James Outman’s key pinch-hit double gave the Dodgers a 2–1 lead in the eighth inning on Tuesday. (Alyssa Howell/MLB) by Cary Osborne Among the numbers the Dodgers are counting on swinging the other way are the combined output of the bottom of the lineup, pinch-hitting success rate, efficiency with runners in scoring position and efficiency with runners in scoring position and two outs. The Dodgers’ eighth inning on Tuesday was a start. With Dodgers and Nationals tied late in Washington D.C., James Outman, out of the №7 spot in the lineup, delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to give ..read more

Andy Pages hits his first Major League home run against the New York Mets on Sunday. (Kate Fultz/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Christian Romo Andy Pages isn’t afraid to ask for help. The rookie outfielder wasn’t getting positive results through his first four big league games after hitting a single in his first-ever plate appearance against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. He went a combined 1-for-13 after the hit with six strikeouts. So he sought advice. He went to coaches and teammates for guidance, discussing hitting mechanics and opposing pitchers with fellow outfielder Teosca ..read more

Freddie Freeman earns a single on Saturday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Cary Osborne Long before the grey skies burned off on Saturday, Freddie Freeman was going against his grain. Freeman typically will not take batting practice before a game outdoors. His preference has long been to get his swings and batting work in the Dodgers’ indoor batting cage. But working to get out of an unusual slump to begin the 2024 season, the Dodger first baseman took swings in the morning before the afternoon game. Freeman said it was the hip that was throwing his mechanics off — the ..read more

Chris Taylor hit a two-run single in the sixth inning on Friday. (Katie Chin/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Cary Osborne Ever since the Dodgers became the first National League team to win 10 games this season, they’ve stalled. And now they’ve reached double digits in losses after a 9–4 loss to the New York Mets in the series opener at Dodger Stadium on Friday. Since beating the Twins 6–3 on April 9, the Dodgers have gone 2–6. The powerful offense hasn’t clicked. The starting pitching hasn’t gone on a run. The bullpen hasn’t found its footing. Manager Dave Roberts called ..read more

Landon Knack allowed two runs over five innings in his Major League debut on Wednesday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Cary Osborne Dodger rookie starting pitcher Landon Knack stood in the dugout in the bottom of the fifth inning between pitching coaches Mark Prior and Connor McGuiness on Wednesday. He patted his chest where his heart beats. “I was telling them that that first inning I definitely let things speed up because I had the nerves still in there,” Knack explained. “That first inning felt like it was here (in my chest).” Afterward, his head and body took  ..read more

(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Cary Osborne Washington pitcher Tanner Rainey threw a dart into the dirt in front of home plate that skipped past catcher Drew Millas in the bottom of the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Run-hungry Mookie Betts could feel it. His chance for another. As soon as he saw the ball hit dirt, he broke from second base and then rounded third base. As he was about 60 feet down the line, he recognized that he bit off a little more than he could chew, and he pulled up short of home, surrendering the out. It’s the only time Washington coul ..read more

The Dodgers called up outfielder Andy Pages on Tuesday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Christian Romo The most memorable swing Andy Pages took in 2023 came in his first-ever game for Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 16. It was also the last game he played that season. Pages fished after a 2–2 breaking ball in his fourth plate appearance of the game, swinging through the pitch and immediately grabbing his left shoulder. He underwent season-ending surgery for a torn labrum in his left non-throwing shoulder later that month, ending his season. He didn’t stay down on himself for v ..read more

Brooklyn Dodger pitching legend Carl Erskine passes away at 97 Right-hander Carl Erskine pitched two career no-hitters and appeared in five World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers. (Los Angeles Dodgers) by Mark Langill Carl Erskine, the former Dodger pitching standout who never left his hometown roots while becoming a beloved member of Brooklyn’s “Boys of Summer” era, passed away in his native Anderson, Indiana on Tuesday. He was 97. Erskine spent his entire MLB career with the Dodger franchise between 1948 and 1959. He was a member of five World Series teams, including the ..read more

(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Cary Osborne Baseball great Reggie Smith lived a dream. The Boston Red Sox outfielder returned to his home, Los Angeles, to play in the East-West Major League Classic at Dodger Stadium on March 28, 1970. The exhibition — a tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — included some of baseball’s greatest heroes. Fifteen would eventually gain election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, such as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks, Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench to name a&nbs ..read more

Dr. Harry Edwards speaks on Jackie Robinson Day. (Katie Chin/Los Angeles Dodgers) by Cary Osborne Civil rights activist, educator and author Dr. Harry Edwards — a powerful figure whose booming voice has influenced sports and society for decades — used one of his greatest tools in recognition of the great Jackie Robinson. For nearly 20 minutes on Monday, he spoke in front of the Jackie Robinson statue in Centerfield Plaza in front of a gathering of Dodger players, coaches, staff and executives. In what has become an annual event of solidarity, the Dodgers’ opponent on Jackie Robinson ..read more