True Blue LA - May 27: Dodgers 4, Giants 3Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-05-28T07:45:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/222228072021-05-28T07:45:00-07:002021-05-28T07:45:00-07:00DJ Peters hits first career home run in stadium he grew up watching games
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<p>What a special night for the rookie</p> <p id="ncpELA">Growing up and going to <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> games at Dodger Stadium is really cool. Can you imagine what it must be like to actually put on a Dodgers uniform and play for the team you grew up loving? How about hitting your very first career home run in that very stadium?</p>
<p id="exIzlQ">For DJ Peters, he got to live that dream on Thursday night. In the fifth inning, Peters hit his first career big-league home run, achieving a lifelong dream of his since he was a kid. </p>
<p id="kch8Kq">“It didn’t really hit me until after the game,” Peters said to the media following the game. “To get it here at Dodger Stadium is surreal, but to do it against the team in orange and black is that much better.”</p>
<p id="USbrfT">It was a five-year journey for Peters to get to this moment. Peters was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>. He’s appeared in 457 games and had over 1,700 at bats in the minors. Home runs were frequent for him, as he hit 92 of them. On Thursday, he hit his 93rd since being drafted. Only this one was a little more important than the others. </p>
<p id="eDAp5P">“Going to hang onto it,” Peters said. “Put it next to my next hit and hopefully have a lot of bigger hits in my career.”</p>
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<p id="2MnXRx">It’s been an up-and-down season for Peters so far. He started the season off the 26-man roster. With all the injuries, he was added to the team and spent some time with the club. Then he was sent back down to OKC, and then called back up shortly after. </p>
<p id="IvGgVX">“I feel like night and day,” he said on how he feels compared to last month. “In my first stint, I was definitely excited but went down to the minors and learned a lot. I’m still getting at bats under my belt but feeling more comfortable every day in the base paths and in the box.</p>
<p id="Fa6iL4">“Sometimes in the minor-leagues you get three or four [pitches], but here you get one. When you get that one you don’t want to miss it.”</p>
<p id="MF0aZk">Manager Dave Roberts has noticed a changed and more confident Peters over the last few weeks. </p>
<p id="QhVvrN">“DJ has been around our group for the last four years,” he said. “I think he’s a lot more comfortable in his own skin as a big-league ballplayer. The defense has been has been very good and consistent. Just slowing things down in the box has been really good. He just has an understanding of what he needs to do to learn major league pitching a little more. You don’t know until you know. This has been a good runway for him.”</p>
<p id="gtCTPA">Regardless of how many more home runs Peters hits in a Dodgers uniform, he already has achieved a dream every kid imagines growing up. Well done, DJ. Well done. </p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/28/22458022/dj-peters-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-recapBlake Harris2021-05-27T21:40:43-07:002021-05-27T21:40:43-07:00Dodgers hit three home runs as they pick up win over Giants
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<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>They scored all their runs via the long ball</p> <p id="CWzDJC">One of the most historic rivalries was back in action on Thursday night, and it delivered all the fireworks. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and Giants went back-and-forth, with LA coming out on top. They picked up the 4-3 victory, their fourth win in four games against San Francisco this season. </p>
<p id="Kf0X3P">Having not relied on the home run as much as previous seasons, the Dodgers only got their runs courtesy of the long ball tonight. The first came in the third inning. After back-to-back outs to begin the inning, Mookie Betts hit a triple to extend the inning and put the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Justin Turner stepped up and put the Dodgers on top with a two-run shot. It was his second in three games and ninth of the season. </p>
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<p id="8a538d">Two innings later, it was DJ Peters’ turn. After hitting 92 home runs in the minors, Peters finally connected for the first home run of his major-league career. Pretty awesome moment for a kid who grew up in Glendora. Fun fact, my girlfriend went to high school with him and saw a movie with him and a bunch of friends once. So there’s my DJ Peters story. </p>
<p id="0eB1M2">Oh, and I’m fully taking credit for him hitting HR No. 1.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of these days, DJ Peters is going to hit an absolute tank and it's going to be majestic</p>— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeHarrisTBLA/status/1398119913739362313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a>
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<p id="1SHVMW">After the Giants tied things up in the sixth inning, the Dodgers took the lead back in dramatic fashion. Max Muncy stepped up to the plate to lead off the inning. After falling behind in the count, Muncy crushed his 11th homer to the stands, putting the Dodgers up one run. </p>
<p id="bwbXiY">Although his swing was glorious, his epic bat flip was even better. I mean, c’mon! Can we get a launch angle on this flip? </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That’s a baaaaaaad man. <a href="https://t.co/gKoN3j7Z08">pic.twitter.com/gKoN3j7Z08</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1398128067315306496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a>
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<h3 id="rd6ZGd">Bullpen game is a success </h3>
<p id="DSVldc">Don’t worry, I’m just like you. When I hear the words “bullpen game” I let out a big “UGH”. However, the Dodgers usually do well in bullpen games, and this game went great. </p>
<p id="HZNTBU">David Price got the start, his second of the season. He threw 2 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings of scoreless ball and didn’t issue a single baserunner. He struck out five, which gave him 2,000 for his career, becoming the 84th pitcher to reach that milestone. </p>
<p id="IiJjcf">Since April 13, Price has been fantastic for LA. He’s posted a 0.74 ERA, 12.5 SO/9, 1.5 BB/9 and 0.90 WHIP during this stretch. It looks as if he’s settling very well into this new role. </p>
<p id="muW4O6">Alex Vesia, Joe Kelly, Victor Gonzalez, Nate Jones, Blake Treinen and Kenley Jansen followed. Kelly and Gonzalez each allowed a home run, and for Gonzalez it was his first allowed homer of his career. Treinen threw a 1-2-3 scoreless eighth with two strikeouts. Jansen then followed with a scoreless 1-2-3 ninth of his own. He also had two strikeouts and was throwing straight gas. That’s my damn closer!</p>
<h3 id="BoOhAu">Thursday particulars</h3>
<p id="zzO3bb">WP: Victor Gonzalez (2-0) 1 IP, 2 ER</p>
<p id="4GL6im">LP: Alex Wood (5-2) 6 IP, 4 ER</p>
<p id="cYzO69">SV: Kenley Jansen (12) 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 SO</p>
<p id="3vSXik">HR: Max Muncy (11) Justin Turner (9) DJ Peters (1) Evan Longoria (7) Donovan Solano (1)</p>
<p id="avGZ77"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-dodgers/2021/05/27/633930#game_state=live,game_tab=plays,game=633930">Box score</a></p>
<h3 id="kOKQpK">Play of the game </h3>
<p id="WLv8Ci">Albert Pujols unhooked the trailer and hit a double. He was clocked at 40mph. Yup, seriously. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ALBERT PUJOLS WITH THE WHEELS ♂️ <a href="https://t.co/rLg5w7bnHQ">pic.twitter.com/rLg5w7bnHQ</a></p>— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeHarrisTBLA/status/1398107089218654210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/27/22457876/los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-new-recap-max-muncy-giantsBlake Harris2021-05-27T18:55:00-07:002021-05-27T18:55:00-07:00Game thread: Dodgers welcome Giants to LA
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<figcaption>D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The rivalry is renewed </p> <div id="n4AbcO">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> lineup vs. Giants: <a href="https://t.co/Jy1u2DYhTN">pic.twitter.com/Jy1u2DYhTN</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1398055850032340996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2021</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rivalry is back on.<br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSAuthentic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCSAuthentic</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLBNetwork</a> <br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/KNBR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KNBR</a><br> : <a href="https://t.co/1v5WV5ITvb">https://t.co/1v5WV5ITvb</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ResilientSF?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ResilientSF</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CocaCola?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CocaCola</a> <a href="https://t.co/mztLLac9ei">pic.twitter.com/mztLLac9ei</a></p>— SFGiants (@SFGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1398044462408867840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2021</a>
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<h3 id="BaxO2C">Game info</h3>
<p id="S1rSEU">First pitch: 7:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="b7HDoL">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/27/22457763/game-thread-dodgers-welcome-giants-to-laBlake Harris2021-05-27T17:00:36-07:002021-05-27T17:00:36-07:00AJ Pollock and Corey Seager progressing well from injuries
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<figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Updates on the injuries of a number of Dodgers</p> <p id="dtRPbm">The reinforcements are coming, and Dave Roberts provided an update with the latest injury news on Thursday. </p>
<p id="BmPTBd">AJ Pollock was seen running around the bases prior to the game. Pollock has been on the Injured List for a few weeks while nursing an injured hamstring. </p>
<p id="BVl3Bb">“It’s a step in the right direction,” Roberts said. “We have to have that conversation. Looking at how much time he’s missed and what he needs. Whether that’s going to OKC and playing in games, certainly a step in the right direction, though.”</p>
<p id="01C6gu">Roberts said that Pollock re-injuring his hamstring after missing nearly a week due to it wasn’t ideal. The plan is to continue to do whatever works for Pollock in getting him back to the team sooner. </p>
<p id="kCwY4E">There’s still no timetable as to when we can see Pollock return, though. Roberts said the team is still trying to decide as to whether or not the outfielder will need to go on a rehab assignment. If Pollock does play some games in the minors, Roberts said it would only be three or four games. </p>
<p id="8JnusJ">We also got an update on Corey Seager, who has missed two weeks with a broken right hand. He was seen fielding grounders at shortstop on Thursday. No throwing though, yet. Seager had the large wrapping removed and had a splint on his right hand. </p>
<p id="SJ0Spl">“I know Brandon McDaniel stayed back with him and got the conditioning part of things, the leg work, the glove work,” Roberts said. “Once he’s healthy enough to come back and play games, we want him to hit the ground running. He’s on that plan. He’s such a great worker.”</p>
<p id="6T77OB">Tony Gonsolin will make another rehab start for the OKC <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Friday. He threw three scoreless innings in his first start. Roberts said the plan is for him to throw four innings, but having him go five would be fantastic. </p>
<p id="Zp9XJY">Roberts said Gonsolin likely has two more starts left with OKC. The first one being tomorrow with the next being next week, potentially Tuesday. </p>
<h3 id="YJJZ2K">Other news and notes</h3>
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<li id="vco6Gd">David Price is getting the start in today’s bullpen game. He’s expected to go one time through the order. </li>
<li id="d4nFEL">After pitching yesterday, Dennis Santana was optioned. In the move, the Dodgers recalled right-hander Mitch White </li>
<li id="pU9Hdm">Day off for Gavin Lux, who isn’t in the starting lineup.</li>
<li id="ARH5sc">Dave Roberts said that Cody Bellinger is still on track to return to the Dodgers on Saturday. </li>
<li id="OW9JZA">Brusdar Graterol is with the OKC squad and will throw live BP tomorrow. <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/status/1398061266250383360?s=20">First game to follow after that.</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/27/22457662/aj-pollock-corey-seager-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news-cody-bellingerBlake Harris2021-05-27T07:47:00-07:002021-05-27T07:47:00-07:00Dodgers making do with only 4 starting pitchers, for now
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<figcaption>Dodgers fans line up to see which of the many pitchers are available on Thursday. | Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Thursday is a bullpen game for LA</p> <p id="OedmnG">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> plan to deploy a bullpen game on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the Giants, a remnant of a month-long scramble to fill a void in the starting rotation left by Dustin May tearing the UCL in his elbow.</p>
<p id="ml5Wqz">The nominal starter hasn’t yet been announced, though the Dodgers have several options from which to choose.</p>
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<p id="URj1V6">Nate Jones and Dennis Santana were the only Dodgers relievers to pitch on Wednesday night, and on Tuesday they only needed Joe Kelly and Phil Bickford to get the final four outs. Carrying 14 pitchers on the roster, the Dodgers will have six relievers available on Thursday with at least three days rest, including the top-four leverage group of Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, Victor Gonzalez, and David Price.</p>
<p id="3AKgzD">Only three relievers have pitched twice in the last six days — Jones, Santana, and Bickford.</p>
<p id="toipf7">It’s as good a situation as a team with only four active starting pitchers can hope for heading into an all-hands-on-deck situation.</p>
<p id="4ZR86b">“Looking at our roster right now, we’re carrying 10 relievers. In an American League interleague game, it’s certainly not ideal. When we do that at home, as far as bench players, it’s not ideal,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “Credit goes to the starting pitchers. I just feel that having four guys that can give you a really good chance to go deep in games, to spell the bullpen on their days, gives a fighting chance for the bullpen days.”</p>
<p id="INsoyg">Trevor Bauer lasting six innings on Wednesday in Houston helped to provide the bullpen some relief, though that’s been the norm of late. The quartet of Bauer, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Julio Urías have pitched at least six innings <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/AumCQ">in each of their last 13 starts</a>.</p>
<p id="2E1Nnt">The first bullpen game the Dodgers used came on the final day of April, part of a stretch of 14 games in 14 days, to give the then-five-man rotation an extra day of rest. But the best-laid plans went awry the very next day when May injured his elbow in the second inning of what became a second straight bullpen game, this one an impromptu sort.</p>
<p id="LxocGj">That the Dodgers have only used two bullpen games since then is a testament to how effective the other four starters have been, and a grouping of off days that allowed the team some maneuverability.</p>
<p id="teMvpx">For the most part, the bullpen games have been effective. In all three games, the Dodgers allowed no more than three runs, though they lost two of the three. Seven of the eight total runs allowed came on home runs — a two-run shot and three-run shot allowed by Edwin Uceta in the two losses, and a two-run shot against Joe Kelly in a win.</p>
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<p id="qXnZFI">But the cost comes in potential availability of relievers in the days before and after the bullpen game, and a short bench in the games surrounding. Kershaw has pinch hit twice this season, for instance, and Kenley Jansen batted once.</p>
<p id="oKFPyc">“It’s kind of where we’re at,” Roberts said.</p>
<p id="oVoJ5k">The club planned to use top prospect Josiah Gray for at least one of these fill-in starts, but <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/12/22433318/josiah-gray-injury-shoulder-impingement">a shoulder impingement on May 11 squashed those plans</a>.</p>
<p id="wV45pr">Now, it’s essentially waiting on Tony Gonsolin, working back from a shoulder impingement of his own. He <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/24/22450268/cody-bellinger-home-run-tony-gonsolin-minor-league-rehab-dodgers">pitched three scoreless innings on Sunday</a> in his first game of a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and will start again for OKC on Friday.</p>
<p id="q99Xsm">The Dodgers could have lined up this bullpen game with Gonsolin’s schedule, but instead opted to give an extra day of rest to Buehler and Urías, who will pitch against the Giants on Friday and Saturday. Kershaw will pitch Sunday in the series finale, on regular rest.</p>
<p id="tGbLPf">But because the Dodgers don’t have another off day until June 3, that means they will need <em>another</em> bullpen game next Tuesday against the Cardinals. And it means they want Gonsolin to further stretch out, ideally to at least five innings, before he is activated from the injured list.</p>
<p id="4yQeeS">“With Tony it’s going to be two [more rehab starts] at a minimum,” Roberts said. “We’ll reevaluate after that second one.”</p>
<h3 id="zH4jon">Links & news</h3>
<p id="PUNy1X">Here’s who the Dodgers will face on the mound in the four-game series against San Francisco:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wood, DeSclafani, Webb and then Gausman at LA for Giants.</p>— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1397780269222940673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2021</a>
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<p id="WdCUMf">Russell Carleton at Baseball Prospectus <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/67176/baseball-therapy-the-changes-are-coming-to-mlb/">dove deep into the data of MLB offenses</a>, and concluded change is coming: “Games are longer, more strikeout heavy, and harder to watch for the casual fan. And it doesn’t look like the train is stopping.”</p>
<p id="MlSEto">Old friend Josh Lindblom was designated for assignment by the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> on Wedensday. The 34-year-old right-hander allowed 18 runs in 16⅔ innings in relief in the second season of a three-year, $9.125 million contract signed before last season.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/5/27/22455596/dodgers-starting-rotation-bullpen-games-not-idealEric Stephen