True Blue LA - June 4: Dodgers 9, Braves 5Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-06-05T08:41:11-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/222844912021-06-05T08:41:11-07:002021-06-05T08:41:11-07:00Graterol optioned to Triple-A OKC
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<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Graterol was on the injured list with right forearm tightness since April 29</p> <p id="vbVJya">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> reinstated relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol from the injured list on Friday, then optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City, ending his minor league rehab assignment with the same team.</p>
<p id="xecYBe">Graterol had been sidelined since April 29 with right forearm tightness, and only pitched two games with OKC on his rehab assignment. He retired all six batters he faced in those outings, but in the first he threw more balls than strikes then on Thursday he struck out the side while throwing only three outside the strike zone.</p>
<p id="JIvW8J">After that first rehab outing Monday, which followed Graterol throwing to rehabbing Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry in batting practice on May 28 in El Paso, Dave Roberts was asked about Graterol’s timeline for a return to the majors.</p>
<p id="0dYXVt">“Some of it is contingent on the build-up. Some of it is contingent on performance. Some of it is contingent on need here. We really could go in a couple different directions,” <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/2/22463407/aj-pollock-home-run-rancho-cucamonga-dodgers-road-trip-braves">Roberts said Tuesday</a>. “I think it’s keep him on the rehab for however long that is, and then we’ll make a decision at a later date.”</p>
<p id="1XA6iz">Minor league rehab assignments for pitchers can last up to 30 days. Graterol’s lasted four. The direction the Dodgers chose was to keep a now-healthy right-hander in the minors for the moment, which probably makes sense for someone who has pitched only sporadically this year. He’ll just do so while earning a minor league salary instead of his major league rate.</p>
<p id="R02Ioz">“Brusdar was obviously a huge part of what we did last year. He’s going to be a huge part of what we’re going to do this year,” Roberts said Saturday. “We just feel like right now, where he’s at, it’s a finishing school.</p>
<p id="cWAPRN">“The slider is not as consistent as it needs to be to get major league hitters out consistently. The sinker is not commanded the way it needs to be. The option allows for him to have a clear path to go out there, pitch regularly, get the sinker down in the zone and continue to work on that slider. When he does that, I expect to see him.”</p>
<p id="d4J49X">Graterol did not pitch in a game during spring training, then started the season on the injured list with an undisclosed reason, missing the first 15 games.</p>
<p id="eWirYI">“There’s a lot of things that took place this winter for Brusdar that didn’t allow for him to prepare like he normally would have, as far as throwing bullpens to prepare for spring training. The last thing we want to do is speed him up when he’s not ready,” <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/3/15/22332548/brusdar-graterol-joe-kelly-dodgers-bullpen-opening-day">Roberts said during spring training</a>. “The main thing is that we just want him to be healthy and progress the right way.” </p>
<p id="JLdows">On Saturday, Roberts said, “Some of the things were out of Brusdar’s control, and some things, quite frankly, were in his control. But it’s where we’re at right now.” </p>
<p id="H2BiN9">Graterol has only faced 15 batters in competitive action this season, plus whatever games he might have pitched at the alternate site in Arizona during the first few weeks of the season. He allowed three runs in his three major league appearances, and walked two of his nine batters faced, after walking only three of 88 batters faced last year as a rookie.</p>
<p id="rApFfv">So he could probably use a few more innings under his belt before getting called back up. If he continues to pitch like he did on Thursday, he’ll be back in the majors soon enough.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/5/22520284/brusdar-graterol-optioned-dodgers-roster-triple-a-oklahoma-cityEric Stephen2021-06-04T20:11:49-07:002021-06-04T20:11:49-07:00Dodgers score eight runs in one inning as they defeat Braves
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>They needed only 4 hits to win </p> <p id="dbjisR">An eight run inning from the Dodgers was all the offense they needed, as they defeated the Braves, 9-5. </p>
<p id="ZNQNAO">After scoring 11 runs in an inning in their last game, the Dodgers <em>only</em> scored eight runs in an inning tonight. Instead of the first inning, LA waited until the fifth to deliver the death blow. Although the offense was scoring repeatedly, the way they scored the eight was completely different than Wednesday. </p>
<p id="D2QZLH">The Dodgers scored eight runs while recording only three hits in the inning. In the other eight innings on the night, the offense recorded only one hit. </p>
<p id="cnTfrF">Chris Taylor walked and Gavin Lux doubled for LA’s first hit of the night. AJ Pollock then grounded to third, but Taylor used his speed to beat the throw home, tying the game at one a piece. Julio Urias then stepped to the plate. With runners on the corners, he was attempting to drop a bunt. After falling behind in the count 0-2, he placed a perfect bunt down that scored Lux from third to give LA the 2-1 lead.</p>
<p id="c7kphP">Mookie Betts flew out and there were two outs. Albert Pujols walked, loading the bases for Justin Turner. He walked, bringing in the third run for the Dodgers. Cody Bellinger then walked, making it a 4-1 game. Will Smith followed with a single, bringing in another run. Taylor was back at the plate again after kicking off the rally with a walk. He scorched a double down the left field line, clearing the bases and making it an 8-1 game. </p>
<p id="Vvccdk">Urias made the start for LA, and was much better than his last start. Against San Francisco last weekend, the lefty had arguably the worst start of his big-league career. He went five innings, allowing only one run which came courtesy of a Freddie Freeman home run. Aside from that homer, Urias allowed four hits and struck out five. </p>
<p id="vsDcS9">The Braves chipped away in the eighth inning, as they scored four runs to make it a three-run game. Betts was able to provide a much-needed insurance run in the ninth. After he doubled to lead off the inning, two wild pitched allowed him to come in and score the ninth run of the game. </p>
<p id="Yaj02T">Kenley Jansen took the ball in the ninth. Things got a little interesting as he walked two hitters, but he managed to shut the door down and secure the Dodgers victory. </p>
<h3 id="paolUB">Friday particulars</h3>
<p id="TLH06B">WP: Julio Urias (8-2) 5 IP, 1 ER, 5 SO</p>
<p id="UuqRnj">LP: Ian Anderson (4-3) 4 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> IP, 4 ER, 6 SO</p>
<p id="gCEPSO"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-braves/2021/06/04/633820#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=633820">Box score </a></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/4/22519844/los-angeles-dodgers-atlanta-braves-recap-chris-taylor-julio-uriasBlake Harris2021-06-04T15:58:00-07:002021-06-04T15:58:00-07:00Game thread: Dodgers face Braves for first time since NLCS
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<img alt="MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yx-RmUeuWrd_1ncnPm1XzeZ7cos=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69409027/usa_today_16197853.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>An NLCS rematch </p> <div id="u278XF">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> lineup at Braves: <a href="https://t.co/oa61CaDrhs">pic.twitter.com/oa61CaDrhs</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1400897347630997510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2021</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's how the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> will line up tonight at Truist Park!<br><br>Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/TruistNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TruistNews</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheA</a> <a href="https://t.co/xrDwFLa5p8">pic.twitter.com/xrDwFLa5p8</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1400890280690204672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2021</a>
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<h3 id="I6Nnd0">Game info</h3>
<p id="bppkU1">First pitch: 4:20 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="j7pZll">TV: SportsNet LA</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/4/22519652/game-thread-dodgers-face-braves-for-first-time-since-nlcsBlake Harris2021-06-03T10:31:25-07:002021-06-03T10:31:25-07:00Dodgers activate AJ Pollock and Jimmy Nelson from IL
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<figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers are almost at full strength </p> <p id="dgCtOk">As I’ve been saying for weeks, the reinforcements are coming for the Dodgers. Well, now they’re nearly all here.</p>
<p id="ddB1N9">On Thursday, the Dodgers activated outfielder AJ Pollock and reliever Jimmy Nelson from the injured list. In the move, they optioned pitchers Edwin Uceta and Alex Vesia to Triple-A Oklahoma City. With this move, the Dodgers now have 13 pitchers and 13 hitters on their 26-man roster. </p>
<p id="9B9jyY">Pollock ended up missing just under three weeks with a left hamstring strain. He initially hurt his hamstring early in May while in Anaheim. He wasn’t placed on the IL, instead he missed nearly a week of games with a few pinch-hit appearances. After fully coming back, he tweaked his hamstring and was placed on the IL. </p>
<p id="CTYgQf">The injury came at the worst possible time for the outfielder, as he was arguably LA’s hottest hitter when he went down. Over his last 15 games, Pollock is hitting .340 with an OPS of 1.010 to go along with three home runs and 12 RBI. </p>
<p id="ozNfmE">With Pollock back, the Dodgers now have seven different players who can play in the outfield, adding some much-needed depth. </p>
<p id="HFRXTN">The other move the Dodgers made was activating Jimmy Nelson. He was placed on the 10-day IL on May 23 with right forearm inflammation. Luckily, he missed only a week-and-a-half. Prior to his injury, Nelson was one of the top bullpen options for LA. Over his previous 14 outings, Nelson has posted a 1.06 ERA and opponents are hitting .156 off him. In 17 innings of action, he has 26 strikeouts and eight walks. </p>
<p id="tnbtTI">Uceta and Vesia both head to Oklahoma City, where they can hopefully improve on some things before given their next shot at the big-league roster. Uceta has allowed eight runs to score in 12 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings of work, with Vesia allowing nine runs to score in 10 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings of work. </p>
<p id="v29btg">Meanwhile, the Dodgers are expected to get Tony Gonsolin back at some point within the next week, and it looks like Brusdar Graterol is on his way at some point as well. It only took the first two months of the season, but the Dodgers are almost back to full strength. </p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/3/22514390/aj-pollock-jimmy-nelson-los-angeles-dodgers-newsBlake Harris