics. But wait--Tuesday's game is Japanese Heritage Night (for the Dodgers, get it?), and Wednesday's game admits 4 people for $44. So maybe we can get to 15K fans for these games?

If you look closely, there's a Miami Marlins fan in this photo.

I mean, I know we have a 3.5-game lead in the division with 12 games to play. But if a tree falls in the forest...

Games 147-150 Thread: Sept 13-16 @ Braves

Fri 9.13 4.20p: Knack vs. Schwellenbach
Sat 9.14 4.20p: Flaherty vs. Sale
Sun 9.15 4.10p: Buehler vs. Morton
Mon 9.16 4.20p: Yamamoto vs. Fried

This is it, the last playoff tune-up series for the remainder of the 2024 season: four games, on the road, against perennial National League powerhouse (and historic Dodgers rival), the Atlanta Braves. This year, Atlanta is getting a lot of talk about the loss of starter Spencer Strider as well as position player (and reigning NL MVP) Ronald Acuna Jr, and how the Braves are now one game back of the Mets for the last Wild Card spot.

I don't understand why Atlanta gets the sympathy while the Dodgers have been MUCH more beset by injuries. The 2024 Dodgers have spent 1,992 days on the IL (as of today), which dwarfs every other MLB team by at least 150 days, and that includes the Braves (1,575 IL days). So spare me the sob stories, Atlanta. As well as that inappropriate tomahawk chop.

Games 141-143 Thread: Sept 6-8 vs. Guardians

Fri 9.6 7p: TBD Landon Knack vs. Matthew Boyd
Sat 9.7 6p: TBD Ryan Brasier vs. Alex Cobb
Sun 9.8 1p: TBD Jack Flaherty vs. Gavin Williams

We know most Dodger fans don't keep up with the American League, let alone the sleepy AL Central--so let's recap this year. The Guardians weren't expected to be very good following the 2023 retirement of manager Terry Francona, yet here they are, leading the AL Central by four games (over Minnesota, who has climbed over the Royals by a half-game), not to mention only a half-game behind the Orioles for the best record in the league. New manager Stephen Vogt has a lot to do with the team's great performance this year, not to mention the on-field production from Stephen Kwan (batting .292) and Jose Ramirez (34 HR).

But the Dodgers haven't lost a series since August 5-7 against the Phillies. And since then, we've faced off against the leaders in the NL Central (Brewers) and the AL East (Orioles), not to mention the Cardinals, Mariners, Rays, and Diamondbacks, and we've done pretty well in that span--increasing our lead in the NL West (5.0 games ahead of the Padres, and 5.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks).

Sure, we don't have a starting pitcher named by Thursday evening (when I am writing this GT). But I'm hoping the day off following that drubbing by the Angels has given us time to recover for this weekend's series.

UPDATE 9.6 5p: Gavin Stone to the IL. Geez.

Games 101-104 Thread: July 22-25 vs. Giants

All the changes you put me through...

Mon 7.22 7p: Ryan vs. Snell
Tue 7.23 7p: Knack vs. Hicks
Wed 7.24 7p: Glasnow vs. TBD Ray
Thu 7.25 1p: Kershaw vs. TBD Webb

This is shaping up to to be quite the rivalry series. First, we open up with the major league debut of Dodgers prospect River Ryan, who has 24.1 whole innings of minor league work this year (2.22 ERA, 32 Ks vs 8 BBs), who has started all of five games this year for Oklahoma City. The Dodgers made room for Ryan by felling "Big Maple" James Paxton, who was servicable in yesterday's 9-6 victory over Boston (notching the series sweep), but still carried a 4.43 ERA and 0.4 WAR despite a decent 8-2 record.

Put frankly, the Dodgers may have appreciated the 89 IP this season from Paxton, but think they can do better than an average with Ryan.

And who knows, maybe Friedman has more tricks up his sleeve to fill out the rest of the starting rotation. Looking at the rest of the starters this series, there might be something to justify the Paxton DFA (like getting some value for him from another team): Landon Knack has a 0.8 WAR; Tyler Glasnow is 1.8 WAR (despite nearing his high-water mark for innings (120) already (109 IP this year).

And then there's the season debut of Clayton Kershaw--who knows what to expect from our workhorse at this stage of injury recovery, but he's got a 3.60 ERA over three rehab starts and ten innings in the minors this year.

So maybe Gavin Stone (1.8 WAR) continues fighting on; Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1.5 WAR) comes back; Bobby Miller (-0.9 WAR) shakes his 2024 blues; and Walker Buehler (-0.7 WAR) returns to some sort of form? And we pick up another starter? Or two?

I don't know, but this series against the Giants will definitely be telling...starting with Monday, with the Giants starting this familiar foe (Blake Snell is 0-3 on the year, but the Giants have won his last two starts (both no decisions) since returning from the IL):

"Hmm, maybe I should have signed before Spring Training?
Even so, it's still $62M."

I'll be at the game on Wednesday night, alongside my friend, a Giants fan. Let's go!

Games 86-88 Thread: July 2-4 vs. Diamondbacks

Tues 7.2 7p: Miller vs. Nelson
Wed 7.3 7p: Stone vs. Montgomery
Thu 7.4 6p: Knack vs. Gallen

In Wednesday's matchup, the Dodgers face Jordan Montgomery, one of the 2023 Texas Rangers' playoff heroes (3-1 over six starts with a 2.90 ERA), who then went to free agency looking for a long-term deal. That deal didn't happen, and Montgomery ended up settling for a one-year, $25M deal with the Diamondbacks in late March. Right after signing the contract, Montgomery left agent Scott Boras for Wasserman Sports Entertainment.

And, similar to his fellow Boras-represented pitcher Blake Snell, the truncated spring training workout period did not do Montgomery any favors. He is 6-5 this year with a 6.03 ERA, which gives him a -1.2 WAR for the season. (Snell, who signed a one-year deal with the Giants, has a -1.1 WAR, a 9.51 ERA, and is on the injured list.)

Montgomery has been frustrated enough to beat up a pitchcom machine in the dugout, earlier this year. MLB.com reported on his mounting frustration in early June 2024. Will Montgomery just be a powder keg waiting to erupt on Wednesday? Will this be grounds for July 3 fireworks?!

Anyway, these Snakes were pesky as hell last year, but at beginning of play on Tuesday, they are 10.5 games behind the Dodgers and two games below .500. We did just drop our series to the sub-.500 Giants last weekend, though, so I'm not feeling especially good about this one.

UPDATE: After all that Montgomery research, the Snakes have scratched his Wednesday start.

Another reason to hate the Diamondbacks.

Games 83-85 Thread: June 28-30 @ Giants

Fri 6.28 7.15p: Knack vs. Webb
Sat 6.29 4.15p: Glasnow vs. TBD
Sun 630 1p: Paxton vs. TBD

Lots of injuries on the rosters of these two rivals. While we try to push through losses to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, Walker Buehler, and Max Muncy (not to mention Clayton Kershaw, Michael Grove, and Joe Kelly), the Giants are suffering through injuries to Jung Hoo Lee, Blake Snell, Keaton Winn, Mike Yastrzemski, and Kyle Harrison.

San Francisco might get Lamonte Wade Jr. back for this weekend series, though. I haven't heard of any returning Dodgers scheduled for this weekend (though I expect we'll have Will "Slappy" Smith back in the lineup, sitting recently due to a slump at the plate).

Which means we'll probably see more Cavan Biggio, Chris Taylor, and Austin Barnes this weekend, I reckon.

And that makes me the stick figure in the middle of the above picture.