Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers had a pretty abysmal weekend, as they were thoroughly outplayed by the Angels for their first three-game sweep of the Dodgers since 2010. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the Padres failed to gain ground as they were also swept at home by an AL West team (and only managed three runs in the three games against the Mariners).
Tonight, the Dodgers open their first home series against the Diamondbacks this season. The Dodgers ended their 10-game roadtrip last weekend in Arizona, splitting the four game set with wins in the second and final games of the series. Arizona took four of the six games they’ve played since then, taking two of three in San Francisco and two of three against Colorado over the weekend. They shut the Rockies out in their two wins, but were outslugged in a 14-12 loss in the middle game behind five Colorado homers (four against Zac Gallen).
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| 7:10 P.M. | Los Angeles | ||
| 2B | Marte (S) | DH | Ohtani (L) |
| RF | Carroll (L) | SS | Betts |
| LF | Gurriel Jr. | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| 3B | Suárez | C | Smith |
| 1B | Naylor (L) | RF | T. Hernández |
| C | Moreno | 3B | Muncy (L) |
| CF | Tawa | LF | Conforto (L) |
| DH | Smith (L) | 2B | Edman (S) |
| SS | Perdomo (S) | CF | Kim (L) |
| P | Pfaadt (R) | P | Dreyer (L) |
Jack Dreyer opens the game in front of Landon Knack. Knack gets the bulk role coming off a rough outing against the A’s. It was mostly a rough outing off one A as Jacob Wilson took him deep twice in only 4 2/3 innings. Knack did match his career-high with eight strikeouts and set a new career-high with 14 whiffs, but allowed seven hits and five earned (four on the Wilson homers, one after being pulled after a single which Luis Garcia allowed to score). Knack saw the Diamondbacks twice last season and was good in Arizona, but struggled when they met in LA. Knack’s third career start came in Arizona last April and he allowed a run and four hits over five innings, but only managed two strikeouts. He started in LA last July 4 against Arizona and allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings, allowing a career-high three homers. Two of those were by Christian Walker, who I believe has hit two homers in a game against every pitcher the Dodgers have rostered in the last seven years (don’t fact check this). Knack was seemingly starting to prepare to enter yesterday’s game when Tony Gonsolin‘s thumb started bleeding, but Gonsolin managed to get through four so the Dodgers actually have a length guy available today.
The Dodgers see Brandon Pfaadt again after being shut down by him on May 8. Pfaadt allowed four hits and three walks over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, outdueling Yoshinobu Yamamoto in his best start of the season. His other two starts this month have been his two worst of the season. Pfaadt allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings in Philly on May 3, and last time out allowed four runs in four innings in San Francisco. He’s struggled on the road this season, with 15 of the 21 runs he’s allowed coming in his four road starts. He’s allowed a .617 OPS in five starts in Arizona and a .961 OPS in his road starts. He’s also struggled in his two regular season starts in LA in his career, allowing a .861 OPS and allowing seven earned runs (and two unearned) in 10 innings.
Teoscar Hernandez returns to the lineup, starting in right and batting fifth. James Outman was optioned to make room for Teo. Hyeseong Kim gets the start in center and Tommy Edman starts at second. Andy Pages sits a day after crashing into the right field wall, but no updates about any sort of injury so it’s seemingly just a day off.
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Kim has played himself into some more playing time, which seemed a bit obvious when the Dodgers chose to release Chris Taylor to keep Kim up.
Dave Roberts said Hyeseong Kim will make starts as the Dodgers look to get some rest for Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández and Michael Conforto rest.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) May 19, 2025
Roberts estimated Kim will average 3.5 starts per week.
When Kim first came up, Roberts essentially stated he’d get a couple starts here and there. Now, it seems like he’ll get some more run.
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Michael Kopech pitches again for OKC tomorrow and seemingly has more of a timeline to return.
Michael Kopech is going to pitch for @OKC_comets tomorrow and has at least three more rehab appearances to make before he possibly returns.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) May 19, 2025
Kopech’s first rehab outing was disastrous. He threw 23 pitches, and only three of them were strikes. He walked each of the five batters he faced before being pulled, walking in two runs before giving way to Justin Jarvis. Jarvis got two outs, but walked in another run and gave up a two-run single to give Kopech five earned on the night. Kopech was better in his second outing, striking out two in a scoreless inning. He struggled again in his last outing, giving up three runs and two hits in 2/3rds of an inning. The results aren’t there, but his velocity seems to be in a good place.
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Blake Treinen, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are all throwing.
Both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have continued ther throwing progressions as well. Snell is playing catch right now in the outfield. https://t.co/pSHdYdvyR9
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 19, 2025
All are probably still quite a ways away, but this beats an update about them all being shut down for longer.
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be shown on SportsNet LA.
