News Dodgers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dave Roberts: ‘To our guys’ credit, we just kept fighting’

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

“We had no business winning that game,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But to our guys’ credit, we just kept fighting.”

The Dodgers are now 8-0 on the season, which set a record for the best start after winning the World Series the year before. But it sure didn’t seem like a victory was in the cards when they were down 5-0 in the second inning on Wednesday.

“I was dumbfounded with the way we were playing. I didn’t recognize that club, in the first couple of innings,” manager Dave Roberts said, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Then just dumbfounded that we found a way to win that game. We had no business winning that game. But to our guys’ credit, we just kept fighting.”

With an eighth consecutive win to open the season, the Dodgers passed the 1933 Yankees who were 7-0 after winning the Fall Classic in 1932. The 1985 Tigers started 6-0 after their championship the year before, and the 1934 Giants were 5-0 after winning it all in 1933.

The Dodgers have trailed in six of their eight games, all wins.

“We don’t take anything for granted. Every game, every at-bat matters, every at-bat, every play,” Roberts told reporters, again per SportsNet LA. “We didn’t do well tonight. But the focus doesn’t waiver, the compete. And Max was a perfect example of that tonight.”

Max Muncy made two errors early and was hitless in his first three at-bats on the night, all while using his new torpedo bat that’s all the rage right now. Muncy went back to his old familiar bat in the eighth inning and smacked a game-tying double for his first two RBI of the season.

That, plus five innings of scoreless relief by Ben Casparius, Kirby Yates, and Jack Dreyer, set the stage for Shohei Ohtani, who delivered the fourth walk-off hit of his career, a solo home run off Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias.

Comeback complete! The @Dodgers are 8-0 for the first time since 1955. pic.twitter.com/uWP2xT5dgo

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025​

Three of Ohtani’s four walk-off hits are with the Dodgers. This was his second walk-off home run, after beating the Rays and clinching a 40-40 season last August. The home run on Wednesday came on the first of at least four Ohtani bobblehead giveaways this season.

“I was just looking for a really good pitch to hit,” Ohtani said laughing, to Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA on the field, through interpreter Will Ireton. “But one of the fans was telling me, ‘It’s your bobblehead night, so you better get a hit,’ so I’m glad I was able to do that.”

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Source: https://www.truebluela.com/2025/4/2/24400122/shohei-ohtani-home-run-dave-roberts-dodgers

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

How long will Dodgers win streak last?

Digging deeper into the 8-0 start, plus a look at franchise and MLB history.

Though it didn’t look like it for a while on Wednesday, the Dodgers remained undefeated, their comeback completed by a walk-off home run by Shohei Ohtani on his bobblehead night.

At 8-0, the Dodgers surpassed the 1933 Yankees for the best start to a season by a team that won the World Series the year before.

In franchise history, only a pair of Brooklyn teams had better starts than this year. The 1940 team began 9-0 and would finish in second place with 88 wins (a 93-win pace over 162 games), their best record in 16 years, a prelude to 100-plus wins in each of the next two years, including a pennant in 1941.

The 1955 Dodgers began 10-0 (and 22-2!), their best start ever, en route to the first World Series championship in franchise history.

Before thinking about whether the 2025 Dodgers might challenge their predecessors of 70 years ago, let’s first think about what they’ve done to date.

Eight wins in a row is impressive, and is better than any win streak the Dodgers had last season. But in the three years before that they had eight win streaks lasting at least eight games:

• 2021: two 9-game streaks, three 8-game streaks
• 2022: one 12-game streak, one 8-game streak
• 2023: one 11-game streak

Those two 2022 streaks were relatively close together, part of a 30-4 stretch that fueled a 111-win campaign, and was a 34-game performance bested in National League history only by the 1906 Cubs.

The best major league start by any team is 13-0, done three times — 1982 Braves (won the division with 89 wins), 1987 Brewers (finished third with 91 wins), and 2023 Rays (finished second in division with 99 wins). That Milwaukee team was so hot to open the season that Rob Deer made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The best Dodgers win streak at any time in the season is 15 games, from August 25-September 6, 1924 by Brooklyn.

Today’s question is two-fold: How long will this season-opening win streak last? And will this current win streak be the Dodgers’ longest of the 2025 season?

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/2025/4/3/24400502/dodgers-win-streaks-history

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Anthony Banda: The Barber

Anthony Banda envisioned his big league career would be over after being released by the Washington Nationals after the 2023 season. After a trade to the Dodgers from the Cleveland Guardians, Banda resurrected his career and rightfully earned himself a spot as a mainstay in the bullpen.

The key change that helped Banda stay afloat at the major league level was the reintroduction of his slider, and with the help of pitching coach Connor McGuinness, Banda held opposing hitters to a batting average of just .154 last year, and has already used his slider 33 percent of the time while keeping hitters at a .125 average against it.

Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register has more on the resurgence of Banda’s slider.

“I was always told that I couldn’t throw a slider,” Banda said flatly. “I was a heavy pronator, and I got here and they’re like, ‘This fits your throw.’”

While he’s not striking hitters out on the mound, Banda has several years of experience as a barber, and with the help of teammate Miguel Rojas, Banda helped trim off pitcher Tony Gonsolin’s iconic locks, who looks almost unrecognizable without his long mane. Sonja Chen of MLB.com tells the story of Gonsolin’s new hairstyle.

“I thought Miggy was going to slice my head, honestly. He did OK,” Gonsolin said. “Banda did a really good job. It’s like he’s done it before.”

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Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tied game against Raisel Iglesias on Wednesday not having delivered fans exactly what they wanted on his MVP bobblehead night. One pitch later, and the fans left the stadium gleefully knowing that the Dodgers sported the best record to start a season by a defending champion in baseball history.

For anyone pouting over not having the chance to obtain an MVP bobblehead, they can get the chance to buy one on eBay, notes Chuck Schilken of the Los Angeles Times.

If you’re still in the market for an Ohtani MVP bobblehead, fear not. There are more than 100 still for sale on eBay. Many of the standard models are available for buy-it-now prices ranging from $143 to $500, while others are up for bid with final prices yet to be determined.

There will also be three more Ohtani bobblehead nights throughout the 2025 season.

Karl Ravetch, one of the hosts of ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday to discuss the impact that Ohtani has on the entirety of sports, equating his notoriety to that of legendary athletes Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali.

.@karlravechespn discusses Shohei Ohtani’s global stardom and impact on baseball

"There probably hasn't been an athlete who's more well-known globally maybe since Tiger Woods, maybe Muhammad Ali." (via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/1AqblxRFiw

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2025​

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/2025/4/4...-banda-tony-gonsolin-shohei-ohtani-bobblehead

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

OKC flirts with no-hitter, Dalton Rushing has 4 hits

Photo by Michael Owens/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Justin Jarvis in two games this season has allowed no hits in 10⅔ innings in Triple-A.

The first full day of minor league action was so chock-full of notable moments from four Dodgers affiliates that we had to break them up into multiple posts. That’s because the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets took a combined no-hitter into the eighth inning and Dalton Rushing had four hits in an 11-6 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) on Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Justin Jarvis blanked El Paso for the first six innings. Up by ten runs, he was given some leeway in the seventh, but three walks to open the frame ended his night. Only one of those runs came into score, on a wild pitch by reliever Ben Harris, who struck out two during the inning.

Jarvis, the 25-year-old right-hander who signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in November and was a non-roster invitee in spring training, walked seven on Friday to go with his three strikeouts. He’s been living right so far this season, as he pitched 4⅔ innings of scoreless, hitless relief last Friday as well. That makes for 10⅔ innings for Jarvis on the season with one run and no hits allowed in his 41 batters faced, with 12 walks and eight strikeouts.

Julian Fernández, another non-roster invitee from spring, walked old friend Connor Joe to open the eighth, the ninth walk of the game to that point for Oklahoma City pitchers. Trenton Brooks then singled to break up the combined no-hitter.

“I’m going to be honest, it would have been hard to reconcile a combined no-hitter with at least nine walks,” Comets play-by-play announcer Alex Freedman said on the broadcast.

Then Oscar Gonzalez hit a three-run home run and Clay Dungan later in the inning hit a two-run shot, to make it just an ordinary Pacific Coast League game at that point.

Four Oklahoma City pitches combined for 10 walks and seven strikeouts on the night.

The last no-hitter by a full-season Dodgers affiliate was July 23, 2021, with a combined effort by High-A Great Lakes in a 14-0 triumph. The last Oklahoma City no-hitter came on August 13, 2009 by Luis Mendoza, when OKC was a Rangers affiliate.

Dalton Rushing had four hits on Friday, scoring three runs and driving in another.

And now it's Dalton Rushing's turn.

He's already got three hits tonight and this RBI knock extends the lead to 6-0! pic.twitter.com/yPyrYUrLOe

— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 5, 2025​

It’s been an up-and-down week for Rushing, who was hit in the mask while catching on Tuesday and didn’t play Wednesday, then struck out five times on Thursday.

He played first base in this one. Chris Okey, who caught Friday, doubled, singled, walked, and drove in four runs.

Okey batted ninth on Friday with Rushing hitting second. In between was Hyeseong Kim, who doubled, singled, and walks, and scored three times.

After losing their first game of the season, Oklahoma City has won six straight.

Noah Davis, acquired via trade with the Red Sox on March 27, starts on Saturday for what will presumably be a bullpen game the Comets. More minor league details coming Saturday morning.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/2025/4/4/24401569/dalton-rushing-justin-jarvis-dodgers-oklahoma-city

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers vs. Phillies game II chat

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

The Dodgers, fresh off the heels of their first loss of the season, take on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday.

Roki Sasaki gets his first career start on the road stateside, while right-hander Aaron Nola starts for the Phillies.

Today’s #Dodgers lineup at Phillies: pic.twitter.com/x44rmJQW7a

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 5, 2025​

Weekends at @PhilliesCBP >>>#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/pyxiD71tPt

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 5, 2025​

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Game info​

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Phillies
• Stadium: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
• Time: 1:05 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA, FS1
• Radio: KLAC AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/2025/4/5/24401677/dodgers-phillies-game-chat

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Shohei Ohtani throws another Saturday bullpen session

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

Second Saturday in a row off a mound for Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session prior to Saturday’s game against the Phillies, the second Saturday in a row with a bullpen session for Ohtani, who continues a progression while rehabbing from his September 2023 elbow surgery.

Pitching coach Mark Prior said Ohtani on Saturday threw some split-fingered fastballs among his 26-pitch bullpen session on Saturday, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani also had a lighter stint off a mound on Thursday prior to the Dodgers leaving on their road trip. Dodgers aren’t committing to a timetable yet for Ohtani’s return, but a pattern is emerging, as Sonja Chen at MLB.com reported:

“It’s a week, but then there’s also the one in between, where he touches the mound on a Thursday,” Roberts said. “And I think it’s just more trying to keep him on a similar seven-day program, and what the schedule would look [like] going out, and build from there.”

Speaking of bullpens​

Jack Dreyer, who earned his first major league win with two scoreless innings on Wednesday, talked about his first two weeks on a big league roster in a stacked bullpen, with Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA prior to Saturday’s game at Citizens Bank Park.

He echoed things other Dodgers relievers have said in recent years about the preparedness of the staff, including bullpen coach Josh Bard, like both Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda said in interviews last season.

“As a bullpen arm, the biggest thing is how well can you prepare? You need to come to the ballpark every single day expecting to be able to be in the game, and if you’re not in the game then you need to do whatever it takes to be ready for the next day,” Dreyer told Watson. “I’ve really developed a routine that works for me in terms of preparation. That’s my mindset every time I go to the field.”

Links​

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has impressed in his first three starts, with a 1.69 ERA, 3.02 xERA and 30.2-percent strikeout rate. Thomas Nestico at his newsletter detailed some changes to Yamamoto’s fastball and splitter from last season.

“Overall, Yamamoto is generating a lot more whiffs while limiting damage, Nestico wrote. “His improved stuff meshes beautifully with his pinpoint command to create one of the most complete pitchers in baseball!”

Former Dodgers closer Eric Gagné is the CEO of a bat company based out of Quebec, which is antithetical to his playing career as a pitcher. Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times last week interviewed Gagné, who said this: “Now my job is to make sure the bats don’t break anymore, make sure the ball goes farther. That was my enemy back in the day.”

Brittany Ghiroli at The Athletic interviewed several players about their frugal ways. Among the Dodgers within:

Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers: There’s something about (buying an app). I just don’t want to give them the $2.

Tanner Scott, Dodgers: We are definitely still on my wife’s family’s Netflix.

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Source: https://www.truebluela.com/2025/4/6/24401461/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-bullpen-eric-gagne-jack-dreyer