Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers (56-31) failed to complete a sweep in Sacramento with a 7-1 loss in the finale yesterday. It was sort of predictable when they decided on a bullpen game, but Charlie Barnes did his job and took down seven innings to help keep the bullpen fresh in the midst of this 13 games in 13 days stretch. They return home for a 10-game NL West homestand that will take them to the All-Star Break, starting with a four-game weekend series with the Padres.
The two teams faced off in San Diego last weekend and the Dodgers took two of three, losing the opener 7-1 but outscoring the Padres 19-5 over the next two games. Things did not get better for the Padres after that, as they went to Wrigley and got swept by the Cubs. The first game was a one-run Cub win and the Padres made the second game respectable after falling behind 9-3 in the sixth, but still fell short in a 9-7 loss. Yesterday was not so competitive, as the Cubs scored multiple runs in five of the eight innings they batted and won 23-3. Eight of those runs did come off catcher Rodolfo Duran, but it pushed the Padres to only a game above .500 and allowed the Diamondbacks to pass them in run differential, despite being a half-game behind the Padres.
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| 7:10 P.M. | Los Angeles | ||
| RF | Tatis Jr. | DH | Ohtani (L) |
| 2B | Cronenworth (L) | CF | Pages |
| 3B | Machado | 1B | Freeman (L) |
| DH | Sheets (L) | SS | Betts |
| 1B | France | 3B | Muncy (L) |
| CF | Merrill (L) | RF | Tucker (L) |
| SS | Bogaerts | LF | T. Hernández (R) |
| C | Fermin | C | Rushing (L) |
| LF | Taylor | 2B | Edman (S) |
| P | Vásquez (R) | P | Sasaki (R) |
Roki Sasaki gets the ball to open the series against San Diego for the second time in a week. He started the series in San Diego last Friday and fell back into early-season-Sasaki struggles, needing 81 pitches to get through four innings. He gave up three in the second inning after back-to-back walks and a wild pitch to set up a three-run Ty France homer. After a clean third inning, Sasaki allowed a leadoff double before getting the first two outs of the inning. He then lost command again, hitting France with a pitch and walking Will Wagner on four pitches to load the bases. He was able to work his way out of it, but he started the fifth with a double and a walk before getting pulled for Jack Dreyer, who was able to strand the runners to close Sasaki’s line. Sasaki had a great five-start stretch in May-June capping it off with seven shutout against the Angels, but he’s struggled in the three starts since. He’s allowed 13 runs in 14 innings in those starts with back-to-back three run outings after giving up seven against the White Sox in mid-June.
Randy Vasquez gets his second consecutive outing against the Dodgers. The Padres used Kyle Hart as an opener and he allowed a run in two innings before Vasquez came in and things didn’t go well. Vasquez allowed three hits in his first three innings, but failed to get out of his fourth inning. Freddie Freeman led off the sixth with a double before getting the first out of the inning. He should have gotten the second out, but Wagner couldn’t handle a grounder that scored Freeman and allowed Max Muncy to get to second. Tommy Edman tripled in Muncy and Vasquez gave up back-to-back homers to Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing. He allowed a walk and a single after that and got lifted for Ron Marinaccio, who loaded the bases with another walk before giving up an RBI groundout and three-run homer to Mookie Betts. It was a nine-run inning for the Dodgers with four earned and three unearned charged to Vasquez.
Allan wrote a deeper dive on Vasquez last week so just read that.
Mookie returns to the lineup after getting scratched last night with wrist discomfort. He’s in his usual place, starting at short and hitting fourth. Edman hits ninth and starts at second. The Padre superpen took a hit, with Jason Adam hitting the IL before the game today.
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Barnes was sacrificed last night and was sent back to AAA today, with Paul Gervase back in the Majors.
The Dodgers recalled RHP Paul Gervase and optioned LHP Charlie Barnes.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 2, 2026
Gervase pitched twice in May for the Dodgers and allowed a run and five hits in five innings. He’s pitched nine times in OKC since they sent him down and he’s been excellent, allowing two runs and five hits in 11 innings. He has walked eight in that time, but he should be a nice stopgap until Evan Phillips returns. He could probably also be the best (only) wing on the Lakers.
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Not much news today, but Edwin Diaz threw a bullpen.
Edwin Diaz threw 28 pitch bullpen session. Dave Roberts said it looked “really good”.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 3, 2026
Diaz is returning after the All-Star break. #Dodgers
Diaz also won’t be back until after the break. He’ll likely need a pretty lengthy rehab assignment considering he hasn’t pitched since April 19, but he could be a huge boost to the already-strong back end of the bullpen if he recaptures his form.
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be on SportsNet LA.
