The Dodgers, predicted by most experts to win the World Series, begin the defense of their title with a season-opening series against the Colorado Rockies.
Takeaways from the Dodgers’ season-opening series against Rockies
DENVER — The Dodgers stumbled on opening day but recovered to beat the Rockies the next three days to begin the season 3-1. So they head to Oakland on a three-game winning streak with Dustin May on tap to make his season debut Monday.
Here are a few takeaways from the four-game set at Coors Field…
Jansen looked dominant
The Dodgers’ bullpen was depleted enough Saturday, in their third game of the season, that manager Dave Roberts used Kenley Jansen for a five-out save to close out the team’s 6-5 win. After the game, Roberts said that wasn’t the plan for Jansen’s season debut. It was out of necessity.
Jansen responded with perhaps his best performance in recent memory. The closer touched 94 mph, but, most importantly, his command was precise and his cutter was moving.
“I think in spring we saw good things at times but just to see the 92s, [93]s, and [94]s, get the ball at the top of the zone, I thought was really good,” Roberts said. “I think in spring we saw good things at times but just to see the 92s, [93]s, and [94]s, get the ball at the top of the zone, I thought was really good.”
Bullpen questions otherwise
The Dodgers’ bullpen took a hit Sunday when Tony Gonsolin was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Additionally, David Price, Jimmy Nelson, Victor González, and Blake Treinen all gave up runs. On the plus side, Corey Knebel was sharp in a clean ninth inning Sunday for his first save as a Dodger on Sunday.
Expect to see more McKinstry
Zach McKinstry’s inside-the-park home run for the Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
Zach McKinstry followed his inside-the-park home run Saturday with a double in his first at-bat Sunday. The 25-year-old rookie utilityman drew rave reviews from teammates during spring training — AJ Pollock emphasized that McKinstry can “rake” — and will see playing time around the diamond.
Roberts said McKinstry, a 33rd-round pick in 2016, profiles as a left-handed-hitting Chris Taylor. He envisions McKinstry playing four positions — both corner outfield spots and both middle infield spots. He’s expected to start at second base Monday.
“He’s one of my favorites,” Roberts said. “So, I think that from the moment I met Zach and watched him work and play and conversations and dealings with coaches and teammates, it’s been fantastic. He’s a ballplayer. He’s smart, he’s talented. He’s very good on the team. And so, yeah, with what he’s done, the success that he’s had early, certainly excited for him and, yeah, he’s in there today, he’ll be in there tomorrow playing second base.”
Seager, Urías pick up where they left off
Corey Seager — our Dylan Hernández’s pick to win NL MVP — mashed Rockies pitching for the first three games before taking Sunday off. The shortstop is eight for 12 (.667) with four walks and two doubles.
Not a bad start for the impending free agent on the heels of the New York Mets signing Francisco Lindor to a 10-year, $341-million contract extension. A payday awaits for the reigning NLCS and World Series MVP.
On the mound, Julio Urías was dominant Sunday, pitching into the eighth inning for the first time in his career. Urías would be the No. 1 or No. 2 starter in most starting rotations. He’s the Dodgers’ No. 4 — for now.
Dodgers defeat Rockies, 4-2, for a three-game winning streak
Julio Urías was about to pitch deeper into a major league game than ever before, in a ballpark that had given him nightmares in the past, and he couldn’t have looked more comfortable Sunday.
He whispered to himself. He coolly stretched. He dropped his arm slot. He was toying with the Colorado Rockies, exuding a quiet confidence, and they didn’t have an answer.
Fueled by a dynamite changeup, Urías picked up where he left off from his dominant postseason and held the Rockies scoreless over a career-high seven innings as the Dodgers beat the Rockies, 4-2, to take three of four games at Coors Field.
All my pitches were working well,” Urías said. “And it being in Colorado, I’m even happier, knowing how difficult pitching here is.”
It’s 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth
Daza moves to center. Tapia to left. Mychal Givens now pitching for the Rockies. Edwin Rios, hitting for Nelson, struck out swinging. Betts popped to second. Pollock popped to first. Dodgers 4, Rockies 2.
Rockies close gap to 4-2 after eight
Urias is still on the mound. McMahon singled to off of McKinstry’s glove. That’s it for Urias, as Jimmy Nelson will replace him. Great game for Urias. Daza struck out swinging. Raimel Tapia, batting for the pitcher, struck out looking. Owings walked. Hampson doubled to left-center, scoring both runners. There is activity in the Dodger bullpen. Story struck out swinging. Who will pitch the ninth for L.A.? Dodgers 4, Rockies 2.
Dodgers take 4-0 lead on Will Smith’s homer
Robert Stephenson now pitching for the Rockies. Smith homered to left. He’s hitting .571. Muncy struck out swinging. Taylor grounded to third. Lux singled to center. McKinstry flied to left. The Dodgers have “three” homers in this series. One went over the fence, but was ruled a single after a baserunning gaffe. One went over the fence and was pulled back in for an inside-the-park homer. And finally we have a traditional homer. Dodgers 4, Rockies 0.
Julio Urias is dominant through seven
Blackmon fouled to third. Cron grounded to short. Diaz flied to center. An outstanding outing for Urias so far. Two hits, one walk, six strikeouts on only 77 pitches through seven. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
It remains 3-0 Dodgers after top of seventh
Carlos Estevez now pitching for the Rockies. Betts singled to short. Story’s throw skipped past first and Betts was thrown out trying to advance to second. Pollock struck out swinging. Turner struck out swinging. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0
Dodgers 3, Rockies 0 after six innings
Daza flied to right. Betts had trouble seeing it in the bright sun. Sam Hilliard, batting for the pitcher, grounded to third. Owings doubled to right. Hampson walked. Story flied to right. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
It’s 3-0 Dodgers after top of the sixth
Taylor walked. Lux forced Taylor. McKinstry grounded to second, Lux to second. Urias grounded to first. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Your first Dodger memory: Meeting Wes Parker
In our Dodgers Dugout newsletter, we ask readers to send in their very first memory of the Dodgers. If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to send me your first Dodgers memory, and it might run in an upcoming Dodgers Dugout and here on the blog. Include your name and where you live. And don’t send only a sentence. Tell why that memory sticks out in your mind. You can email me your memory at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. Thanks.
Mary Alice McLoughlin: My first real memory is being 8 years old: It’s 1967, I’m a die-hard bleed blue Dodger fan at a time when little girls weren’t supposed to be interested in baseball, and my big brother leads me down to the field level with my program and a pen clutched in my hand, and Wes Parker ambles over to give me an autograph. I was stunned into silence, and he was so nice, and so friendly, and I have been a fan of his ever since (if he’d played one more season he’d be in the Hall. Best fielding first baseman you ever saw).
Julio Urias has given up one hit through five innings
Cron struck out swinging. Diaz struck out swinging. McMahon lined to short. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Dodgers don’t score in top of fifth
Chi Chi Gonzalez now pitching for the Rockies. Pollock struck out looking. Turner struck out swinging. Smith walked. Muncy grounded into the shift. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Your first Dodger memory: All-Star batting practice
In our Dodgers Dugout newsletter, we ask readers to send in their very first memory of the Dodgers. If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to send me your first Dodgers memory, and it might run in an upcoming Dodgers Dugout and here on the blog. Include your name and where you live. And don’t send only a sentence. Tell why that memory sticks out in your mind. You can email me your memory at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. Thanks.
Manuel Hernandez Jr. of Lakewood: My first Dodger memory is more related to visiting for the very first time Dodger Stadium back in July of 1980. I had just turned 6 and I’m not sure how but my dad got tickets to go see the All-Star batting practice the day before the All-Star game. I remember how the stadium looked huge. All the amazing mix of colors from the seats in combination with that sweet light blue that decorated the inside part of the stadium. The smell of grass and hot dogs, pretty much felt like a picnic for me. We were seated on the third-base side like 10 rows away from the dugout. The player I remember seeing was the blond headed Buddy Bell who at the time I believe played third base with the Texas Rangers. I remember there was a line drive way over his head that he threw his glove at it and it almost fell inside the web. It was just an unforgettable experience for me.
Julio Urias is sailing along
Hampson grounded to third. Story lined to center. Blackmon popped to second. Urias is cruising. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Dodgers 3, Rockies 0 after top of fourth
McKinstry flied to left. Urias tried to bunt for a hit, but hit it just bit too hard and third baseman McMahon threw him out by a step. Betts flied to center. It would have been nice to see Betts take a couple of pitches to give Urias a longer rest there. This game is blazing along. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Dodgers home opener against Nationals still in play
DENVER — Friday should be a festive day at Dodger Stadium. The team is scheduled to raise their championship banner and receive their World Series rings before taking on the Washington Nationals in their home opener. Around 11,000 fans will be in attendance. It’s a day 32 years in the making.
After a COVID-19 outbreak within the Nationals’ organization forced Major League Baseball to postpone the team’s season-opening, three-game series against the New York Mets in Washington, there was concern over whether the Dodgers-Nationals series was in jeopardy.
The Nationals, however, will be allowed to play a shortened two-game series against the Atlanta Braves starting Tuesday after a recent round of testing found no new positives within the team, MLB announced Sunday night.
Four players tested positive as of Sunday. Seven other players and two staff members were in quarantine after being designated as close contacts. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters a “majority” of the players would’ve been on the team’s 26-man opening day roster.
The Nationals and Braves will play two games at Nationals Park through Wednesday before the Nationals travel to Los Angeles to begin the three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The game the Nationals and Braves were originally scheduled to play on Monday will be made up at a later date.
3-0 Dodgers after three
Ryan McMahon struck out swinging. Yonathan Daza stuck out swinging. Gomber singled. There goes the no-hitter. Owings grounded to short. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Dodgers don’t score in top of third
Turner walked. Smith flied to left. Muncy flied to left. Taylor walked. Gomber has walked seven so far in 2 2/3 innings. Lux grounded to second. Gomber has thrown 72 pitches in three innings.
Greatest moments in Dodger history, No. 20: Winning the 1959 World Series
Readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter were asked a couple of months ago to vote for the 10 greatest moments in Dodger history.
We received 7,237 ballots. The way it works: You listed your moments in order, and I assigned points, with first place getting 12 points, second place nine, third place eight, all the way down to one point for 10th. Add up the points and we get a top 25. In addition to it already running in the newsletter, we will repeat the countdown over the next few days here on the live blog.
No. 20: Dodgers win the 1959 World Series (4,594 points)
The 1959 World Series matched the Dodgers, in just their second year in Los Angeles, against the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox routed the Dodgers, 11-0, in Game 1 and were leading, 2-1, with two out in the seventh inning of Game 2 when a little-known Dodger named Chuck Essegian, who had just 46 at-bats with the team, turned the Series around.
Walter Alston sent Essegian to the plate to bat for starting pitcher Johnny Podres. White Sox starter Bob Shaw ran the count to 3-and-1 when Essegian launched a curve ball halfway up the left-center stands at Comiskey Park, giving the Dodgers a 4-2 lead in a game they won, 4-3, to even the series.
Essegian hit another pinch-hit homer later in the series, but it wasn’t quite as dramatic. The Dodgers were leading, 8-3, in the ninth inning of Game 6 when Essegian, batting for Duke Snider, homered to left against Ray Moore.
Games 3, 4 and 5 were the first World Series games played on the West Coast and the games averaged more than 90,000 fans at the Coliseum. Game 5’s attendance of 92,706 is still a World Series record.
The Dodgers won the Series, 4-2, winning the title in only their second season in L.A. This was the opening of Times reporter Frank Finch‘s story on Oct. 8, 1959:
“Boyish-looking Larry Sherry, who began his baseball career as a second baseman for good ol’ Fairfax High, today earned a place in the front row of the majestic parade of pitching giants who hurled their way into World Series immortality.
“In his fourth appearance of the 56th series, the 24-year-old native Angeleno pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball as the Dodgers crushed the Chicago White Sox, 9-3, to capture their second world championship.
“With homers by Duke Snider, Wally Moon and Chuck Essegian more than compensating for mighty Ted Kluszewski’s third round-tripper of the set, the Dodgers took the series, four games to two.
“A six-run spree in the fourth inning clinched the Dodgers’ most rewarding victory of all time.”
“You know, you kind of get labeled as a certain kind of player,” Essegian said not long after his career ended in 1963. “If you have success as a pinch-hitter, then you’re looked at as a pinch-hitter because you’re not good enough to play every day. It’s a hard tag to live down.”
In 404 major league games, Essegian batted .255 with 47 home runs and 150 runs batted in. His best season was with Cleveland in 1962, when he had 21 homers and 50 RBIs.
“For one reason or another, I just never played much in baseball,” Essegian said. “It just didn’t work out the way I’d hoped it would.”
It’s still 3-0 Dodgers after two
Charlie Blackmon grounded to first. C.J. Cron struck out swinging. Elias Diaz flied to center. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Dodgers don’t score in top of second
McKinstry doubled off the wall in center. Urias sacrificed him to third. Betts walked. Betts was caught stealing. Pollock struck out. Dodgers helped Gomber out there. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
This day in Dodger history: Dave Roberts’ first win
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It’s 3-0 Dodgers after one inning
Julio Urias pitching for the Dodgers. Chris Owings grounded to third. Garrett Hampson struck out swinging. Trevor Story grounded to short. Easy inning for Urias. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
A michelada-spiced sausage and grasshopper ice cream. Here are the best new ballpark foods
The 2021 MLB season officially came into full swing Thursday with a welcoming sight that was absent last season: fans. Although ballparks across the country are limiting the number of fans permitted due to state and county guidelines, it is a better sight to see actual people than cutouts with piped-in noise.
As fans are welcomed back, so are the innovative, creative and filling edibles that will surely make foodies want to come out to the ballpark or just stare in awe.
From Dodger Stadium to Marlins Park in Miami, ballparks are again introducing unique foods found only at their venues.
Here are some items that will make their rookie debut at ballparks this season:
Dodgers score three runs in top of the first without getting a hit
Austin Gomber pitcher for the Rockies. Mookie Betts walked. AJ Pollock grounded to the pitcher, but Gomber threw the ball into centerfield for an error. Betts to third, Pollock on first. Turner walked, loading the bases. This is not how Gomber wanted to impress his new team. Betts scored on a wild pitch, the other runners also moving up a base. Will Smith struck out swinging. Max Muncy walked, loading the bases. Chris Taylor walked, Pollock scoring. There’s is activity in the Colorado bullpen. Gavin Lux flied to right. Muncy was thrown out trying to advance to third, but Turner scored before Muncy was tagged out. Muncy looked thoroughly befuddled on the play. Dodgers 3, Rockies 0.
Zach McKinstry and Duke Snider have something in common
Zach McKinstry’s inside-the-park home run for the Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
Zach McKinstry’s inside-the-park home run last night was his first homer in the majors. The last Dodger to have his first home run be an inside-the-park one was Hall of Famer Duke Snider, who did it on May 2, 1948.
Tony Gonsolin placed on 10-day IL, Dennis Santana recalled
DENVER – The Dodgers’ bullpen was depleted enough Saturday, in their third game of the season, that manager Dave Roberts used Kenley Jansen for a five-out save to close out the team’s 6-5 win over the Rockies. After the game, Roberts said that wasn’t the plan for Jansen’s season debut. It was out of necessity.
One reason for the shorthanded bullpen surfaced Sunday morning when the club placed Tony Gonsolin on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Roberts said the right-hander’s discomfort was “lingering for the last few days.” His IL stint was backdated to Thursday. The earliest he can return is for Friday’s home opener against the Washington Nationals.
Dennis Santana was recalled to take Gonsolin’s spot on the roster. Santana was already with the team as part of their five-man taxi squad.
“He went out there and played catch today,” Roberts said before Sunday’s game. “Didn’t feel great. So, I think it’s just more of really being cautious with Tony, obviously being such a big part of our club.”
Roberts said Santana will pitch two or three innings out of the bullpen. Gonsolin was supposed to have a similar role after losing out on the fifth rotation spot to Dustin May.
David Price and Jimmy Nelson are also starters-turned-relievers tasked to log multiple innings every outing. Nelson made his Dodgers debut Thursday. Price made his season debut Friday. Both could be available Sunday. Roberts said he’ll only stay away from Jansen and Victor González, who appeared in the last two games.
Walker Buehler talks about his first start of the season
Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger sitting out today’s series finale
DENVER — The Dodgers will look to win their season-opening four-game series against the Rockies on Sunday without Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger in the starting lineup.
Both players were given the day off. The Dodgers beat the Rockies 6-5 Saturday without Mookie Betts and Justin Turner. Both players are back in the lineup Sunday against Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber, one of the players Colorado acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the trade for Nolan Arenado.
Julio Urías will make his season debut on the mound for Los Angeles. Urías will bat ninth, per usual, before the Dodgers head to Oakland to play three games with a designated hitter against the Athletics.
Manager Dave Roberts said Max Muncy will be the designated hitter Monday and Turner will DH Tuesday. Roberts said Wednesday’s DH is TBD.
DODGERS (2-1)
Mookie Betts RF
AJ Pollock LF
Justin Turner 3B
Will Smith C
Max Muncy 1B
Chris Taylor CF
Gavin Lux SS
Zach McKinstry 2B
Julio Urías P
Greatest moments in Dodger history, No. 21: Sandy Amorós’ catch in 1955 World Series
Readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter were asked a couple of months ago to vote for the 10 greatest moments in Dodger history.
We received 7,237 ballots. The way it works: You listed your moments in order, and I assigned points, with first place getting 12 points, second place nine, third place eight, all the way down to one point for 10th. Add up the points and we get a top 25. In addition to it already running in the newsletter, we will repeat the countdown over the next few days here on the live blog.
No. 21: Sandy Amorós’ catch in Game 7 of the 1955 World Series (3,902 points)
The Dodgers’ franchise began in 1884 and, until 1955, had never won a World Series. It looked like 1955 was the year, as the Dodgers were leading Game 7 against the New York Yankees, 2-0. With that narrow lead, manager Walter Alston sent in Sandy Amorós to play left field in the bottom of the sixth because of his superior defense, sending Jim Gilliam from left to second base, with Don Zimmer leaving the game. That move saved the Dodgers’ title.
Billy Martin led off the inning with a walk, and Gil McDougald reached on a bunt single, putting runners on first and second with none out and Yogi Berra coming to the plate. The Dodger outfield shifted to the right (Berra was a left-handed hitter). Berra didn’t do what he was supposed to though, and launched a shot toward the left-field corner. Amorós ran what seemed like half a mile and extended his glove at the last moment, making a miraculous catch. He skidded to a halt and threw to the relay man, Pee Wee Reese, who threw to first, doubling off McDougald.
If Amorós doesn’t make the catch, both runners score and it’s a tie. Instead, there were two out with a man on second. Hank Bauer grounded to short to end the inning.
Pitcher Johnny Podres escaped trouble the next two innings, and retired the Yankees in order in the seventh for a shutout and the first World Series title in Dodger history.
Amorós played for the Dodgers until he was traded to Detroit on May 7, 1960 for Gail Harris, who never played for the team.
Amorós returned to Cuba after the 1960 season. He returned to the U.S. virtually broke, but the Dodgers quietly put him on their roster for the few days he needed to qualify for his pension. He died of pneumonia in 1992 at the age of 62.
A closer look at today’s starting pitchers
Julio Urías, who got the World Series clinching save last season, takes on Austin Gomber of the Rockies.
A closer look at the two. First pitch is set for 12:10 p.m. PT.
Julio Urías
Last season: 3-0, 3.27 ERA, 55 IP, 45 hits, 18 walks, 45 strikeouts.
Career: 12-7, 3.20 ERA, 1.251 WHIP
Career vs. Colorado: 0-1, 5.77 ERA in seven starts
Career in Coors Field: 0-1, 6.55 ERA in four starts
doesn’t want to face
Ryan McMahon, .500 (2 for 4)
Charlie Blackmon, .333 (4 for 12)
won’t mind facing
Garrett Hampson, .200 (2 for 10)
Trevor Story, .200 (2 for 10)
Austin Gomber
Last season (with St. Louis): 1-1, 1.86 ERA, 29 IP, 19 hits, 15 walks, 27 strikeouts.
Career: 7-3, 3.72 ERA, 1.413 WHIP
Career vs. Dodgers: 0-1, 10.13 ERA in two starts
Career in Coors Field: 1-0, 1.50 ERA in one start
doesn’t want to face
Justin Turner, .750 (3 for 4)
won’t mind facing
Cody Bellinger, .000 (0 for 2)
Zach McKinstry’s inside-the-park home run helps Dodgers beat Rockies
DENVER — The oddities were subdued at Coors Field for seven innings in the Dodgers’ 6-5 win Saturday night. A slab of plexiglass prevented first baseman Max Muncy from making a catch in foul territory in the sixth inning and a fountain delay slowed the game in the seventh, but there weren’t any confusing home-runs-turned-singles or appearances by large cats.
Then Zach McKinstry lifted a fly ball to left field in the eighth inning.
The ball was destined to land over the wall for the Dodgers’ first home run of the season — 26 innings into this series played a mile high — until Raimel Tapia jumped at the wall and pulled the ball back. It was a highlight play, the kind that should have saved the Rockies a run late in a tie game.
But Tapia didn’t realize he kept the ball in the ballpark. The Rockies left fielder was on the ground, writhing in pain, as the ball squirted away and McKinstry raced around the bases. Tapia realized his mistake too late, and McKinstry didn’t stop running until he crossed home plate for an inside-the-park home run.
Kenley Jansen saves Dodgers’ 6-5 win over Rockies
Fuentes flied to center. Nunez fouled to first. Elias Diaz, batting for the pitcher, walked. Yonathan Daza ran for Diaz. Owings flied to center. Dodgers 6, Rockies 5.
Dodgers head into bottom of ninth with 6-5 lead
Josh Bard pitching for Colorado. Muncy doubled. Beaty struck out swinging. Rios walked. Barnes struck out looking. McKinstry grounded to second. Dodgers 6, Rockies 5. Jansen will pitch the ninth.
Kenley Jansen snuffs out Rockies’ rally in bottom of eighth
Victor Gonzalez now pitching for the Dodgers. Owings grounded to short. Hampson doubled to left. Story doubled to center, Hampson scored. Blackmon walked. And here comes Kenley Jansen, with Matt Beaty going to right field. Cron flied to left, McMahon struck out swinging. Dodgers 6, Rockies 5.
Watch Zach McKinstry get a weird inside-the-park homer to give Dodgers lead
Mychal Givens pitching for the Rockies. Rios fouled to third. Barnes fouled to first. In another bizarre play, McKinstry hit a deep fly to left, Tapia leaped up, got his glove on the ball and pulled it back into the field of play. But he couldn’t hold onto it and it bounced away from him. Meanwhile, he fell and banged his head against the fence. McKinstry raced around the bases for an inside-the-park homer. So, the Dodgers hit one over the fence and don’t get a homer in the first game, then do it again, see it come back into the field, and get an inside-the-park homer. What a weird series. Tapia had to come out and is replaced by Chris Owings. Amazing effort by Tapia, who almost made a sensational play. Lux walked. With Seager batting, Lux stole second. The Rockies called for a pitchout but still couldn’t throw him out. Seager was walked intentionally. Taylor doubled to left, scoring Lux, Seager to third. Bellinger struck out swinging. Dodgers 6, Rockies 4.
Rockies tie it up, 4-4
Blake Treinen now pitching. Zach McKinstry in left field, replacing Pollock. Buehler went six innings, gave up two runs and four hits while striking out four. Cron walked. McMahon grounded to second. Lux forced Cron at second, but made a high throw, slowing the transition to first, allowing McMahon to barely beat the throw. Which became important when Fuentes homered to right to tie the score. Nunez grounded to second. Sam Hilliard, batting for the pitcher, struck out swinging. Dodgers 4, Rockies 4.
Greatest moments in Dodger history, No. 22: Cody Bellinger’s catch in 2020 NLDS
Readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter were asked a couple of months ago to vote for the 10 greatest moments in Dodger history.
We received 7,237 ballots. The way it works: You listed your moments in order, and I assigned points, with first place getting 12 points, second place nine, third place eight, all the way down to one point for 10th. Add up the points and we get a top 25. In addition to it already running in the newsletter, we will repeat the countdown over the next few days here on the live blog.
No. 22: Cody Bellinger’s catch in Game 2 of the 2020 NLDS (21 first-place votes, 3,447 points)
I’m going to let Dylan Hernández, and the words he used in the column written after the game, take this one:
The moment Cody Bellinger reached over the center-field wall at Globe Life Park on Wednesday night will be played over and over for generations. The image of reliever Brusdar Graterol throwing his glove in celebration will become part of Dodgers folklore.
That was the kind of play that saves a game. That was the kind of play that wins championships.
“It’s going to take a while to wind down from that one,” Bellinger said. “That’s postseason baseball right there.”
Game 2 of this National League Division Series was recorded as a 6-5 victory for the Dodgers to extend their lead in the best-of-five series to two games to none.
What the box score won’t show is how close the Dodgers were to disaster.
Literally, inches.
The Dodgers were holding on to a 4-3 lead when Graterol replaced Blake Treinen with two outs in the seventh inning.
Standing on first base was Trent Grisham, who was plunked by Treinen. Stepping into the batter’s box was Fernando Tatis Jr.
Graterol was promptly called for a balk that advanced the runner to second base.
His first pitch was his signature sinker, one traveling at 99 mph to the outer half of the plate. Tatis connected.
The baseball soared into the Texas night.
Bellinger retreated quickly to the warning track in center field and leaped. With the left side of his torso brushing up against the wall, Bellinger raised his right arm.
Instead of clearing the padded divider, the baseball dropped into Bellinger’s opened glove.
“In my head, I was like, ‘All right, that’s gone off the black screen or I’m going to get to the wall and maybe have a chance to catch it,’ and I just kind of turned it around as fast as I could,” Bellinger said. “I got to the fence and saw that it was robbable, so I just tried to time up the jump.
“It was weird, but I knew I caught it.”
Turns out he caught the 22nd greatest moment in Dodger history.
Dodgers extend lead to 4-2
There was a delay while the fountains in center were mysteriously turned on. Probably that darn cat. Lux tripled to deep right. I don’t remember Lux being this fast. Tyler Kinley now pitching for Colorado. Seager singled, scoring Lux. The MVP chants are already beginning, and this is in Coors Field. Taylor struck out swinging. Bellinger struck out swinging. Muncy grounded sharply to first. Cron couldn’t come up with it for an error. First and second, two out. Pollock grounded to third. Dodgers 4, Rockies 2.
Watch Austin Barnes’ single give the Dodgers a lead
Jon Gray had “full-body cramping.” Ouch.
Jon Gray left the game because of “full-body cramping”, which doesn’t sound pleasant at all. Hampson flied to center. Story flied to center. Blackmon grounded to first. Dodgers 3, Rockies 2.
Greatest moments in Dodger history, No. 23: Justin Turner’s walkoff homer in 2017 NLCS
Readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter were asked a couple of months ago to vote for the 10 greatest moments in Dodger history.
We received 7,237 ballots. The way it works: You listed your moments in order, and I assigned points, with first place getting 12 points, second place nine, third place eight, all the way down to one point for 10th. Add up the points and we get a top 25. In addition to it already running in the newsletter, we will repeat the countdown over the next few days here on the live blog.
No. 23: Justin Turner’s walkoff homer in 2017 NLCS Game 2 (25 first-place votes, 3,083 points)
Way back in 2017, it seemed as if the Dodgers were destined to win the World Series. They won 104 games during the regular season, several of them stirring comeback victories, and swept Arizona. Next up, the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs, who had defeated the Dodgers in the 2016 NLCS.
Dodger fans couldn’t quite relax, even after winning Game 1, because the Cubs were a good team. But Game 2 changed that, allowing everyone to take a deep breath and realize the Dodgers were destined to win the World Series (little did we know).
Game 2 took place on Oct. 15, the 29th anniversary of Kirk Gibson‘s walkoff homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
The score was tied, 1-1, going into the bottom of the ninth. Reliever Brian Duensing was on the mound for the Cubs and walked Yasiel Puig on four pitches. Charlie Culberson bunted him to second and Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought John Lackey into the game. He walked Chris Taylor, then fell behind Turner, 1-0. The next pitch was a fastball. Turner unloaded and hit the ball to deep center. A fan caught it. Game over.
“I can’t even put it into words right now,” Turner said after the game. “It’s incredible. I was floating.”
“That’s the guy we want up there,” catcher Austin Barnes said.
“He’s probably the most clutch player I’ve ever played with,” Taylor said.
“J.T.,” Dave Roberts said, “is that guy for us.”
Turns out the Dodgers weren’t destined to win the World Series, because a team decided to cheat. But that doesn’t ruin this moment, the 23rd greatest moment in Dodger history.
Dodgers score three in sixth to take 3-2 lead
Yency Almonte now pitching. Nice game for Jon Gray, who apparently tweaked something in his right leg in the previous inning. Seager doubled to deep right. Taylor struck out swinging. Bellinger grounded to first, Seager to third. Muncy singled off Fuentes’ glove, scoring Seager. Pollock singled to left, first and second with two gone. Rios was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Barnes singled to left-center, scoring Seager and Muncy. Buehler struck out looking. Dodgers 3, Rockies 2.
A closer-to-normal road trip
DENVER — The Dodgers are on the road for seven games in seven days to open the season, beginning at Coors Field before flying to Oakland on Sunday night.
On the field, it’s a challenge playing at high altitude for four games before facing a playoff contender without a breather. Off the field, they’re drifting towards normalcy.
Almost everything was different about the 2020 Major League Baseball season. That included road trips.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the league to implement rigorous restrictions on traveling parties. Flights were spaced out without flight attendants. Players and staffers were confined to their hotel rooms. Interactions were limited.
The goal, obviously, was to avoid outbreaks. There were bumps along — and the end of — the road, but MLB completed the season.
MLB loosened the protocols this year. Players and staffers are allowed to dine outside. They can leave the hotel for a coffee or for a simple walk on nice days like a sunny Saturday in Denver.
“Denver’s a nice city,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said. “It’s always nice to get out and walk around here. Just to get out of your room, get a little sunshine in, I think that’ll help a lot this year.”
MLB recently announced that rules can relax for clubs two weeks after 85% of their Tier 1 people — players and staffers in direct contact with players — are fully vaccinated. The Dodgers haven’t reached that threshold yet.
“It’s not total lockdown,” third baseman Justin Turner said before the Dodgers’ opening day game. “We are allowed to step out of our rooms as long as we’re wearing masks.”
The extra freedom is welcomed, but news of four Washington Nationals players testing positive for COVID-19 this week, forcing the postponement of their season-opening series against the New York Mets, served as a reminder that they aren’t yet in the clear.
“There is a little bit more laxness with the vaccines, and catching people off-guard,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “But [director of player health] Ron [Porterfield] does a great job with us, our players, [to make sure] we’re 100% supportive of the protocols, and doing what we can to win the battle off the field to ultimately win the battle on the field. We’re doing it, but those are certainly reminders to stay on-guard.”
It’s 2-0 Rockies after five innings
Nunez struck out swinging. Gray struck out swinging. Tapia grounded to first. Rockies 2, Dodgers 0.
Still 2-0 Rockies after top of the fifth
Pollock struck out swinging. Rios singled to right-center. Barnes singled to left. Buehler sacrificed the runners over. Lux struck out swinging. I understand giving Mookie Betts a day off, but it would have been nice to have him up there. Rockies 2, Dodgers 0.
Rockies take 2-0 lead
Story flied to deep center. Blackmon grounded to first. Cron singled to right. McMahon doubled to left, Cron scoring. Fuentes grounded to short. Rockies 2, Dodgers 0
Still 1-0 Rockies after top of fourth
Taylor struck out swinging. Bellinger grounded to third. Muncy grounded to second. Gray has retired 10 straight. Rockies 1, Dodgers 0.
Rockies take 1-0 lead on Raimel Tapia’s home run
Dom Nunez struck out swinging. Gray grounded to second. Tapia homered to right. By the way, the Dodgers have no home runs so far this season. Hampson grounded to second. Rockies 1, Dodgers 0.
Dodgers don’t score in top of third, still 0-0
Buehler struck out swinging. Lux lined to short. Seager grounded to first. Time to bench him. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
No score after two innings
Charlie Blackmon doubled to deep right. There goes the no-hitter. C.J. Cron grounded to second, Blackmon to third. Ryan McMahon popped to short. Josh Fuentes struck out swinging as Buehler does a nice job escaping a man-on-third, one-out jam. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
Still scoreless after top of second
AJ Pollock struck out swinging. Edwin Rios flied to center. Austin Barnes struck out swinging. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
You can follow our UCLA live blog too
Wondering how UCLA is faring against Gonzaga while following along on this Dodgers blog? Well, you can open a new tab and follow our UCLA live blog, going on now. Just click here.
Easy first inning for Walker Buehler
Raimel Tapia grounded to third. Garrett Hampson flied to center. Trevor Story flied to center. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
Dodgers don’t score in top of first
Gavin Lux struck out swinging. Corey Seager singled. Seager is six for nine with three walks this season. Chris Taylor fouled to second. Cody Bellinger walked. Max Muncy grounded to first. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
Dave Roberts has a (slightly biased) prediction
Gavin Lux impressing early
DENVER — Of all the plays Gavin Lux made Friday night, the one that stood out most to Dave Roberts wasn’t his defensive gem in the first inning or his triple in the fifth.
It was his infield single in the fourth inning.
Lux legged out the hit on a groundball to first baseman C.J. Cron. His sprint speed reached 30 feet per second, which is considered elite. It’s another tool in a skill set that rocketed Lux to the top of prospect rankings in recent years.
“It just adds that dynamic element and he’s got the foot speed,” Roberts said before Saturday’s game. “He’s shown the ability to get on base and his entire life he’s hit at the top of the order, somewhere at the top.
“So just the ability to leg out a single, turn a single into a double, steal a base potentially, all that stuff just adds to that dynamic, which we’ve known, Gavin has that skill set. It just makes us a better offense.”
The 23-year-old Lux batted seventh and eighth in the Dodgers’ first two games. He’s batting leadoff Saturday as the Dodgers give Mookie Betts a breather.
Lux enjoyed a productive spring at the plate after spending most of the offseason in Los Angeles working with the Dodgers’ hitting coaches to simplify his setup and swing.
“I wanted to be more repeatable and I think they agreed with that as well,” Lux said before the Dodgers’ win Friday. “So it was kind of everybody was on the same page with that. So that made it easier as well to kind of make that adjustment.”
Just as importantly, he appeared comfortable at second base. His success convinced the Dodgers to give him a “runway” as their primary second baseman.
“I think any time you get results, it’s always a nice confidence booster,” Lux said. “But...I don’t base how I feel on results. It’s more literally how my mechanics feel, how my swing feels, how I’m handling the at-bats. So really, for me, that’s where I’m putting my focus towards and that’s really it.
His emergence will allow them to move Chris Taylor around the diamond. Taylor started in left field Thursday and is starting in right field Saturday. He’s expected to also play second base, shortstop, third base, and center field this season.
“It’s great. I think it’s individually great for Gavin to have another good start,” Roberts said. “He’s playing great defense, taking good at-bats -- versus left, versus right -- and this is a guy that hangs in there against left, can hit the ball to all fields, which lends itself to being able to play every day.
“So, yeah, we’re going to give him some days off here and there. But certainly to allow for C.T. to move around the diamond, which he’s comfortable doing, makes us a better ball club.”
Dave Roberts gives some pre-game thoughts
Cat lover Tony Gonsolin talks about last night’s cat sighting
There’s a big fan of the Dodgers greatest moments list (#humblebrag)
On our Dodgers Dugout newsletter, we are counting down the 25 greatest moments in Dodger history. The most recent one, which finished No. 9 in voting, featured Vin Scully and his final game at Dodger Stadium. Vin himself noticed:
Wally Moon would have been 91 today
(Required)
Former Dodger Tim Crews would have been 60 today
Today’s Orel Hershiser snack is.....
Today’s starting lineup for the Colorado Rockies
Just an off day for Betts and Turner
Dodgers are supporting UCLA’s men’s basketball team
A closer look at Saturday’s starting pitchers
Walker Buehler, who some consider the ace of the Dodger pitching staff, starts today against Jon Gray of the Rockies.
A closer look at the two. First pitch is set for 5:10 p.m. PT.
Walker Buehler
Last season: 1-0, 3.44 ERA, 36.2 IP, 26 hits, 11 walks, 42 strikeouts.
Career: 24-9, 3.15 ERA, 1.028 WHIP
Career vs. Colorado: 5-2, 4.07 ERA in 12 starts
Career in Coors Field: 1-1, 5.12 ERA in five starts
doesn’t want to face
Raimel Tapia, .556 (5 for 9, 1 double)
Charlie Blackmon, .389 (14 for 36, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers)
Garrett Hampson, .375 (3 for 8, 1 triple)
won’t mind facing
Sam Hilliard, .000 (0 for 7, 4 strikeouts)
Ryan McMahon, .100 (2 for 20, 1 homer, 10 strikeouts)
Jon Gray
Last season: 2-4, 6.69 ERA, 39 IP, 45 hits, 11 walks, 22 strikeouts.
Career: 45-37, 4.59 ERA, 1.341 WHIP
Career vs. Dodgers: 5-6, 4.62 ERA in 15 starts
Career in Coors Field: 26-13, 4.66 ERA in 60 starts
doesn’t want to face
Cody Bellinger, .647 (11 for 17, 5 doubles, 1 triple)
Chris Taylor, .429 (3 for 7)
AJ Pollock, .353 (6 for 17, 4 doubles)
won’t mind facing
Austin Barnes, .200 (1 for 5)
Note: Current Dodgers are hitting .354 against Gray.
An important update on the Coors Field cat (it escaped!)
Mookie Betts, Justin Turner not in Dodgers’ lineup Saturday
DENVER — After fielding similar lineups with just a few tweaks for the season’s first two games, the Dodgers’ lineup Saturday against Rockies right-hander Jon Gray is quite different.
Mookie Betts and Justin Turner are both not in the starting nine. Instead, Chris Taylor will play right field and Edwin Ríos will start at third base.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously said he planned on giving some regulars a day off this weekend. He’s scheduled to speak to the media shortly so we’ll have that answer in a bit.
Gavin Lux will lead off in place of Betts. The 23-year-old second baseman batted towards the bottom of the lineup and went 4 for 9 with a triple in the first two games.
“Honestly, I don’t think I ever really hit too far in the bottom of the order so it’s a first,” Lux said before Friday’s game. “But look at who’s ahead of me. There’s a lot of really, really, really good players and really good hitters. So if I can be a pest at the bottom, that’s what I’m going to do.”
The Dodgers hope he can pest the Rockies at the top Saturday in support of Walker Buehler in the right-hander’s season debut.
DODGERS (1-1)
Gavin Lux 2B
Corey Seager SS
Chris Taylor
Cody Bellinger CF
Max Muncy 1B
AJ Pollock LF
Edwin Ríos 3B
Austin Barnes C
Walker Buehler P
On this day in Dodger history
Tony Gonsolin thinks Friday’s game was the cat’s meow
Trevor Bauer flirts with no-hitter, gets plenty of support to win his Dodgers debut
Highlights from the Dodgers’ 11-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday.
DENVER — One didn’t need a view of home plate at Coors Field to know that Trevor Bauer was dominating the Colorado Rockies for the first six innings of the Dodgers’ 11-6 win Friday night. His body language told the story
He stared down Raimel Tapia after striking him out to end the third inning. He released a roar and a muted Conor McGregor strut when Dom Nuñez whiffed on a curveball to conclude the fifth. The strut became more pronounced by the end of the sixth, after getting Josh Fuentes to flail at a slider for his eighth strikeout.
At that point, six innings into his Dodgers debut, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was crafting the second no-hitter in Coors Field history, a mile-high hitter’s haven opened in 1995. He was feeling himself. The Dodgers were enjoying a 10-run lead. Then a Coors Field Special erupted.
Dodgers won’t go 0-162, defeat Rockies 11-6
Victor Gonzalez now pitching for the Dodgers. Nunez grounded to first. Hilliard struck out swinging. Tapia grounded to first. Dodgers 11, Rockies 6.
Dodgers lead 11-6 heading into bottom of the ninth
Jordan Sheffield now pitching for the Rockies. Sheffield was originally drafted by the Dodgers, and the Rockies chose him in the Rule V draft in December. Matt Beaty, batting for Price, grounded to the pitcher. Betts popped to second. Seager, who is only five for seven this season, grounded to third. Time to bench him. Dodgers 11, Rockies 6.
In the bottom of the eighth: No runs, one hit, one cat
Cron grounded to the pitcher. A cat ran onto the field. Jim Kaat? No. Catfish Hunter? No. An actual cat. McMahon singled to center. Hampson lined to short, Seager doubles McMahon off first. Inning over. Dodgers 11, Rockies 6.
Dodgers take 11-6 lead after top of eighth
Carlos Estevez now pitching for the Rockies. Bellinger tripled to right. I didn’t realize Blackmon had such a weak arm. Muncy walked. Smith flied to center, scoring Bellinger. Pollock struck out swinging. Lux flied to center. Dodgers 11, Rockies 6.
Rockies storm back in seventh to narrow Dodger lead to 10-6
Story singled to left, ending the no-hitter. Blackmon launched a homer to right. Cron walked. McMahon homered to right. You have to wonder if that time on the basepaths tired Bauer. I can’t believe they are leaving Bauer in the game. Garrett Hampson, batting for the pitcher, struck out swinging. David Price comes into the game, making his first career Dodger appearance in his second season with the team. And Nunez homers, making Price’s Dodger ERA infinity at the moment. Hilliard homered to right. Price’s ERA remains infinity. Tapia singled to center. Fuentes struck out swinging. Story singled off of Turner’s glove. First and second, two out. Blackmon struck out swinging and the inning is mercifully over. Dodgers 10, Rockies 6.
Dodgers take 10-0 lead
Get this inning over so we can get back to the no-hitter! Smith doubled. Pollock singled to center, Smith to third. Lux struck out swinging. Bauer sacrificed, Smith scoring on the pitcher’s throwing error home, runners on first and second, one out. Robert Stephenson now pitching. Betts singled to center, loading the bases. Seager grounded to the pitcher, who threw the ball away for another error, Pollock scoring. Turner struck out looking. Dodgers 10, Rockies 0.
The only no-hitter in Coors Field history was pitched by Hideo Nomo
Can Trevor Bauer do what only one person had done before, throw a no-hitter in Coors Field?
Nomomania reach its apogee on Sept. 17, 1996 when Hideo Nomo pitched a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in Denver ’s Coors Field, a park known for high scores because of its mile-high altitude.
“Throwing a no-hitter at this place,” his catcher for the game, Mike Piazza, said, “he should be canonized on the spot.”
Manager Bill Russell compared him to another mania.
“To me, he’s like Fernando. Those guys say, ‘Give me the ball.’ He’s a big game guy. Nothing seems to bother him. He’s had to overcome the language and cultural barriers, and here is with a no-hitter.. That’s a special person to do what he’s doing.”
Nomomania burned bright but briefly. He was traded to the New York Mets after getting off to a horrible start in 1998, but Dodger fans never forgot him, and gave him a warm ovation on “Hideo Nomo Bobblehead Doll Night” at Dodger Stadium in 2013.
Trevor Bauer has a no-hitter through six (someone call Hideo Nomo)
Hilliard flied to shallow left, with Seager making the play. Tapia grounded to second. Fuentes struck out swinging. No-hitter through six. Dodgers 8, Rockies 0.
Dodgers keep 8-0 lead through top of sixth
Ben Bowden now pitching for the Rockies. Sam Hilliard in center. Seager singled. Turner popped to second. Bellinger struck out swinging. Muncy flied to track in center. Dodgers 8, Rockies 0.
Greatest Dodger moments of all-time No. 24: Sandy Koufax strikes out 15 in 1963 World Series Game 1
Readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter were asked a couple of months ago to vote for the 10 greatest moments in Dodger history.
We received 7,237 ballots. The way it works: You listed your moments in order, and I assigned points, with first place getting 12 points, second place nine, third place eight, all the way down to one point for 10th. Add up the points and we get a top 25. In addition to it already running in the newsletter, we will repeat the countdown over the next few days here on the live blog.
No. 24: Sandy Koufax strikes out 15 in 1963 World Series Game 1 (no first-place votes, 2,986 points)
The 1963 World Series cemented Sandy Koufax into the national consciousness. The Dodgers ran away with the National League that season, finishing with a 99-63 record. Koufax won the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards after going 25-5 with a 1.88 ERA and 306 strikeouts in 311 innings.
Game 1 was all Koufax as he struck out a World Series record 15 Yankees in a 5-2 victory at Yankee Stadium, including striking out Bobby Richardson three times, the only time in his 1,448-game major-league career that he struck out more than twice in a game. Clete Boyer was the only Yankee who did not strike out.
After the game, Koufax said he wasn’t even at his best.
“I felt a little weak,” Koufax said. “I just felt a little tired in general early in the game. Then I felt a little weak in the middle of the game. Then I got some of my strength back but I was a little weak again at the end.
“I lost my rhythm in the middle innings, probably because I was pitching too fast. And I got a little tired around the sixth and seventh. The fastball started coming back a little. After I got tired, I stopped throwing the curve so much. I was never worried about my control. The best thing about my pitching today was control.”
Koufax ended the game by striking out Yankees pinch-hitter Harry Bright for his 15th K of the game, erasing former teammate Carl Erskine’s name from the record book. Erskine had struck out 14 Yankees in the 1952 World Series.
“I thought to myself, ‘I’d like to get that 15th strikeout in the ninth,’ Koufax said. “But my emotions were mixed on that some.”
Yankees catcher Yogi Berra summed it up best after the game: “I wonder how come he lost five games this year.”
Trevor Bauer has a no-hitter through five (Time to remove him?)
Cron grounded to third, but Turner threw the ball away for a two-base error. Relatively easy play for Turner, whose throws have been erratic this series. McMahon struck out swinging. Owings struck out swinging. Nunez struck out swinging. Dodgers 8, Rockies 0. Bauer has made 63 pitches through five innings.
Gavin Lux triples in a run, 8-0 Dodgers
Smith doubled off the wall in right-center. Pollock grounded to short. Lux tripled to deep right-center, scoring Smith. Bauer struck out. Betts, already in his fourth at-bat in just the fifth inning, grounded to the pitcher. He took a couple of pitches to allow Bauer to rest a bit. You know who was the master at that? Davey Lopes. If the pitcher had to run to first before he batted, he’d wait until the pitcher reached the dugout before he walked to the batter’s box. Then he’s stop and go back to add some more pine tar. It was a master class in stalling. Dodgers 8, Rockies 0
Trevor Bauer has a no-hitter through four (Jinx?)
Fuentes grounded to third. Story struck out swinging. Five strikeouts for Bauer. Blackmon grounded to second. Dodgers 7, Rockies 0
Dodgers score three in fourth, take 7-0 lead
Lux grounded to first. Senzatela was slow covering first base and Lux beat the throw by a half-step. Bauer sacrificed him to second. The Dodgers already have more hits with runners in scoring position tonight (four) than they did in the opener (three). Betts was hit by a pitch. It was blatantly obvious he was hit, but the ump didn’t see it and had to review it. Two minutes of our lives we won’t be getting back. The runners took second and third on a wild pitch, as Senzatela can’t find the plate with a flashlight and GPS. Seager walked. Turner singled to right, scoring Lux and Betts, Seager to third. It may be time for the Rockies to summon a reliever. Jhoulys Chacin is now pitching. On the first pitch, Bellinger grounded hard to second, forcing Turner at second, but Bellinger hustled down the line and beat the throw to avoid the double play and allow Seager to score. Muncy flied to left. Dodgers 7, Rockies 0.
Trevor Bauer is dealing through three innings
DENVER — Trevor Bauer’s Dodgers debut is off to an impressive start in customary Trevor Bauer fashion.
The right-hander hasn’t given up a hit and has four strikeouts through three innings. The Rockies’ only baserunner reached on a walk in the second inning. He’s thrown 36 pitches, 24 for strikes.
Bauer recorded his fourth strikeout to end the third inning when he got Raimel Tapia swinging through an 86-mph cutter. Bauer then stared down Tapia as he walked off the mound and Tapia stared back.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have scored four two-out runs off Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela, reminiscent of their two-out splurge during the postseason last October.
Bauer has a no-hitter through three (Too soon?)
Dom Nunez grounded to second. Senzatela struck out looking. Tapia struck out swinging and then stared out at Bauer, who stared back. In an empty stadium, we could have heard what they said to each other. Dodgers 4, Rockies 0.
Dodgers go 1-2-3 in the third
Muncy grounded to third. Smith grounded to short. Pollock struck out looking. Looked at three called strikes. He doesn’t look comfortable up there. Dodgers 4, Rockies 0
How will Dodger pitchers fare at the plate this season?
PHOENIX — On Thursday night, after a so-so Cactus League start in which he mentioned eye trouble, tired legs and overthrowing as impediments, Trevor Bauer was confronted with a scary possibility: The next time he pitches, he might have to hit.
Bauer was asked whether he was looking forward to standing in the batter’s box. Not really,” he replied. “I’ll talk the coaches about it, but no.”
The Dodgers made Bauer the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball this season because they project he will remain one of the top pitchers in the sport. It wasn’t for his skills with a bat in his hands.
Bauer’s days as a two-way player ended after his freshman year at Hart High, according to Jim Ozella, the Santa Clarita school’s coach. He has six hits in 88 plate appearances between the minor and major leagues. Watching Bauer bat is a small price the Dodgers will just have to pay.
Bauer is far from alone in his struggles. Pitchers have cumulatively regressed as hitters over the years for different reasons. Velocity and movement have increased. Pitchers become specialized earlier than ever. Ultimately, they aren’t incentivized to keep up.
Trevor Bauer looks good so far
Charlie Blackmon lined to center. C.J. Cron walked. Ryan McMahon flied to center. Chris Owings struck out swinging. Bauer looks like a Cy Young winner out there. Is it possible Clayton Kershaw is now the No. 3 man in the rotation?
Watch Gavin Lux flash the leather at second base
Watch Trevor Bauer’s first strikeout as a Dodger
Trevor Bauer’s first strikeout as a Dodger:
Which segues nicely into this:
Dodgers score two more in top of second, take 4-0 lead
Gavin Lux, who made a great play to end the previous inning, grounded to short. Trevor Bauer struck out. Betts doubled to left. Seager doubled to right, scoring Betts. There is a loud “Let’s Go Dodgers” chant in Coors Field. Dodger fans certainly travel well. Turner doubled to right-center, scoring Seager. The Dodgers have decided to not strand as many runners tonight, it appears. Bellinger popped to short. Dodgers 4, Rockies 0
Rockies don’t score in first, 2-0 Dodgers
Raimel Tapia flied to center. Josh Fuentes struck out swinging. Trevor Story grounded to second.
Dodgers take 2-0 lead in top of first
Mookie Betts lined to third. Corey Seager singled. Justin Turner singled to right, Seager to second. Cody Bellinger lined to short. Max Muncy singled to center, Seager scoring, Turner to third. Will Smith singled to center, scoring Turner, Muncy to second. AJ Pollock flied to center. Dodgers 2, Rockies 0
Shouldn’t Orel Hershiser have bulldogs?
Source: Graterol 60-day IL stint ‘related to COVID from the past’
DENVER — When the Dodgers officially announced their 26-man opening day roster Thursday, one move slid under the radar: Right-hander Brusdar Graterol was placed on the 60-day injured list, according to the Major League Baseball’s website.
The move, however, was procedural, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, and Graterol isn’t expected to miss 60 days.
Graterol is officially on the injured list, but not the 60-day IL. An MLB spokesman said the information on the league’s website is inaccurate.
Graterol also isn’t injured. The right-hander has been throwing batting practice sessions and was scheduled to throw again Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Instead, his move to the injured list is “related to COVID from the past,” according to another source, and the Dodgers are using additional time to build up his arm strength after he reported to spring training behind schedule.
The Dodgers declined to specify why Graterol wasn’t ready for spring training over the last month.
“There were just some things that I don’t think that it’s right for me to speak to it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said March 15. “Personal. Some physical things, nothing orthopedically, but that just set him back a little bit. He got married, there’s some other things that just didn’t allow for him to get his proper build up in preparation for spring training.”
Graterol didn’t throw off a mound until late March, but Roberts maintained Graterol wasn’t injured. He was just behind.
Roberts reiterated the stance before Friday’s game against the Rockies.
“I don’t know Brusdar’s timetable,” Roberts said. “I do know that we’re still building him up. I don’t really know how long he’ll take to get back.”
The Dodgers acquired the 22-year-old Graterol from the Minnesota Twins for Kenta Maeda last February. He arrived as a top prospect but with injury questions. He then emerged as an important piece in the Dodgers’ bullpen for their championship run.
The hard-throwing Venezuelan logged a 3.09 ERA in 23 1/3 innings across 23 regular season appearances before giving up three runs over 7 2/3 playoff innings.
He is expected to assume an important role again in 2021, whenever he returns.
Joe Kelly, meanwhile, was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Kelly was hindered in spring training by an injury the Dodgers declined to specify, but the right-hander underwent a shoulder procedure during his month-long stint on the injured list last season.
Greatest moments in Dodger history, No. 25: Mike Scioscia’s 1988 NLCS homer
Readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter were asked a couple of months ago to vote for the 10 greatest moments in Dodger history.
We received 7,237 ballots. The way it works: You listed your moments in order, and I assigned points, with first place getting 12 points, second place nine, third place eight, all the way down to one point for 10th. Add up the points and we get a top 25. In addition to it already running in the newsletter, we will repeat the countdown over the next few days here on the live blog.
No. 25: Mike Scioscia’s NLCS homer (no first-place votes, 2,777 points)
It looked grim for the Dodgers. They were trailing the New York Mets, 4-2, in the top of the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS at Shea Stadium and were down 2-1 in the series. Mets ace Dwight Gooden was on the mound and cruising.
Then John Shelby led off the inning with a walk, bringing Mike Scioscia to the plate. No one was thinking home run, because Scioscia was not a power hitter. But, as he said later, he figured Gooden would want to get a quick strike after walking Shelby, so he was looking to drive the first pitch.
First pitch: Fastball. Scioscia drove it all right, over the right-field fence for a tying homer. He had hit only three homers all season.
“I was hoping no one in the Mets’ bullpen would catch the ball, because maybe they’d call me out or something,” Scioscia said. “The guys in the dugout were kidding me about my home-run trot, but I told them I was running as fast as I could.”
Years after the game, Gooden caught up with Scioscia. “We started talking,” Gooden told the New York Daily News, “and I said to him, ‘You were looking to jump me, weren’t you? You knew I was going to lay a fastball in there for a strike with the first pitch, and you were looking to jump me, right?’
“And Mike smiled at me and said, ‘Absolutely I was.’ ”
Scioscia on the home run: “I wasn’t thinking about a home run, that’s for sure. Doc was still throwing hard. With Keith Hernandez holding the runner on, and Wally (Backman) pinching the middle for a double play, I saw the big hole on the right side and I was just looking to get the head of the bat out and pull one through that hole.
“What I was trying to do matched the pitch I got. It was maybe thigh-high and I hit a line drive that just got up in the air a little and went out of the park.
“What I remember most is how quiet it got at Shea. It was really eerie. It was the first time I could ever remember running around the bases and hearing my spikes crunching as they hit the ground. And I’m thinking, ‘This is pretty cool but it’s almost surreal.’ ”
The Dodgers went on to win in 12 innings en route to advancing to the World Series and winning a storied championship.
Orel Hershiser’s snack for today
Today’s starting lineup for the Rockies
Here’s an idea for the All-Star game
Does anyone know where I can find a cheap Nolan Arenado jersey?
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Do you have a question about the Dodgers? You can ask us and one of our Dodgers reporters (usually Jorge Castillo) will try their best to answer in the live blog. Submit your question by clicking this link.
Dave Roberts agrees with MLB’s decision to move All-Star game out of Atlanta
Major League Baseball is moving this year’s All-Star game out of Atlanta, the league announced Friday.
“I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
No new site for the game was announced. However, since Dodger Stadium already is set to host the 2022 All-Star game, the Dodgers are not under consideration to host this year’s game, according to a person familiar with the league’s thinking.
A closer look at today’s starting pitchers
Today’s matchup features reigning Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer, in his first start for the Dodgers, against Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. PT
A closer look at the two:
Trevor Bauer
Last season (with Cincinnati): 5-4, 1.73 ERA, 73 IP, 41 hits, 17 walks, 100 strikeouts.
Career: 75-64, 3.90 ERA, 1.265 WHIP
Career vs. Colorado: 0-1, 3.86 ERA in three starts
Career in Coors Field: 0-1, 10.80 ERA in one start
doesn’t want to face
Elias Diaz, 1.000 (2 for 2)
Charlie Blackmon, .333 (3 for 9, 3 RBIs)
won’t mind facing
C.J. Cron, .143 (2 for 14)
Chris Owings, .000 (0 for 3)
Raisel Tapia, .000 (0 for 3)
Antonio Senzatela
Last season: 5-3, 3.44 ERA, 73.1 IP, 71 hits, 18 walks, 41 strikeouts.
Career: 32-25, 5.00 ERA, 1.433 WHIP
Career vs. Dodgers: 3-3, 5.74 ERA
Career in Coors Field: 21-9, 4.94 ERA
doesn’t want to face
Mookie Betts, .500 (3 for 6, 1 homer)
AJ Pollock, .438 (7 for 16, 3 doubles, 1 homer)
Gavin Lux, .429 (3 for 7)
Corey Seager, .333 (5 for 15, 2 homers)
won’t mind facing
Max Muncy, .182 (2 for 11, 4 walks, 1 homer)
Will Smith, .000 (0 for 8)
Here’s the Dodgers’ lineup Friday against the Rockies
DENVER — The Dodgers opened the 2021 season with a strange and ugly 8-5 loss to the Rockies on Thursday. They’ll look to rebound Friday with Trevor Bauer on the mound for his Dodgers debut and just two other lineup changes against Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela.
Will Smith gets the start at catcher after Austin Barnes started behind the plate Thursday. He’ll bat sixth.
Barnes left Thursday’s game in the seventh inning with lacerations on his right hand, but he wasn’t scheduled to play Friday anyway.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Barnes was tentatively slated to make his next scheduled start Saturday. Smith is projected to start around 90 of the 162 games this season.
The other change is in left field, where AJ Pollock will start after Chris Taylor got the nod Thursday. Pollock will bat seventh.
Roberts said Pollock would start the final three games of this series while Taylor would also pay three of four. That presumably means the plan is to have Taylor start somewhere else on the diamond in the final two games against the Rockies.
DODGERS (0-1)
Mookie Betts RF
Corey Seager SS
Justin Turner 3B
Cody Bellinger CF
Max Muncy 1B
Will Smith C
AJ Pollock LF
Gavin Lux 2B
Trevor Bauer P
Remembering Don Sutton on his birthday
MLB moves All-Star game from Atlanta (but it’s not coming to Dodger Stadium)
Major League Baseball is moving this year’s All-Star game out of Atlanta, the league announced Friday.
“I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
No new site for the game was announced. However, since Dodger Stadium already is set to host the 2022 All-Star game, the Dodgers are not under consideration to host this year’s game, according to a person familiar with the league’s thinking.
The announcement comes eight days after Georgia adopted a law that voting rights advocates across the country say will make it harder for people to vote, likely disproportionately affecting Black and other minority voters.
In his statement, Manfred said he had spoken with players, team officials, and leaders from the players union and Players Alliance.
Dodgers begin season with strange loss to Rockies
DENVER — The strangest moment on a bizarre opening day at Coors Field occurred in the third inning Thursday — before the Dodgers’ costly defensive mistakes and Clayton Kershaw’s two hits and the bullpen’s letdown in front of a jarring number of fans — between first and second base.
It was there where Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner bypassed each other on the basepaths in confusion. Bellinger had lifted a flyball off Colorado Rockies right-hander Germán Márquez that bounced out of Raimel Tapia’s glove and over the left-field wall. Turner thought Tapia caught it so, after rounding second base, he retreated in a sprint to first base. Bellinger tried telling him to turn around. It was too late.
In the end, after a brief period of chaos, Bellinger walked off the field in disbelief. He was ruled out and was credited with an RBI single on what should’ve been on a two-run home run. The sequence was a sign of the frustration to come.
Dodgers lose season opener to Rockies, 8-5
Daniel Bard now pitching for the Rockies. He was 4-2 with six saves and a 3.65 ERA with Colorado last season. Muncy triple to right to lead off the inning. Taylor walked. Edwin Rios, hitting for Alexander, struck out looking on a bad called strike by the umpire. Will Smith was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out. Matt Beaty, hitting for McKinstry, struck out looking. Betts lined to second. Dodgers stranded 14 runners today. Obviously they are no good and need to be broken up. Rockies 8, Dodgers 5.
We head to the ninth, Rockies 8, Dodgers 5
Pinch-hitter Ryan McMahon flied to center. Tapia hit a grounder to third, but Turner made a wide thrown and Tapia reached first on the error. Dodger defense has been shaky for the opener, while the Rockies have been solid. Fuentes flied to right. Story popped to second. We go to the ninth with Muncy, Taylor and the pitcher’s spot due up. Rockies 8, Dodgers 5.
So that’s why the Dodgers are losing
Dodgers cut deficit to 8-5 after top of the eighth
Tyler Kinley on the mound for the Rockies. He was 0-2 with a 5.32 ERA in 23.2 innings with the Rockies last season. McKinstry double to right. Betts grounded slowly to short, McKinstry to third. Seager singles to left, scoring McKinstry. Turner popped to second. Bellinger flied to right. Rockies 8, Dodgers 5.
Rockies extend their lead in bottom of the seventh
Jimmy Nelson on the mound for L.A. Zach McKinstry at second, replacing Lux. Story fouled to third. Blackmon walked. Cron doubled to center, Blackmon to third. Blackmon scored on a wild pitch, Cron to third. Diaz struck out swinging. Cron scored on a wild pitch. Barnes tried to tag Cron and got cut on his right hand. Will Smith replaces Barnes. Owings walked. Scott Alexander replaces Nelson. Owings stole second. Owings took third on a wild pitch, as the Dodgers try to fill their season quota of wild pitches in one game. Hampson grounded to third as the inning mercifully ends. Rockies 8, Dodgers 4
It’s 6-4 after the top of the seventh
Yency Almonte now pitching for the Rockies. Taylor grounded to short. Lux singled up the middle. Story grabbed it but had no time to throw him out at first. Barnes grounded up the middle. Owings (3 for 3 today with 3 runs scored) made a diving stop, flipped to Story at short, who threw to first for a double play. Rockies 6, Dodgers 4.
Rockies retake the lead, 6-4
Cron singled to second. Diaz singled to center, Cron to second. Owings singled to center, Cron scoring, Diaz to third. It might be time to think about a reliever. Hampson grounded to short. With the infield in, the runner at third held. Pinch-hitter Yonathan Daza grounded to short. Diaz attempted to score and was thrown out. Tapia singled, scoring Owings. And that’s it for Kershaw. His line for the day: 5 2/3 IP, 10 H (9 singles), 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. 77 pitches, 55 strikes. Corey Knebel comes in to pitch and strikes out Fuentes. Rockies 6, Dodgers 4
Remember when Clayton Kershaw (2 for 3 today) homered on opening day? Watch it here.
Dodgers tie it up in top of sixth
Kershaw singled. Betts doubled to left-center, Kershaw to third. Seager walked to load the bases. This is what the Dodgers do best, work the count and wear out pitchers. Turner flied to center, scoring Kershaw. Runners on first and second, one out. Bellinger flied to center, runners hold. Muncy singled to right, Betts scoring with Seager thrown out at third. Dodgers 4, Rockies 4.
Some bad luck for Kershaw
Rockies take 4-2 lead after five innings
Owings singled. Hampson walked. Gonzalez sacrificed the runners over. Tapia grounded to second, Owings scoring. Fuentes grounded to short. Seager misread the hop and it skittered under his glove for an error and an unearned run. Story singled. First and third, two out. Blackmon grounded to second. Rockies 4, Dodgers 2.
Further explanation of Cody Bellinger’s home run, not a home run
DENVER — The Dodgers’ first home run of the 2021 season … wasn’t a home run.
The club’s first game of the season took a bizarre turn in the third inning when Cody Bellinger lifted a fly ball to the left-field wall at Coors Field with Justin Turner at first base. Colorado Rockies left fielder Raimel Tapia nearly made the catch with a leap, but the ball went in and out of his glove and Bellinger seemingly had a two-run home run to give the Dodgers a two-run lead.
Turner, however, thought Tapia made the catch so he raced back to first base as Bellinger jogged past him. Bellinger tried signaling to Turner that it was a home run but it was too late. Turner returned to first base, not realizing that the ball had landed over the wall.
Bellinger was ruled out because he passed Turner on the basepaths. Turner then jogged around the bases to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead and Bellinger was officially credited with an RBI single. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emerged to either argue the call or ask for an explanation before the inning continued.
Beyond the confusion, Bellinger’s power display is a positive sign for the Dodgers as the center fielder returns from arthroscopic labrum surgery on his right shoulder in November.
Dodgers tie it in fifth on Gavin Lux’s single
Chi Chi Gonzalez now pitching for the Rockies. Bellinger doubled to left. Muncy struck out swinging. Taylor struck out looking. Lux singled to right, scoring Bellinger. Barnes grounded to short. Dodgers 2, Rockies 2.
Rockies go down quietly in fourth
Blackmon struck out looking. Cron grounded to third. Diaz grounded to short. No fuss, no muss. Rockies 2, Dodgers 1.
Why didn’t Sandy Koufax get more opening day starts?
Several readers of our Dodgers Dugout newsletter (it’s free! Sign up here) emailed me to ask why Sandy Koufax had only one opening day start for the Dodgers. I reached out to the team’s official historian, Mark Langill, and he answered thusly:
“Sandy Koufax in his prime (regular season record of 129-47 between 1961 and 1966) made only one Opening Day start for several reasons.
1962: Although Sandy went 18-13 in 1961, Johnny Podres went 18-5 in 1961 and had won Game 7 of the 1955 World Series to clinch Brooklyn’s only championship, which Johnny always felt was the reason he was chosen to open the new Dodger Stadium. Same sentiment in 1958 when Dodgers picked veteran Carl Erskine (two no-hitters, single-game World Series strikeout record - 14 in 1953) to start the home opener in front of more than 78,000 at Coliseum. Don Drysdale started the season opener in 1958 at San Francisco (Drysdale was 17-9 in 1957; Koufax was 5-4).
1963: Drysdale gets Opening Day nod coming off 25 wins and 1962 Cy Young Award. Sandy was 14-7, but missed most of the last two months of 1962 with circulatory problems in his finger.
1964: Koufax gets first and only Opening Day start after Cy Young and MVP season of 1963 - blanks Cards, 4-0, at Dodger Stadium.
1965: Koufax was scheduled to start the season opener on 4/12 at New York, but he was diagnosed with arthritis on 4/1 and the medical staff didn’t want to rush him. Drysdale gets the Opening Day start in his place. (Koufax had missed the last six weeks of the 1964 season)
1966: Because of 32-day contract holdout of Drysdale and Koufax, Claude Osteen (hero of 1965 World Series with Game 3 shutout vs. Twins after LA loses first two games at Minnesota) gets the Opening Day honor against Houston.
1967: Koufax’s Opening Day appearance lasts only one pitch - he throws out the ceremonial first ball for the home opener on 4/18 as a retired legend at age 31.”
Thanks, Mark, for the answer!
Still 2-1 Rockies after top of fourth
Barnes walked. Kershaw grounded to third, Barnes to second. Betts struck out swinging. Seager walked. Turner grounded to second. Rockies 2, Dodgers 1
Watch the weird Cody Bellinger home run that wasn’t
Rockies take 2-1 lead after three
Chris Owings tripled to right. It looked like Betts lost the ball in the sun and the swirling wind. Garret Hampson beat out a bunt for a single, Owings scoring. Marquez tried to bunt, but popped it to Kershaw. Tapia grounded to Kershaw, Hampson to second. Fuentes singled, scoring Hampson. Story grounded to short. Rockies 2, Dodgers 1
Dodger score in top of third
Corey Seager grounded to second. Turner singled to right. Turner took a tour of the country via RV this summer. Spent five weeks on the road. Bellinger hit a home run, but Justin Turner thought it was caught so he ran back to first base as Bellinger jogged by him so Bellinger is out. He is credited with a single, and Turner scores. So instead of two runs scoring, only Turner scores. Bizarre play. Tapia went back on the ball and caught it, but when he hit the fence it popped out of his mitt and over the fence. Turner only saw the caught ball and rushed back to first before he could be doubled off. He didn’t see the ball pop out. Muncy walked. Taylor walked. First and second, two out. Lux struck out. Dodgers 1, Rockies 0.
Explanation of bizarre Cody Bellinger “home run” in third inning
No score after two innings
Charlie Blackmon flied to left. C.J. Cron, who was with the Angels from 2014-17, grounded into the shift and was thrown out at first. Elias Diaz struck out swinging. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
Dodgers don’t score in top of second
Chris Taylor singled to third. Gavin Lux grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Austin Barnes walked. Clayton Kershaw singled. First and second for Mookie Betts, who flied to right. Dodgers are on pace to ground into about 1,458 double plays this season. I don’t have it in front of me, but I believe that would be a record. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0.
Keep an eye on Clayton Kershaw’s velocity
No score after one inning
Raimel Tapia grounded to second. Josh Fuentes grounded to third and Justin Turner made a nice play to grab it. He bounced the throw to third and Max Muncy made a nice stretch for the out. Trevor Story singled. Charlie Blackmon, who I believe began playing for the Rockies around 1960. Story was picked off first, so Blackmon will lead off the second. Dodgers 0, Rockies 0
A lot of people at the game
(Required)
Today would have been Ron Perranoski’s 85th birthday
Dodgers strand two in top of first
Mookie Betts and Corey Seager led off with singles. (The Dodgers were 40-13 when they hit 1-2 last season). Justin Turner, whose uniform seems a size too big now that he has lost weight, grounded into a rare 5-3, double play, Seager at second with two out. Bellinger, with his new batting stance, walked. Max Muncy grounded to first. German Marquez made 23 pitches that inning.
Orel Hershiser’s snack for the day
It’s time for Dodgers baseball
Vin Scully with a very important message
Dodgers have a message for the fans
Which team are they talking about?
Coors Field is filling up
Colorado’s opening day lineup
Dodgers announcer Joe Davis gives you a sneak preview of the broadcast
Dave Roberts talks about Pollock, Taylor, Price and Gonsolin
Reader question: How will the Dodgers use David Price out of the bullpen?
Michael Dawson of Rialto asks: How will the Dodgers use David Price out of the bullpen?
The plan, according to Dave Roberts, is to have Price pitch two to four innings each outing every few days. The same goes with Tony Gonsolin, another starter opening the season in the bullpen.
Roberts told reporters this morning that Price and Gonsolin won’t be used on consecutive days. I’m assuming the same goes for Jimmy Nelson.
It’ll be similar to what the Dodgers did with Julio Urías in 2019. Urías was used in a hybrid role, logging a few innings every few days when he wasn’t making spot starts because the club wanted to make sure he was healthy for October. It was Urías’s first full season since undergoing major shoulder surgery.
Nelson’s usage will be slightly different. Roberts recently said Nelson will be used as a “two-inning monster” as they try to limit his workload coming off major injuries the last two years.
Roberts also said he doesn’t think he needs to tell the three pitchers when they’re going to pitch in advance before games. Their usage will depend on game situation and rest days.
Have a question about the Dodgers? Submit it here.
Clayton Kershaw makes start 355. Here’s the lineup for his first start
Clayton Kershaw makes his 355th start today. What was the Dodger lineup for his first start on May 25, 2008?
Juan Pierre, LF
Luis Maza, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Russell Martin, C
James Loney, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Blake DeWitt, 3B
Chin-lung Hu, SS
Maza had only 79 at-bats with the Dodgers, with his only homer coming in this game. Hu had only 193 at-bats and hit .176.
Do you have questions about the Dodgers? Ask us
Do you have a question about the Dodgers? You can ask us and one of our Dodgers reporters (usually Jorge Castillo) will try their best to answer in the live blog. Submit your question by clicking this link.
Who has the most Opening Day starts for the Dodgers?
Clayton Kershaw makes his ninth Opening Day start for the Dodgers, extending the record he already held. Here is the list of most Opening Day starts at each position for the Dodgers:
Catcher
Mike Scioscia, 10
Roy Campanella, 9
John Roseboro, 9
Steve Yeager, 8
Hank DeBerry, 6
Mike Piazza, 6
A.J. Ellis, 5
Al Lopez, 5
Mickey Owen, 5
First base
Gil Hodges, 12
Eric Karros, 9
Steve Garvey, 8
Jake Daubert, 8
Dolph Camilli, 6
Adrián González, 5
James Loney, 5
Wes Parker, 5
Second base
Davey Lopes, 7
Jim Gilliam, 6
Steve Sax, 6
George Cutshaw, 5
Charlie Neal, 5
Jackie Robinson, 5
Third base
Ron Cey, 9
Adrian Beltre, 5
Justin Turner, 5*
Shortstop
Pee Wee Reese, 14
Bill Russell, 11
Maury Wills, 10
Corey Seager, 6*
Rafael Furcal, 5
Left Field
Zack Wheat, 16
Dusty Baker, 7
Wally Moon, 4
Center Field
Willie Davis, 11
Duke Snider, 10
Hi Myers, 8
Brett Butler, 6
Ken Landreaux, 6
Matt Kemp, 5
Right Field
Carl Furillo, 10
Harry Lumley, 7
Andre Ethier, 6
Mike Marshall, 5
Raul Mondesi, 5
Yasiel Puig, 5
Dixie Walker, 5
Pitcher
Clayton Kershaw, 9*
Don Sutton, 7
Don Drysdale, 7
Fernando Valenzuela, 6
Ramon Martinez, 5
Carl Erskine, 4
Van Lingle Mungo, 4
Nap Rucker, 4
Orel Hershiser, 4
*-assumes an opening day start today.
Vin Scully on Opening Day
It’s a beautiful day at the ballpark
The Dodgers’ Opening Day lineup
DENVER — There aren’t any major surprises in the Dodgers’ opening day lineup:
Mookie Betts RF
Corey Seager SS
Justin Turner 3B
Cody Bellinger CF
Max Muncy 1B
Chris Taylor LF
Gavin Lux 2B
Austin Barnes C
Clayton Kershaw P
Chris Taylor starting in left field over AJ Pollock could be considered a minor one, but Pollock struggled at the plate in spring training while Taylor batted .311 with five home runs.
As expected, Austin Barnes, and not Will Smith, will catch Clayton Kershaw. Smith is an elite hitting catcher, but Kershaw prefers to pitch to Barnes. Manager Dave Roberts said he projects Smith to start around 90 games this season.
Gavin Lux will open the season as the team’s everyday starting second baseman, but Taylor will also see time there as he bounces around the diamond.
Dodgers manager said Luke Raley is the fifth member of the team’s taxi squad for this two-city, seven-game road trip that ends in Oakland.
Roberts had already announced that Dennis Santana, DJ Peters, Keibert Ruiz, and Garrett Cleavinger are on the taxi squad. MLB allowed again taxi squads this year to ensure teams can easily replace injured players or players who test positive for COVID-19 without being delayed by health and safety protocols.
Corey Seager will win MVP, and other Dodger predictions
The perception that Corey Seager rediscovered his pre-surgery form last year isn’t entirely accurate.
He was actually better than he was before.
Which makes sense.
Seager was just entering his physical prime. When the two-time All-Star celebrates his next birthday later this month, he will turn 27.
Mookie Betts may be the face of the Dodgers and Fernando Tatis Jr. the face of baseball, but Seager will be the MVP of the National League this year.
Spring training statistics should generally be ignored but could be instructive in Seager’s case. Seager whacked eight homers in 22 spring training games, a sign the power he displayed in the shortened 60-game regular season last year was something permanent.
The Dodgers’ Opening Day roster
Here is the 26-man roster for opening day:
Catchers (2)
Austin Barnes
Will Smith
Infield (5)
Gavin Lux
Max Muncy
Edwin Ríos
Corey Seager
Justin Turner
Outfielders (2)
Mookie Betts
AJ Pollock
Infielders/Outfielders (4)
Matt Beaty
Cody Bellinger
Zach McKinstry
Chris Taylor
Starting Rotation (5)
Trevor Bauer
Walker Buehler
Clayton Kershaw
Dustin May
Julio Urías
Bullpen (8)
Scott Alexander
Tony Gonsolin
Victor González
Kenley Jansen
Corey Knebel
Jimmy Nelson
David Price
Blake Treinen
Why the Dodgers will be the best team in history
What could be better than a baseball team powerful enough to reach into the heavens and end three decades of drought?
What could be more celebrated than a baseball team that outfought its demons, persisted through a pandemic, and lifted a city?
What could possibly top a 2020 Dodgers team that won the franchise’s first World Series championship in 32 years?
Quick, hustle in from Vin Scully Avenue, because you’re about to find out
A look at the Dodgers’ 2021 schedule
The Dodgers, fresh off their first World Series championship in 32 years, open their 162-game regular season schedule April 1 against the Colorado Rockies in Denver at 1:10 p.m. PDT. They will play their home opener April 9 against the Washington Nationals.
Below is the Dodgers’ game-by-game schedule. Most games will be streamed and televised on Spectrum SportsNet L.A. Select games will be available on ESPN, FOX and FS1 and MLB Network. Out-of-market viewers can stream games on MLB.TV.
All Dodgers games will be broadcast by 570 AM and 1020 AM (Spanish). Game times and TV channels are subject to change.
What you need to know about the Dodgers-Rockies series
The Dodgers open the 2021 season with a four-game series against the division rival Colorado Rockies starting today in Denver. Some facts and figures for the series:
Series
Dodgers (43-17 last season) vs. Colorado Rockies (26-34)
Games
All times Pacific
Today: Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 6-2, 2.16 ERA last season) at Colorado (German Márquez, 4-6, 3.75), 1 p.m., Sportsnet LA, ESPN
Friday: Dodgers (Trevor Bauer, 5-4, 1.73) at Colorado (Antonio Senzatela, 5-3, 3.44), 5:30 p.m., Sportsnet LA
Saturday: Dodgers (Walker Buehler, 1-0, 3.44) at Colorado (Jon Gray, 2-4, 6.69), 5 p.m., Sportsnet LA, FS1
Sunday: Dodgers (*Julio Urías, 3-0, 3.27 ERA) at Colorado (*Austin Gomber, 1-1, 1.86), Noon, Sportsnet LA
*-Left-handed