2023 Season

Since I live in the Phoenix area, Dback games arent' televised, so  I'm listening to Charley Stiener and Rick Monday, a great duo.  Meanwhile, I'm watching the Padres-Rockies and the Mariners-Indians.  

I seriously reached a deal with Spectrum to PAY for Dodger games. Last night I couldn't get the game until I went to a pirate channel. I called Spectrum at the same time. They said they don't offer Dodgers / Lakers together. One or the other. (Exact opposite of what they said before.). Okay. Dodgers then. They then sent me to their sales department. How often do you have to wait on sales? That normally goes straight through. I waited another 40 minutes before hanging up. If this is the way they want it...

Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Hits first homer as Dodger
Rotowire 10 HRS AGO
Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 10-1 win over Arizona.

Martinez got his third straight start at DH and slotted into the No. 3 spot in the order with Will Smith getting a night off. The veteran enjoyed his best game of the season thus far, knocking his first two extra-base hits, including a 409-foot solo homer in the seventh inning. Martinez has gone 3-for-11 with a pair of RBI and five strikeouts through his first three games of the campaign.

Dodgers' Trayce Thompson: Slams three homers Saturday
Rotowire 11 HRS AGO
Thompson went 3-for-4 with three home runs and eight RBI in Saturday's 10-1 win against Arizona.

Thompson didn't get into either of the Dodgers first two games, but he made a loud case for more playing time with his three-homer performance Saturday. The outfielder began his night with a grand slam off Madison Bumgarner in the first inning, added a three-run shot off Kevin Ginkel in the fifth and tacked on a solo shot off Carlos Vargas in the eighth. With the explosive performance, Thompson jumped into the league lead in RBI and is tied with C.J. Cron for the lead in homers. The big performance wasn't lost on manager Dave Roberts, who declared after the game that Thompson would get another start Sunday, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

Dodgers' Max Muncy: Leaves with injury
Rotowire 11 HRS AGO
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Muncy left Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks with a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated before Sunday's series finale, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Muncy was hit by a pitch in the groin area, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he "had an interaction with a baseball that he needed to catch his breath a little." There's a good chance Muncy will miss Sunday's game, and the evaluation will give clarity on whether he's dealing with a short- or long-term injury..

Noah Syndergaard (R)

1. Mookie Betts (R) 2B
2. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
3. Will Smith (R) C
4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
5. David Peralta (L) LF
6. Trayce Thompson (R) RF
7. James Outman (L) CF
8. Chris Taylor (R) 3B
9. Miguel Rojas (R) SS

A day in hell behind the plate for Smith.

At the time I read that I wondered about Taylor sitting instead of Vargas. But I can see Dave trying to get his veteran out of his slump. So far today Taylor is 0-2 with 2 strikeouts.

Dodgers' James Outman: Notches first big-league steal
Rotowire 1 HR AGO
Outman went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

After appearing only as a late defensive replacement when Arizona started a southpaw Saturday, Outman was back in the lineup as Los Angeles' starting center fielder Sunday. The rookie drew a walk in his first place appearance and was hit by a pitch in his third. Following the HBP, Outman swiped second base, but the Dodgers were unable to bring him home. The 25-year-old stole 23 bases in the minors as recently as 2021, so there is certainly some speed to his game. However, it's worth noting that manager Dave Roberts decided to pinch hit for Outman with light-hitting backup backstop Austin Barnes when the Diamondbacks brought in a lefty reliever in the ninth, so it appears that the team doesn't yet feel comfortable letting the rookie face left-handed pitching.

Dodgers' Will Smith: Blasts first homer
Rotowire 1 HR AGO
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to Arizona.

Smith sat out Saturday's contest but was back behind the plate Sunday, batting out of the No. 3 slot. He produced the Dodgers' only run of the game with his first-inning solo shot off Zach Davies. Smith is off to a strong start to the campaign, starting in three of Los Angeles' first four contests and posting a .455/.500/.818 slash line with the home run, five RBI and a 2:2 B:K over 14 plate appearances.

Dodgers' Noah Syndergaard: Strikes out six in no-decision
Rotowire 5 HRS AGO
Syndergaard did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and zero walks across six innings during a 2-1 loss to Arizona. He struck out six.

Syndergaard kept the bases clear for the most part, but the lone extra-base hit he allowed came in the fifth inning and tied the score at 1-1. The veteran right-hander dealt with a blister at the end of spring training, but he appears to be 100 percent and looked sharp in his regular-season debut. Across 25 appearances with the Angels and Phillies last season, Syndergaard posted a 3.94 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with a 95:31 K:BB across 134.2 innings.

Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Pitches in ninth inning Sunday
Rotowire 16 HRS AGO
Graterol (0-1) took the loss in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Arizona. He allowed one run on four hits over one inning.

Graterol entered Sunday's matchup in the ninth inning during a tie game, and although he gave up a run to take the loss, it was encouraging to see him take the mound in the ninth while Evan Phillips was used in the eighth frame. The Dodgers haven't named a set closer to begin the year, but Graterol's work in the ninth inning suggests that he could be first in line for save opportunities. The right-hander made 46 appearances for the Dodgers last year, converting four of his five save chances while picking up 10 holds with a 3.26 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 49.2 innings.