Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-6. 2.78) vs. Nolan McLean (7-6, 3.34).
Nolan McLean has a 0.75 ERA over his last four starts, with an active streak of 17 consecutive innings without an earned run. But he's going up against our 2025 World Series ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Should be a good one.
Sorry, I'm at San Diego Comic-Con. That's all I got for this GT.
After getting swept by the Diamondbacks to end the first half of the season, the Dodgers certainly seemed a little lackluster and had cause to be alarmed: their offense was sleepy; Max Muncy, who has become sure-handed at third base, made 73 errors in the series; and many of our pitchers (starters and bullpen) just got beat.
But then, we still have an 11.5-game lead in the division. So there's that.
As Jared Diamond wrote in the WSJ's "A Lot Has Gone Wrong for the Dodgers. They’re Still the Best Team in Baseball Anyway.", it's not just our profligate spending which has allowed the Dodgers to thrive even with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Edwin Diaz, and Will Smith injured. And it's not just because we have deep pockets--it's because we have unsung players, polished in our development pipeline, who have filled in the gaps:
The truth about the Dodgers isn’t just that they’re the wealthiest team in baseball. They’re also quite possibly the smartest.
Under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, a former executive with the small-market Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers have built a player-development apparatus that is the envy of the entire industry. MLB.com ranks the Dodgers’ farm system as second-best in baseball behind the Milwaukee Brewers, even though they haven’t had a top-10 draft pick in 20 years.
In other words, the Dodgers seemingly have a limitless supply of MLB-ready replacements at every position. Coupled with their vast resources, it’s a lethal combination that has transformed them into an unstoppable juggernaut.
Take All-Star pitcher Justin Wrobleski. The Dodgers selected him in the 11th round in 2021, and he initially looked like little more than a mid-level prospect. He has turned into a savior in Snell’s absence, going 10-2 with a 2.69 ERA in 2026.
When All-Star catcher Will Smith went down with a neck injury, they turned to homegrown Dodger Dalton Rushing. He has an .812 OPS. Cuban outfielder Andy Pages signed with the Dodgers as a 17-year-old in 2018 and is now an All-Star for the first time this season.
Wrobleski, Rushing and Pages are all making around $800,000. Without them and others, the Dodgers would be more like the Mets.
“Guys have stepped up,” Roberts said. “We just find ways to win.”But the Dodgers’ astronomical budget doesn’t tell the whole story. Just ask the woeful New York Mets, MLB’s second-biggest spenders.
So relax, Dodgers! You've earned a break this week.
That is, except Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Andy Pages, and Justin Wrobleski. All six of you have to go to Philadelphia, if only to participate in off-field festivities!
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-5, 2.49) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (2-1, 4.84).
The Dodgers got snakebit last night, but tonight we go with a real starter. Let's hope for better results.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-5, 2.67) vs. Griffin Canning (1-5, 7.09).
The Dodgers once again turned the tables on the Padres, seemingly cruising to victory only to see those ideas get vaporized in a flash. Friday, it was at the hand of Teoscar Hernandez, whose light-hitting exploits of late became moot when he hit the game-winning, back-breaking grand slam to turn the Padres 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit.. That score held up, and the Dodgers won again over San Diego.
The numbers seem to favor the Dodgers based on the starting pitcher matchup. But who the heck knows, it's baseball! All I know is, I'll be there at the Stadium (with SoSG Orel!) to watch the fireworks.
Yoshinobo Yamamoto (7-5, 2.65) vs. Randy Vasquez (6-5, 4.17).
Even after winning last night's game, the Padres are eight games back of the Dodgers.
That is all.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-4, 2.68) vs. Sean Burke (3-3, 3.88).
This series with the White Sox is a good opportunity to remember former Dodger Miguel Vargas. A mediocre infielder with a negative WAR over parts of three seasons, Vargas was traded to the White Sox where he further cratered (-1.0 WAR in only 42 games) in the remainder of the 2024 season. Since then, however, Vargas has markedly improved and kept a starting position: 1.9 WAR in 2025, and he's off to a great start this year with a 2.6 WAR and a 143 OPS+.
I'm sure he's approaching this series with a bit more vigor. Hoping Yoshi can shut that down today and we can tie the series.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Andrew Painter.
That starting matchup sounds like our Japanese ace does not support the arts. I don't think that's the case, but I hope Yoshi can paint corners himself today.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-4, 3.32) vs. Brandon Sproat (1-2, 5.75).
The last time Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched at American Family Field, he shut the Brewers down by pitching the first postseason complete game in eight years (a 5-1 NLCS Game 2 victory). That was a heck of a lot better than Yamamoto in his regular season start that season, when he lasted two thirds of an inning and gvae up five runs, three of them earned.
Brandon Sproat has never faced the Dodgers in his two years in the majors.
That's all I got. It's early, and I'm still hung over from last night's romp. I need coffee.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-3, 3.60) vs. Michael King (3-2, 2.63).
47 games into this season, and the Dodgers haven't yet faced the team that looks to be our prime division rival in 2026, the San Diego Padres. Heading into tonight's opener with Yoshinobu Yamamoto should give us some confidence, but Michael King isn't a pushover. And I'm sure the Petco Park faithful will be ready to cheer on their team. Let's see how this boss battle goes.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-2, 3.09) vs. Adrian Houser (0-4, 6.19).
That's three consecutive blowout losses for the Dodgers, dropping us into second place in the NL West, and I'm frickin' tired of this shit.
Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-5 with two Ks in the leadoff spot--his second straight 0-fer night--and now has one multi-hit game in his last 10 games. Glad we're only paying him $2M/year.
It was nice to see Mookie Betts back in the lineup (he went 1-for-5 and raised his average to .182), but the Dodgers' sparsely placed 10 hits weren't going to overcome our parade of ineffective relievers last night.
When does Tommy Edman get back again?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.87) vs. Steven Okert (0-0, 4.20).
I don't care if it's May the Fourth. Screw these dirty, evil cheaters.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2. 2.48) vs. Chris Paddack (0-4, 6.38).
Top Paddock was one of my favorite breakfast spots in Melbourne, and I used to frequent it regularly. Their coffees were exquisite and their breakfast offerings were the kind of fare that you would be proud presenting to visitors from out of town (and there were many!) who were looking to get acclimated to quality Mekbourne dining.
Anyway, I bring this all up because, I'm hoping we can Top Paddack today.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.10) vs. Brandon Roupp (3-1, 2.38).
Brandon Roupp is on fire (the Roupp! the Roupp!), with 24 Ks this year compared with the pedestrian 21 K from our own Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But the Giants are only a half-game out of the cellar in the NL West, thanks to a division-worst -21 run differential (not to mention a 3-7 home record this year, also the worst in the division).
The Dodgers had to play that stupid Monday late game in Colorado, further stacking odds against Los Angeles. The Giants had the day off to rest. At least we can take solace that it rained all day in SF.
The Dodgers swept the Mets this series with some standout pitching performances in all three games: Justin Wrobleski opening with eight innings of two-hit, shutout ball Monday; then Yoshinobu Yamamoto going 7.2 IP with 7 Ks on Tuesday; and finally, Shohei Ohtani going 6.0 IP of 2 H, 1 ER ball (with 10 Ks) last night.
The bullpen also had admirable efforts, with Tanner Scott on Monday, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia on Tuesday, and then Treinen, Scott, and Kyle Hurt on Wednesday. Hurt gave up the bullpen's only earned run in the series, but of note as that we didn't leverage expensive off-season acquisition Edwin Diaz, who is still dealing with a knee issue that stems back to his ill-fated 2023 WBC celebration.
Dalton Rushing, in a rare DH appearance last night, hit a grand slam (another great call from Dave Roberts to put Rushing in at DH, btw) to ice the game. The Dodgers scored 14 runs this series, and held the Mets to three runs. The Dodgers have the highest run differential in the majors at +46 runs, but of note is that the Braves aren't far behind at +44 (having played one more game than the Dodgers as of this morning).
There's chatter about Ohtani's best performance of the year last night, given he wasn't also in the lineup as DH and didn't have to deal with all the between-inning chicanery that adds difficulties to his two-way performances. Blue Jays manager John Schneider is probably happy to see this potential evolution, I'm sure.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.50) vs. Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.70).
Nolan McLean, tonight's starting pitcher for New York, was also the starting pitcher in the WBC Championship Game for the United States, lasting 4.2 IP, giving up 4 H and 2 ER (with 1 HR). He's got a 0.3 WAR and has not given up more than 2 ER in any of his three starts this season.
But he's going to need help, after the Dodgers blanked the Mets last night, 4-0, thanks to Justin Wrobleski's eight innings of highly efficient shutout ball. Would love to keep those Mets bats slumbering tonight (especially the bat of Francisco Lindor, batting .176 in the leadoff spot).
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 3.00) vs. Kevin Gausman (0-0, 0.75).
Remember this guy, Yamamoto, in the 2025 World Series? Blue Jays fans won't soon forget him, for sure.
But at least they're throwing their ace, Kevin Gausman, who will be tough: in two games and 12 IP this year, Gausman has given up only 1 ER and 3 H (and has 21 Ks, tied for first in MLB).
Should be another fun one this afternoon! (Yes, that's what I said yesterday, as well.)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 3.00) vs. Gavin Williams (0-1, 5.40).
Weekday game before a travel day, so it's probably a 7p start time, right? APRIL FOOLS!
Nope, we go early tonight, cutting even more into Yoshinobu Yamamoto's recovery time. Lucky for us, it's not like we overworked this guy down the stretch last season. I'm sure we're totally good here.
2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Zac Gallen.
The Dodgers' quest for (even more) Championship history continues this evening at Chavez Ravine. With the Giants' loss to the Yankees on pre-Opening Day yesterday, the Dodgers look to take a commanding one-game lead in the standings over the Snakes and Gnats.
Today will be Yamamoto's second straight Opening Day start for the Dodgers; it is Gallen's fourth-straight Opening Day start for the Diamondbacks.
I'm so pumped for this game, for this season, for this team.
SoSG Dusty Baker will be at the Stadium representing the Sons.
LET'S GO, DODGERS!
For the last 48 hours, all I have been doing is watching highlights. I think I've got enough content to post daily for a lot of this off-season. I'm going to give it a shot.
Let's start with this one, an amazing view of Game 7's improbable ending. I can't believe that there isn't even one Dodgers fan in the crowd, but I haven't found him or her yet!
I guess there's some Dodgers fans visible in this shot:
DODGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 4 (11) DODGERS WIN WORLD SERIES, 4-3
In the end, it wasn't about ruining baseball. It was about grit.
And the Dodgers had it--arguably, even more than the Toronto Blue Jays.
For the Dodgers to go into Rogers Centre needing to win both games, and then winning Game 7 in an extra-inning classic--amazing. This one will be remembered for all time. And what a gutty win after getting kicked in the nuts early, with Shohei Ohtani giving up a three-run HR to Bo Bichette in an extremely abbreivated start.
Ohtani didn't have it on the mound this night, but the truth is, this Dodger team is much more than even its brightest star. The 2025 Dodgers showcase a roster full of future Hall of Famers, but also honors a panoply of unsung and unlikely heroes:
Max Muncy, whose eighth-inning home run brought us within one run of a comeback.
Miguel Rojas, an unlikely savior with his game-tying home run in the ninth inning.
Andy Pages, who ran over Kiké Hernandez in the ninth inning on a deep gapper fly ball, to preserve the tie game.
Will Smith, overshadowed superstar workhorse catcher, with the game-winning solo home run in the 11th.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, winner of World Series Game 6 and 7, the latter on zero days rest.
Mookie Betts, whose clutch double play to end the 2025 World Series showed off his fully-honed defensive skills at a brand new position.
And let's not forget some of the little guys who got us here:
Justin Dean, whose headsup play to call for the deadball in Game 6 saved us the game.
Will Klein, whose Game 3 heroics earned us a victory in the 18-inning marathon.
Justin Wrobleski, whose fourth-inning inside pitches in Game 7 fired the Dodgers back up.
And of course, Dave Roberts, who made incredible decisions all series long, a grandmaster of chess moves in this World Series.
I'm still processing this one (and, hung over), but I wanted to get something posted.
Congratulations to the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers. What an incredible ride.
