Category: MLB

Phillies place Wheeler on IL with blood clot, process jarring news  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Dave Dombrowski had troubling news to share early Saturday evening from the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.

Minutes after the Phillies’ 2-0 loss to Washington, Dombrowski announced that Zack Wheeler is being placed on the 15-day injured list with a “right upper extremity blood clot.”

The Phillies’ president of baseball operations was joined by head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit. 

“There’s not a whole lot we can say on it at this time,” Dombrowski said, “but I commend Paul and the doctors for finding this because it could’ve been a much more trying situation than what it is.”

The 35-year-old Wheeler has been a bona fide ace since signing with the Phillies in December of 2019. He’s gone 69-37 with a 2.91 ERA and done stellar work in the playoffs. This season, Wheeler has a 10-5 mark and 2.71 ERA. 

Asked about the location of the clot, Buchheit confirmed it’s in the region of Wheeler’s right shoulder.

Wheeler had one August start pushed back because of shoulder soreness and then made two on-schedule appearances. His velocity was decreased against the Rangers and he threw five innings Friday in the Phillies’ win over the Nationals.

“Zack had been feeling better after his right shoulder soreness, but yesterday some symptoms had changed,” Buchheit said. “He felt a little heaviness. The doctors here were great in helping to diagnose and expediting that diagnosis this morning.”

Buchheit noted that there’s not yet a definitive prognosis or treatment plan for Wheeler. He did not believe the clot was related to Wheeler’s prior shoulder soreness. 

“It’s hard to say, but I don’t think so,” Buchheit said. “Talking with our doctors, it’s maybe independent. Again, there weren’t these types of symptoms prior, so I do think they were independent.”

The Phillies plan to evaluate Wheeler further early next week in Philadelphia. 

For his teammates, it’s jarring news.

“It’s obviously scary. … Obviously, we’re praying for him, trying to keep in contact with him,” Taijuan Walker said. “But I know that he knows we’re all here for him.” 

As far as the starting pitching picture, Aaron Nola will return Sunday and Phillies manager Rob Thomson will scrap his short-term plan of a six-man rotation. 

“We don’t know the timeline,” Thomson said. “I’m thinking a lot about Zack and his family because it’s not a hamstring injury or something like that. But I feel good about the depth that we have. If we have to go to a (six-man rotation), it could be (Andrew) Painter, it could be somebody else. We’ve just got to carry on. People have to step up.”

Away from the field, the Phillies are hoping for the best.

“I shot him a text,” Kyle Schwarber said. “Sounded like everything was getting the tests done and things like that. It’s a scary situation, right? … Just want to get him back in here and hear from him. Hopefully, it’s not anything too serious. I don’t know what the prognosis is going to be or what they’re going to have to do. I don’t know if it’s surgery. I don’t think anyone knows right now. … But get him in here and get him healthy. I think that’s the biggest thing. 

“Baseball is baseball. When it comes to someone’s health like that, we need him healthy first. He’s got a family, so we want to get him feeling good for them and get him back to speed whenever we can.” 

Prior to Saturday's game against the Seattle Mariners, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave some updates on the team...

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Luisangel Acuña as 27th man

With New York playing in the MLB Little League Classic on Sunday in Williamsport, PA, the team is allowed to roster a 27th man and it will be Acuña.

"We get a 27th man for tomorrow's game and it's got to be a position player," Mendoza said. "So he's here for taxi squad and he'll be active tomorrow as the 27th."

Acuña last played in the majors on July 29 against the San Diego Padres, coming in as a defensive replacement for Starling Marte in the eighth inning. Over 78 games with the Mets this season, the 23-year-old is hitting just .239 with seven doubles, seven RBI, 11 walks, and 12 stolen bases.

Since being sent back down to Triple-A, Acuña has played nine games for Syracuse. He's hitting .263 (10-for-38) with two doubles, two RBI, and one walk.

Mendoza did not share if Acuña will start the special event or just be available off the bench as a substitute.

On managing a pitcher in his MLB debut

Nolan McLean will make his highly anticipated debut Saturday afternoon against the Mariners as New York DFA'd Paul Blackburn to make room for the 24-year-old. Mendoza discussed his philosophy for managing a pitcher in their debut, saying you need to be able to adjust in hopes they "finish on a positive note."

"You want him to finish on a positive note as much as possible, but at the same time, you're managing the game accordingly," Mendoza said. "You have an idea, but the game will tell you what to do. You got to be able to adjust.

"Yeah, you keep in mind that it's his first outing. Like I said, ideally you want to end it on a positive note, but the game will tell you."

McLean has been dominant in the minors this season, going 8-5 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts over 113.2 IP with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He said Friday how it's a "dream come true" to make his debut and hopes to give the Mets a much-needed boost to their pitching rotation.

Fighting through adversity

After Friday's tough 11-9 loss, Francisco Lindorsaid the team is "not clicking at the same time" and getting "outplayed" by other teams. With the loss, New York has dropped 14 of their last 16 games and fallen to 64-58 after starting the year 45-24.

Despite the downward trend, Lindor and others still expressed a belief that they can turn it around. Mendoza was asked about the team's struggles and discussed the challenge at hand, saying they need to "find a way" to "put it together." 

"Of course it's a challenge, but there's a lot of experience there and there's talent, right?" Mendoza said. "We've been through adversity before and we come on top of it. We've gotten through it before. It's taken a long time this time. 

"But again, nobody's going to feel sorry for you, nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We got to find a way, we got to find a way. That's the bottom line. Is it hard to describe? Yes, because of the talent that we got there. And it seems like one day it's this area, the next day it's the other area. We just got to put it together. We haven't been able to do that."

Phillies waste another strong Walker start, get shut out in D.C.  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Cade Cavalli and the Nationals silenced the Phillies’ offense Saturday.

Taijuan Walker delivered another strong start, but the Phillies fell to a 2-0 loss at Nationals Park. They’ll try to split their four-game series in D.C. on Sunday.

Cavalli pitched seven shutout innings and notched his first MLB win. He scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked none.

Walker logged 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, two walks and two runs. Across his last three starts, he’s thrown 18 and 2/3 innings and given up only three runs. Walker’s season ERA is down to 3.34. 

The Phillies had a baserunning miscue in both of the first two innings. Trea Turner doubled down the right-field line to lead off the game and then tried to steal his third base in two days. Cavalli caught him before throwing a pitch to Kyle Schwarber, stepping off the rubber and easily throwing Turner out at third. 

With Brandon Marsh on second base in the second inning, Cavalli fielded Harrison Bader’s hard grounder up the middle and Marsh was unsuccessful in his dash for third. Max Kepler followed by flying out to the left-center warning track. 

The Phils also came up short with runners in scoring position the next two innings. Kepler grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners in the fourth. 

Walker was efficient out of the gates, ceding just one baserunner over the first three innings and throwing 30 pitches. 

He hit his spots well and followed sound game plans for each hitter. Walker turned to his splitter more than usual, got regular ground balls and looked comfortable.

The 33-year-old righty’s day veered off course in the fifth inning. Dylan Crews reached on a one-out walk and Brady House hit a seeing-eye single into center field. Walker struck out Jacob Young, but James Wood gave Washington the lead by lacing a Walker splitter into the right-center gap for a two-RBI double. 

Walker’s outing ended after Jacob Young lined an opposite-field single with two outs in the sixth. Jordan Romano came in to face Wood and struck him out.

Cavalli cruised through the sixth and seventh innings, retiring the Phils in order. Lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

Ferrer stayed on the mound in the ninth. J.T. Realmuto ripped a one-out single, but the Phils didn’t have a comeback in store. Marsh grounded out and Bader whiffed at a 1-2 changeup.

Nearly home 

The Phils will start quite early on Sunday for the final action of their 10-game road trip. The series finale is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.

Going into that game, the Phillies are 70-53 overall and 5-4 on the trip. Aaron Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA) will oppose Mitchell Parker (7-13, 5.55 ERA). Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that the club will “probably” activate Alec Bohm.

Phillies waste another strong Walker start, get shut out in D.C.  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Cade Cavalli and the Nationals silenced the Phillies’ offense Saturday.

Taijuan Walker delivered another strong start, but the Phillies fell to a 2-0 loss at Nationals Park. They’ll try to split their four-game series in D.C. on Sunday.

Cavalli pitched seven shutout innings and notched his first MLB win. He scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked none.

Walker logged 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, two walks and two runs. Across his last three starts, he’s thrown 18 and 2/3 innings and given up only three runs. Walker’s season ERA is down to 3.34. 

The Phillies had a baserunning miscue in both of the first two innings. Trea Turner doubled down the right-field line to lead off the game and then tried to steal his third base in two days. Cavalli caught him before throwing a pitch to Kyle Schwarber, stepping off the rubber and easily throwing Turner out at third. 

With Brandon Marsh on second base in the second inning, Cavalli fielded Harrison Bader’s hard grounder up the middle and Marsh was unsuccessful in his dash for third. Max Kepler followed by flying out to the left-center warning track. 

The Phils also came up short with runners in scoring position the next two innings. Kepler grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners in the fourth. 

Walker was efficient out of the gates, ceding just one baserunner over the first three innings and throwing 30 pitches. 

He hit his spots well and followed sound game plans for each hitter. Walker turned to his splitter more than usual, got regular ground balls and looked comfortable.

The 33-year-old righty’s day veered off course in the fifth inning. Dylan Crews reached on a one-out walk and Brady House hit a seeing-eye single into center field. Walker struck out Jacob Young, but James Wood gave Washington the lead by lacing a Walker splitter into the right-center gap for a two-RBI double. 

“I had an opportunity to get out of that one,” Walker said. “I had an open base and Wood is obviously a really good hitter. I’ve just got to get that split a little more off. If I walk him, there’s an open base, and just try to get (CJ) Abrams. I just left it too much over the plate.”

Walker’s outing ended after Jacob Young lined an opposite-field single with two outs in the sixth. Jordan Romano came in to face Wood and struck him out.

“He got a lot of soft contact,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Walker. “A lot of soft contact. The split was good, cutter was good. He attacked the zone. I thought it was the best start of the year for him.”

Cavalli cruised through the sixth and seventh innings, retiring the Phils in order. Lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

Ferrer stayed on the mound in the ninth. J.T. Realmuto ripped a one-out single, but the Phils didn’t have a comeback in store. Marsh grounded out and Bader whiffed at a 1-2 changeup.

Nearly home 

The Phils will start quite early on Sunday for the final action of their 10-game road trip. The series finale is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.

Going into that game, the Phillies are 70-53 overall and 5-4 on the trip. Aaron Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA) will oppose Mitchell Parker (7-13, 5.55 ERA). Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that the club will “probably” activate Alec Bohm.

Duran feels ‘like nothing happened,' Bohm almost back, Castellanos sits vs. Nats originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Jhoan Duran’s pain subsided quickly. 

A day after Duran took a line drive to the ankle and left the field in the Nationals’ bullpen cart, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the closer is “good to go” if there’s a Saturday save situation. 

How does Duran feel?

“Good,” he said pregame. “A hundred percent. I don’t feel nothing. It’s crazy … like nothing happened.”

Duran received clean X-ray results Friday night and the Phillies’ concern soon evaporated. 

“They feel like it hit his ankle, hit a nerve, and he got kind of dead foot,” Thomson said. “He actually walked out to the bus pretty good (last night), and then he came in normal today.”

Bohm likely back for series finale 

Two Phillies appear set to return from rib injuries on Sunday.

Aaron Nola will start against the Nationals and Alec Bohm’s rehab assignment is over.

“We’ll probably activate him tomorrow,” Thomson said. “He’ll be flying in here today.”

Bohm’s last MLB appearance came on July 18. He hit 3 for 21 for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with one walk and two strikeouts. Bohm homered on Wednesday and tripled on Thursday. 

Slumping Castellanos sits 

Over the Phillies’ last eight games, Nick Castellanos has reached base once.

The 33-year-old right fielder has gone 1 for 33 with zero walks and nine strikeouts. His season OPS has fallen under .700. Castellanos’ 88 OPS+ would be the worst in his career for a full season.

Thomson’s lineup Saturday did not include Castellanos. Max Kepler got the start in right field, Harrison Bader in center, Brandon Marsh in left. 

“It was pre-planned,” Thomson said. “He swung the bat pretty good last night; he was a lot better. He was lofting some balls to center field, hit a couple of balls hard. Makes a great throw. 

“He’ll be back in there tomorrow. … Moving forward, I’m trying to get a good mix of getting all those guys in there, because Nick’s going to get hot at some point and I want to make sure that I know when that is. And those other guys are swinging the bats well, too.”

When asked Thursday about Castellanos’ struggles, Thomson said he’s “just been off balance a little bit.”

“Not letting the ball travel,” Thomson said. “When he’s scuffling, that’s usually what he’s doing. We all know he’s a streaky guy and he’ll get it back. It’s just a matter of when.”

The Mets continue a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. on PIX11.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

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Mets Notes

• Top pitching prospect Nolan McLeanwill make his MLB debut. The 24-year-old owns an 8-5 record with a 2.45 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 21 minor league games
• Francisco Lindor hit his seventh lead-off home run of the season in Friday's loss, tying Curtis Granderson (2015 and 2016) for the all-time Mets single-season record
• Juan Soto has reached base in each of NY's 13 games in August, batting .280 with 12 runs, five homers, eight RBI, nine walks, four stolen bases and a .980 OPS. so far this month

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How can I watch the game online?

To watch Mets games online via PIX11, you will need a subscription to a TV service provider and live in the New York City metro area. This will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone browser.

To get started on your computer, go to the PIX11 live stream website and follow the site's steps. For more FAQs, you can go here.

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Friday, in case you missed it...

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• Mets stunned in 11-9 loss to Mariners after bullpen's late meltdown
• With New York "not clicking," team still believes in turnaround: "We control our own destiny"
• Mets’ Nolan McLeancaught off guard by promotion, but ready for "dream come true" debut
• Mets designating Paul Blackburn for assignment to clear space for McLean
• Top prospect Jett Williamscontinues hot start in Triple-A with another multi-hit game
• WATCH: Francisco Lindor, Sean Manaea and Brooks Raley comment on another frustrating Mets loss
• WATCH: Carlos Mendoza on Mets bullpen struggles, Manaea's outing
• WATCH: Can top pitching prospect McLean give the Mets a much-needed boost?
• WATCH: Mets Prospect Jonathan Santucci Highlights
• WATCH: David Wright discusses his secret to stealing bases on The Mets Pod
• WATCH: Gary, Keith, and Ron meet the Mets fans and their dog at their house

Lately, the only thing the Dodgers excel at is losing games they should win. When they hit they can’t pitch and when they pitch they can’t hit. They can’t move runners over or get a clutch hit and, of course, the relievers still can’t throw strikes. It all adds up to a good year ... for the Padres.

Alan Abajian
Alta Loma

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To paraphrase the old adage, you can put lipstick on the Dodgers — for example, so and so is coming back ... or recovering.

But any team that has played as inconsistently as they have at the plate, in the field, and on the pitcher’s mound is very unlikely to survive in multiple playoff short series. It’s virtually certain that type of team will get tripped up along the way. Especially one predicted to win 120 games.

Kip Dellinger
Santa Monica

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Mr. Plaschke is saying that the Dodgers' failure to trade for bullpen help is the problem with the bullpen. Maybe he should point the finger at the guy (mis)using them.

John Vitz
Manhattan Beach

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Re: Bill Plaschke’s column on Dodgers at trade deadline — The Dodgers didn’t have an “inability” to improve their bullpen, it was an “unwillingness.” With the talent in their system, the Dodgers could have easily put together a package to get Mason Miller, David Bednar or similar. Impossible to know if there was any meaningful undisclosed trade talk to get better bullpen help, but it sure looks like the Dodgers simply decided not to do it. It also looks like it could be a big mistake.

John Merryman
Redondo Beach

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Truth be told, the story was about the incredible Angel comeback/sweep of the Dodgers. Once again the columnist focuses on the Dodgers' injuries instead of the Angels' mind-blowing bottom of the ninth rally. Will the "Summer Bummer" continue when the Padres invade Dodger Stadium?

Patrick Kelley
Los Angeles

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Who ARE these people and what have they done with our Dodgers?

Sarah Tamor
Santa Monica

Kershaw finding a way

Most of Clayton Kershaw's career he has been a very successful power pitcher. As he has aged, and his velocity has dipped, Kershaw has become more of a crafty left-hander. Whichever version pitches on the mound, I'm just glad that Clayton Kershaw continues to have success and win for the Dodgers.

Chris Sorce
Fountain Valley

How about winning more games?

In response to Ben Bolch's suggestions on how to increase Bruin football attendance, many fans will say, "just win, baby." Our alumni group of eight purchased season tickets in 1976, the same year that Geof Strand began his magical cheerleading run. For a generation, every home game, win or lose, was pure fun. Eight-claps punctuated the fall afternoon days with "every man, woman, and child" on their feet. The Bruin Marching Band provided the music, no amplified DJ production required. It is nearly impossible to return to the past, but hopefully Martin Jarmond, et al., will give Mr. Bolch's ideas serious consideration.

Dave Sanderson
La Cañada

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Ben Bolch's analysis for the lack of attendance was very good and covered most points; the long drive, helping the students and fans with costs, and the late start times and late setting of start times all have an influence, but there is one other BIG problem, the seats are extremely uncomfortable. They are 100 years old. I am under 6 feet and when I go I have to sit sideways. There is no room for my knees with the seat in front of me. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!. Also a comment on the start time for the games. Ben was right on that one too. Games with a 7 p.m. start time and we get no coverage on the East Coast, not even on the late news there. It hurts recruiting and image. Start the games no later than 4 p.m.

Marty Meltzer
Reseda

Indicator of success?

Ryan Kartje writes that college football preseason polls are useless. That may be true for teams in the middle and below in the rankings but not at the top. In the 11-year history of the College Football Playoff no team outside the preseason top six has won the championship.

Gerry Swider
Sherman Oaks

Bad luck or no luck

Just the Chargers’ luck. Constructing a top-10 offense takes a big hit with Rashawn Slater going down for the season. What’s next?

Mitchell W. Cohen
East Windsor, N.J.

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Email: sports@latimes.com

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

In the standings, all is right again in the Dodgers’ world. Clayton Kershaw was, well, Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers won.

In the box score, all was not well. As you already have guessed, the bullpen: Five relievers were needed to cover the final three innings, in which the San Diego Padres put potential tying and/or go-ahead runs on base in each of those innings.

And, on Day 1 of Life Without Muncy 2.0, the Dodgers managed four hits.

With 40 games to play, the Dodgers and Padres are tied atop the National League West. If Max Muncy can play in even a handful of those games, the Dodgers will be grateful.

Read more:Dodgers slay their recent demons by beating Padres to regain tie for first in NL West

The Dodgers put their third baseman on the injured list Friday afternoon because of a strained oblique muscle. When Muncy went on the injured list last month because of a knee injury, the Dodgers led the majors in runs. He missed 25 games, in which the Dodgers ranked last in runs.

Of the Dodgers’ four hits on Friday evening, three were delivered by the bottom three batters in the lineup. That means Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages went a combined 1 for 17.

“Max just has that balance in the lineup, as far as another left-handed (hitter),” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “but also handles left-handed pitching and has the ability to get on base.

“He’s a threat. Now, without him, other guys have got to step up.”

The Dodgers’ left-handed bats, as of Friday: Ohtani, Freeman, outfielder Michael Conforto (.189) and backup catcher Dalton Rushing (.202).

It should go without saying that Ohtani and Freeman remain imposing. It should also go without saying that opponents might well line up right-handers against the Dodgers, including the Padres throwing Dylan Cease against them Saturday and Yu Darvish on Sunday.

“We’re going to see a slew of right-handed pitching,” Roberts said. “There are going to be right-handers coming out of the pen.

“Our right-handers have got to be better.”

On that score, the most encouraging development for the Dodgers on Friday was Hernández hitting what turned out to be the decisive home run.

“Teo came to life with a big homer,” Roberts said.

Hernández hit 33 home runs last season, when his OPS was at least .762 in each month of the season. His OPS has been below .762 in each month this season except the first one.

In the Dodgers’ first 29 games, he hit nine home runs. In the 93 games since then, he has hit 10.

“Some days, it's good. Some days, it's bad,” Hernández said. “Some days, it's in between. Hitting is not easy. But I'm going to continue to keep working and try to be consistent for the month and a half, and hopefully in the playoffs.”

Read more:Plaschke: The 'legend' Clayton Kershaw is legendary again for Dodgers

The pennant stretch comes first, and Roberts has faith in Hernández.

Said Roberts: “It’s an easy bet that, when the stakes get higher, Teo is going to really show up for us.”

Muncy does that, in getting on base and in circling the bases. In October, when the pitching can rise to the occasion, so can Muncy.

His OPS is higher in the playoffs than in the regular season. He walks way more often. He can elevate the Dodgers’ lineup in October, if the rest of the lineup can step up and help get him there.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Even now, Clayton Kershaw.

After all these years, Clayton Kershaw.

When the Dodgers are reeling and roiling and losing their grip on a long hot summer, who is the one player who can stop the fall and calm the nerves and, oh yeah, kick some San Diego Padre butt?

Still, still, still, Clayton Kershaw.

He’s 37 with a battered 18-season body and a fastball the speed of a Zamboni and yet there he was Friday night, carrying an entire worried Dodger nation on his weary shoulders into the opener of a three-game series against the cocky rivals who had just stolen first place.

Final score: Dodgers 3, Padres 2

Final line: Six innings, two hits, one run.

Final verdict: He’s still All That.

“We had the right guy on the mound tonight, I think we all know that,” said manager Dave Roberts, smiling for what seemed like the first time in a week. “What he did for us tonight, not only just the compete, but the stuff ... getting us through six innings was huge, setting us up for the rest of the series ... Clayton set the tone ... big, big outing by him.”

Read more:Dodgers slay their recent demons by beating Padres to regain tie for first in NL West

It was a blast from the past, only it’s been happening in the present, Kershaw behaving like the staff’s second-best starter, improving his record to 7-2 while lowering his ERA to 3.01 and, as crazy as this once sounded, making an early case for inclusion in the postseason rotation.

“It was a good night,” Kershaw said.

Understated as usual. For all this game meant, it was a great night.

Since July 4 the Dodgers had been worse than even the Colorado Rockies, with a 12-21 record while losing 10 games in the standings to the Padres in a span of 40 days, surrendering first place just two days ago, and set to play the Padres six times in the next two weeks.

They desperately needed somebody to stop the bleeding. And before the game, Roberts claimed that Kershaw was “the perfect guy” to do it.

Perfect prediction. Almost perfect performance.

Read more:'Super grateful' Clayton Kershaw, Dodger teammates bask in glow of 3,000th strikeout

There was Kershaw, spinning and steering and surfing the ball past the Padre bats with apparent ease, his only mistake a hanging curve that Ramón Laureano hit 400 feet.

There was Kershaw, deftly making plays from the mound, demonstrably pleading for every close strike call, proudly stalking from the mound into a dugout filled with hugs and high-fives.

And there was Kershaw, after his maligned bullpen danced through danger and barely survived, admitting that maybe this game meant a little more.

“When you play everyday, things can spiral pretty quick,” he said. “So maybe just coming home, having an off day to reset, and playing good games ... it just takes one to get going. Hopefully this was it tonight for us.”

Before the game, Roberts acknowledged that the Dodgers just play harder, and with more urgency, when Kershaw is pitching.

“He had a way of elevating people’s focus and play,” Roberts said.

Sure enough, a team that had seemingly forgotten to do the little things did every little thing, from great defensive plays at the corners from Alex Freeland and Freddie Freeman to the eighth-inning sweeper from Blake Treinen that fooled Manny Machado into stranding two runners with a popout.

This is a team that devoutly follows Kershaw ... when they’re not sitting back and admiring him.

“He’s built for these big moments,” said Teoscar Hernández, whose seventh inning homer eventually proved to be the difference. “He is a legend.”

Kershaw was at his best when the Dodgers' best was needed, and in doing so he brought sanity back to the National League West and old-fashioned hardball back to a series that had become cheap and unseemly.

In these two teams’ seven previous meetings this season, the Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit three times, Shohei Ohtani was hit twice, and Roberts and Padres manager Mike Shildt engaged in a brief shoving and shouting match.

The stage was set for more bad blood, but Kershaw, who entered with a career 23-11 record and 2.19 ERA against the Padres, quickly put an end to that. He retired the Padres on a three-up-three-down first inning and efficiently dominated them from there.

“It's a game in August, obviously, it’s not that huge a deal,” Kershaw said. “But the way we were going, it felt like a big game for us and, thankful that we got a win.”

The only possible controversy emerged when Kershaw was removed from the game after just 76 pitches, surprising fans who didn’t have time to give him the proper standing ovation while leaving the game in the shaky hands of the bullpen.

Get used to it. The Dodgers are smartly going to protect the midseason Kershaw in hopes of maximizing the October Kershaw.

“I just think we’ve got to take care of him,” Roberts said. “For Clayton to give us six strong innings of one-run baseball, he did his job, there was no reason to push him more.”

Before the game, Roberts was asked if his struggling team held a players-only meeting. He said that, no, the transparent results of the next week would be the equivalent of any meeting.

“I don’t like to be embarrassed, I don’t think our players do, so this series I’m expecting high intensity and high performance,” Roberts said. “I think in itself, the schedule over the next week, will suffice in lieu of a meeting.”

In an opener that pulled the two teams into a first-place tie, the early results were clear.

High intensity? Check.

High performance? Check.

Clayton Kershaw? Still.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

On a night the Dodgers had a stadium-wide giveaway promotion for the anime show "Demon Slayer," the club slayed a few recently troublesome demons of its own.

In the opening game of this season’s biggest series to date, they finally found a way not to trip over themselves.

By beating the San Diego Padres 3-2 at Dodger Stadium, the club moved back into a tie with the Padres for first place in the National League West.

They got six strong innings from Clayton Kershaw; plus, in a refreshing change of pace, plenty of crisp, clean defense behind him.

Read more:Dodgers' Max Muncy to miss several weeks because of oblique strain

And though a lineup that lost Max Muncy to the injured list with an oblique strain before the game was largely contained by the Padres (who had to go with a bullpen game after scheduled starter Michael King was shelved with a shoulder injury), the Dodgers still managed to break their four-game losing streak thanks to their biggest weakness of late.

For the first time in what felt like several weeks, a scuffling bullpen finally didn’t cough up a late, narrow lead.

The Dodgers (69-53) came into this weekend’s rivalry series reeling in a way that once seemed impossible for this year’s $400-million team.

Since July 4, they were just 12-21. What had been a nine-game division lead then was transformed into a one-game deficit to the Padres, who came to Los Angeles riding high thanks to a monster trade deadline and a recent 14-3 streak.

More dark clouds formed a few hours before first pitch when Muncy (who missed Wednesday’s game with side soreness) was placed on the injured list with a Grade 1 oblique strain, sidelining him for at least the next several weeks.

And though the Dodgers had taken five of seven games from the Padres (69-53) earlier this season, they suddenly felt more like an underdog now, searching for answers to their recently inconsistent offense, unsound fundamentals and untrustworthy bullpen (which had squandered five games in the past two weeks).

“I don't like to be embarrassed. I don't think our players do [either],” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “So this series, I'm expecting high intensity and high performance.”

The Dodgers delivered on both.

Kershaw set the tone, displaying a vintage demeanor even with his ever-diminished stuff. Before the game, he marched through the clubhouse and hunched over his locker, leafing through a scouting report while teammates carefully tip-toed around him. Between innings, he quietly paced in the dugout while avoiding almost any human contact. And when he was atop the mound, he pounded the strike zone and executed pitch after pitch, yielding his only run in the second inning when Ramón Laureano (one of several sizzling San Diego deadline acquisitions) clipped the outside of the left-field foul pole to open the scoring.

“There's just no one more intense or focused than Clayton,” Roberts said. “He has a way of elevating people's focus and play.”

It certainly appeared that way. Defensively, the Dodgers helped Kershaw out by turning several tough plays around the infield — from Freddie Freeman picking a ball in the dirt the second inning, to Alex Freeland and then Kershaw himself making tough plays in the third and fifth, respectively.

At the plate, the Dodgers also managed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the third, after singles from Michael Conforto and Freeland were followed by a popped-up Miguel Rojas bunt that Padres third baseman Manny Machado couldn’t catch with a dive.

The Dodgers didn’t get another hit in the inning, but Shohei Ohtani drove in one run by beating out a potential double-play ball. Mookie Betts then added a go-ahead sacrifice fly.

The score remained 2-1 until Teoscar Hernández belted an opposite-field homer in the seventh, producing a massively important insurance run.

Then, it was up to the bullpen, which was asked to protect the kind of slim late-game lead they’ve squandered all too often during the team’s recent skid.

Ben Casparius pitched a scoreless seventh inning, stranding a two-out double from Jackson Merrill.

Alex Vesia created a jam in the eighth by hitting two batters and loading the bases on a walk. But the Padres only managed one run, with Vesia getting Luis Arraez to hit a sacrifice fly before Blake Treinen came on and retired Manny Machado on a first-pitch pop-up.

In the ninth inning, surprisingly, Roberts didn’t stick with Treinen — who they’ve been wary of using for multiple innings as he continues to work his way back from an early-season elbow injury.

The move might’ve been questionable. But, at long last, the result didn’t backfire.

Alexis Díaz and Jack Dreyer pitched around a single from Merrill in the ninth.

The Dodgers finally held on to a late lead. And after spending the last 48 hours in second place, the team climbed back to the top of the division standings, exorcising the close-game demons that had so dauntingly haunted them over the last several weeks.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It's been a tumultuous season for the Yankees, who sit precariously as the final wild card team even after their win Friday night against the Cardinals.

The same Yankees that were in the World Series less than a year ago, and have kept the same core of players, have underachieved in 2025 and many believe it falls on manager Aaron Boone's shoulders. But Brian Cashman doesn't.

The longtime GM of the Yankees spoke to the media, including The Athletic, prior to Friday's game in St. Louis, and was asked numerous questions, including what he thinks of the job Boone is doing in 2025 and how he's handling the ups and downs of the season.

"The best he can," Cashman said. “I don’t know how any manager, let alone a manager in a big market like New York, speaking of Aaron Boone, I’ve told him many times, how he does the pre- and postgame and navigates that on a daily basis, that’s not easy. It takes a talent in its own right to try to walk through that without losing your cool or getting emotional. He has stayed level-headed and even-keeled. 

"He knows how tough this sport is. He’s invested in these guys heavily, as we all are. Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm and collected. He’s obviously done an amazing job of working through that."

Cashman said he wouldn't be able to do what Boone does in dealing with the media, but in addition to defending Boone with how he handles the large New York market, is how he also manages the players. 

“I’m not an advocate of becoming Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage or John Cena from WWE and providing a power drive to finish off the victim — the victim being someone struggling at the plate, struggling defensively, struggling on the mound," he said. "And now you’re hearing it externally, and their family and friends are all hearing it. Then internally, now, they’re getting piled on also. In many cases, you’ve got to understand what the atmosphere is like.”

Cashman said players require more support in a market like New York and that Boone has the skills to help players get through struggles at the plate or on the field. 

But the Yankees GM is not overlooking the team's struggles over the last few months, which include losing their grasp on the AL East and fighting for their playoff lives. The Yankees are just 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians after Friday's games. 

And while that's good to get into the postseason, Cashman is not delusional about how the team is playing and that they need to right the ship sooner rather than later.

“We’re the defending American League champs trying to re-defend that,” Cashman said. “Obviously, right now, we’re not in control of the division. Our first goal is try to win the American League East and automatically punch the ticket that way. If not, we’ll be fighting to punch a ticket a different way. We have a lot of time on the clock, but not enough time at the same time. I don’t want to misrepresent (that) there’s not urgency, because there is.”

It's gone from bad to worse for the Mets after their latest loss on Friday night.

Now having lost 14 of its last 16 games, with each loss more disappointing than the last, New York has hit a crossroads -- one that requires the players to look themselves in the mirror and decide how they want to finish the season.

For how discouraging the Mets' recent play has been, it's been equally puzzling. After all, this is a team that is littered with talent, has a $339 million payroll and just went all-in at the trade deadline to push them over the top.

What's even more concerning is that the losses lately are not for a lack of effort. Talk to anybody on the team and they'll say everybody is putting in the work and doing the right thing. In fact, it was stressed by nearly every player who spoke after the game, as well as manager Carlos Mendoza.

"At the end of the day, everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do; it’s just the other teams are outplaying us," said Francisco Lindor. "We are all trying to win ballgames and all I can think of right now is that we’re not clicking at the same time and the other team is outplaying us."

How could that be? How is it possible that a team so talented that's putting in the work on a daily basis is getting consistently outplayed, oftentimes by inferior competition?

"It’s tough. We’ve all asked that question and it’s tough to point at one thing," Lindor said.

Consider this: over their last seven games, the Mets have blown leads of six runs, five runs, four runs, two runs (twice) and one run (seven times). They are 1-6 during that stretch.

And on Friday, even with Lindor, the team's catalyst, hitting two home runs, it still wasn't enough.

"I know baseball is weird sometimes and stuff just happens," said Sean Manaea. "At the end of the day, no one’s gonna feel sorry for us, so we just gotta figure it out. This is not where we wanna be and I know we’re way better than this."

After the latest loss, New York is now only six games above .500, six games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East title and just 0.5 game up on the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final wild card spot.

It's been quite the fall from grace and if the Mets want to keep playing baseball in October this season, things need to change in a hurry with just 40 games left in the regular season.

"It’s part of the mountain," Lindor said. "You got to climb the mountain and right now we’re in a very steep part of it. And if we don’t get ourselves together and we don’t push ourselves to be better day in and day out, the mountain is gonna be tough to climb.

"It doesn’t feel good to lose, but we’re staying together and having the conversations. At the end of the day, we spend a lot more time here than we do in our houses, so this is when teams come together and good teams, they turn it around and they go far."

New York still has time to figure things out and because the team played so well earlier in the season, it's allowed them to remain in playoff position despite such a horrendous run.

However, it's no longer just a bad stretch. The sample size is large enough to be concerning.

And if the players that the Mets traded for continue to fail them, talent alone won't be enough to carry them over the finish line.

"As much as this sucks, I feel like guys have been in the league long enough," Manaea said. "It’s part of the game, you grow from it, you learn from it, but at the same time, nothing is given to us. We control our own destiny. It’s not gonna come easy, but we just gotta figure it out."

"We’re still in a place where we can continue to climb and put ourselves in a much better position," Lindor added. "It’s been tough to point at that one thing. At the end of the day, it just comes down to execution."

Meanwhile, Brooks Raley offered a glimmer of hope and is excited to see this season through.

"When [we] come out of this, I mean I know our hair’s gonna be on fire and we’re gonna be ready to go," he said. "We’ll be fired up to win some games in a row and kind of streak some things together... We’ve got lots of baseball left and when it turns, I know it’s gonna be a lot of fun."