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Dave Roberts has walked this tightrope before.

Managing big-name closers at the back end of his bullpen. Watching them struggle with performances far below expectations. Having to figure out how much leash he is willing to extend, and when the time for a change is ultimately needed.

“Every year, when somebody’s struggling, [people are] always like, ‘You gotta take them out. You gotta move the role,’” Roberts said in an interview with The California Post on Friday. “But, no matter what, I have to be the person that doesn’t overreact. I have to wait longer than everyone wants to. I have to.”

That, indeed, is the position in which Roberts finds himself once again this season, trying to manage $69 million offseason signing Edwin Díaz through what has become a prolonged 2026 slump.

On Thursday, the veteran closer who was hand-picked this offseason by the club to address its ninth-inning problems instead delivered nothing but further late-game headaches.

He squandered a two-run lead in the Dodgers’ 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He blew his third save opportunity since returning from a three-month absence following a late April elbow procedure. He saw his ERA rise over 11.00 and calls for his demotion from the closer role grow deafening.

On Friday night, Díaz returned to the mound and converted a save in the Dodgers’ 3-1 win, but not before loading the bases on a hit-batter and two walks and needing clutch defensive plays behind him from Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández to escape.

“It wasn’t pretty. I watched the inning too,” Roberts said afterward. “But he found a way to make a pitch when he needed to.”

Thus, his tenure as Dodgers closer will live to see another day.

Really, Díaz’s spot in the ninth was not under imminent threat, at least not yet.

In the wake of Thursday’s loss, Roberts made that much clear with a defiant answer when asked about a possible switch.

While the skipper cited Díaz’s track record for the decision –– the 32-year-old is a three-time All-Star and Reliever of the Year Award winner –– he also made a rhetorical comment that enflamed an already frustrated fan base.

“Give me another option,” Roberts snapped when asked about potentially removing Díaz from the closer role. “I have to have other options. And to be quite honest, none of those [other] guys really are throwing the baseball great. So that’s just kind of the way it is.”

Statistically, of course, pretty much everyone in the Dodgers’ bullpen has been more productive than Díaz this year.

That’s been especially true of their top two left-handers: Tanner Scott, a fellow big-money signing two winters ago who lost the closer’s role during a disastrous 2025 campaign, but has bounced back this year by posting a 2.20 ERA with 16 saves (most of which he accumulated during Díaz’s stint on the injured list); and Alex Vesia, who has a 2.79 ERA across a team-high 54 appearances this season.

“The body of work for Tanner, Vesia … I get it, I see it,” Roberts said Friday, softening his tone during his pregame interview with the California Post.

However, Roberts noted there were other factors at play.

Reiterating his point from Thursday, he noted that the rest of the bullpen hasn’t been sharp recently, with Vesia’s walk rate spiking and Scott missing fewer bats and giving up more hard contact (including a near-home run to Christian Yelich in the eighth inning on Thursday).

More than that, Roberts added after a day of reflection, he simply wasn’t ready to pull the plug on Díaz closing games yet, either.

“I’m willing to, at some point,” Roberts conceded. “I just don’t want to do it now. Because there’s a part of it where, I need to show him that I believe in him [and] what he signed up for –– until I can’t.”

Roberts had to make similar calculations with Scott last year, and Craig Kimbrel back in 2022.

Both of them had been brought in via blockbuster deals to fill voids at closer. Both eventually lost their ninth-inning jobs by the end of the season.

With Díaz, however, the Dodgers are still confident in reaching a different outcome, hopeful they’ve found something in his delivery to rectify his inconsistent season.

Díaz’s arm angle has dropped considerably this year, from 19 degrees a season ago (and 23 degrees during his peak years with the Mets) down to 15 degrees in the 14 outings he had made entering Friday.

Because of that, the right-hander’s pitches had lost their usual shape. His slider was too flat, lacking enough late downward bite to keep hitters from squaring it up. His fastball wasn’t riding up in the zone either, lacking its typically deceptive rising movement and too often staying in the heart of the plate.

“I’m too east-to-west, instead of north-south,” Díaz told the California Post of his pitch shapes.

Dodgers coaches addressed the problem with Díaz before Friday’s game, reveiwing film of his mechanics from past seasons and identifying a posture tweak to get his arm back in the right place.

“My upper body is sometimes leaning too much to third base,” Díaz told the California Post. “So I’m trying to stay up [with my upper body] when I throw the ball.”

Assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness then filmed each throw Díaz made during afternoon catch play in the outfield, coming away encouraged that progress was already being made.

“When I’m north-south, I can see the hitters don’t have a chance,” Díaz said. “Today I made a lot of good pitches north to south. Even the ones I was missing, I was throwing my slider down.”

For now, that will have to count as a step forward for Díaz –– who overcame his shaky command to end the game on a well-executed 98 mph fastball that jammed Joey Ortiz on the inside corner.

“I wanted to see him try to fight through it and get through it,” Roberts said, “so I was happy that he finished what he started.”

In the coming days, the Dodgers’ goal will be to further refine his mechanics and get his delivery back where it used to be.

In the coming weeks, they’re banking on it being enough to help him turn the page on his season, and cement what remains a currently tenuous hold on the team’s all-important ninth-inning duties.

“Hopefully with a couple days off to work through [his delivery changes],” Roberts said, “we’ll see a better version [of him] going forward.”

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Roderick Arias’ path as a minor leaguer since getting a $4 million signing bonus from the New York Yankees in January of 2022 has been anything but smooth. Wrist and thumb injuries virtually ruined his first two pro seasons, and he was wildly inconsistent at the plate, too, but if you could look past the low batting averages and the high strikeout totals, there were some loud tools.

You could say Arias’ prospect status hit rock bottom in 2025. He slashed .208/.325/.315 with a 28.8 percent strikeout rate and an 88 wRC+ The 34 stolen bases were nice, but just 7 homers in 465 plate appearances were quite disappointing for the switch-hitting infielder. Arias entered 2025 as one of the organization’s top prospects and he fell precipitously in the aftermath.

The 2026 campaign, however, has brought some tangible growth. Before Friday’s game, Arias hit .274/.357/.447 with 13 home runs, 32 thefts, and a 110 wRC+ between High-A and Double-A. He had a .271/.357/.441 line with a
108 wRC+ with the Renegades and is at .306/.359/.500 with a 130 wRC+ in nine games with the Patriots, albeit with a 30.8 percent strikeout rate.

Yes, there are still plenty of red flags. Yes, he still has a lot to prove. However, perhaps it’s time we start paying closer attention to the kid.

Arias’ 2026 started much like his entire 2025: filled with all-around mediocrity. He was hitting .191/.297/.268 with a 57 wRC+ and a 29.7 percent strikeout rate from the start of the season through the end of May, in 44 games and 182 plate appearances.

You won’t believe how good he has been since the start of June, though: a .333/.401/.575 line, a .976 OPS, a 149 wRC+, 16 doubles, and 11 home runs in 252 plate appearances and 58 games: 49 in High-A and nine in Double-A. Basically, his excellent run of form in Hudson Valley is carrying over to Somerset.

Perhaps the most significant development is that he appears to have figured out that right-handed swing against lefties. Here are Arias’ year-to-year OPS splits against southpaws and righties in the minors:

2022: .295 vs. lefties, .898 vs. righties
2023: .432 vs. lefties, .985 vs. righties
2024: .544 vs. lefties, .776 vs. righties
2025: .547 vs. lefties, .663 vs. righties
2026: .852 vs. lefties, .793 vs. righties

Now, Arias is a dangerous hitter from both sides of the plate, which significantly raises his ceiling and increases his chances of making the majors at some point. To be completely honest, he did look like a bust after his rough 2025, but prospect development is not linear and allows us to enjoy stories like Arias’.

There are a few things to consider before crowning him the next best middle infield prospect on the Yankees. Renowned publication Baseball America didn’t include Arias on their Top 30 organizational midseason list, and he is not on MLB Pipeline’s either, despite some prospects the Yankees traded away not being in the picture anymore. There’s a reason why scouts and evaluators remain skeptical: Arias’ contact rates and consistency are definitely not MLB-ready yet. In the words of former Pinstripe Alley writer Smith Brickner, “It’s Spencer Jones-like whiff without Spencer Jones-like batted ball damage.”

Additionally, he has made a lot of errors on defense this year: 17 as a third baseman (his primary position this year, at least in High-A) and five as a shortstop. Reports from when he was a top prospect praised his quickness, instincts, smooth actions, and, above all things, his plus-plus arm, but he has become error-prone, and it’s not just this year. He is still capable of doing this, though:

Despite the red flags and the inconsistency, Arias’ overall outlook has definitely improved this year after his rough opening months. He is back on the map, which tells us he is a fighter and won’t go down easily in the quest to fulfill his dream. He’ll be 22 in September, so he still has youth on his side.

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The Boston Red Sox (-130) have stumbled over the last week but are rightfully favored against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who own a poor 29-39 record against teams over .500.

My Red Sox vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks see Boston rebounding tonight on the back of quality start from Sonny Gray.

Who will win Red Sox vs Pirates today: Boston Red Sox (-130)

Sonny Gray ranks in the 81st percentile in Pitcher Run Value, and has a nice matchup to build on that against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Their projected lineup has seven hitters with xwOBAs of .330 or lower – and six with ISOs below .125 – against right-handed pitching the last 20 games.

Jared Jones has allowed a .321 average and 14 runs over his past three starts, and will have a tough time slowing down the Boston Red Sox.

I’d back the Red Sox on the moneyline up to -140.

COVERS INTEL: Gray ranks second in hard hit percentage allowed on the road among today's 20 qualified starters, setting him up to limit Pittsburgh's power.

Red Sox vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 8.0 (-120)

Gray is a unique arm in that he throws three pitches more frequently than the fastball. That should set him up for success against the Pirates, who own a .286 average and 11.9% barrel rate against fastballs.

They haven’t enjoyed nearly as much success against Gray’s primaries. They've posted a 3.9% barrel rate vs. the sinker, and have hit .235 or worse against sliders and cutters. Not good.

Boston does not hit for much power against the fastball, and Jones’ 95th percentile average fastball velocity will help him neutralize it.

Bet to -130.

Red Sox vs Pirates home run prediction: Wilder Abreu (+400)

Wilyer Abreu was built in a lab to hit Jones.

Jones throws a ton of fastballs and sliders, and Abreu owns ISOs of .227 and .484 against those pitches when facing righties.

Abreu is also in fantastic form, ranking in the 99th percentile in ISO vs. right-handed pitching the past 20 games.

Abreu has left the yard in 28.6% of away games against pitchers in the 50th percentile or worse in HR/9 vs. LHH. I’d play this to +360.

Red Sox vs Pirates weather

The forecast calls for temperatures hovering around 80 with slight winds blowing inwards. Neutral impact.

Red Sox vs Pirates odds

• Moneyline: Boston -130 | Pittsburgh +110
• Run line: Boston -1.5 (+135) | Pittsburgh +1.5 (-155)
• Over/Under: Over 8.0 (+100) | Under 8.0 (-120)

Red Sox vs Pirates trend

Boston has hit the moneyline in 29 of their last 45 games (+12.25 units, 23% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Pirates.

How to watch Red Sox vs Pirates and game info

Red Sox vs Pirates latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

1919
The ill-fated Chicago Nine had a solid, four-game lead in the delayed-start season, boasting a 62-39 record. And a 6-5 walk-off win in 11 innings vs. the Red Sox kicked off a 10-game winning streak to pad that pennant lead. Shano Collins was ploinked by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Swede Risberg made the death blow swift for the Carmines after pushing a triple down the right-field line. The true hero of the game for the White Sox might well have been ace Eddie Cicotte, who threw 1 ⅔ innings of relief to earn the win after getting shelled in his start the previous day and just five days after throwing 12 innings at Washington.

The 10-game winning streak was further kick-started with another walk-off win over Boston the next day, this time won in regulation on a Ray Schalk squeeze bunt with the sacks packed.

1922
In front of 2,500 at Fenway Park, the Soxes White and Red set an AL record with 35 singles in a 19-11 Chicago win. The White Sox had 21 of the one-baggers, Boston 14. The two clubs had 43 hits total (25 Chicago, 18 Boston) and were a combined 23-of-39 with runners in scoring position.

Eddie Mulligan and Earl Sheely led the White Sox with three singles apiece (Sheely added a double), with Boston’s Joe Harris and Mike Minosky matching the one-bagging feat for the Red Sox.

The White Sox actually trailed this one, 10-8, after Boston put up a seven-run sixth. But the South Siders scored 11 in the final three frames, including their own seven-spot in the ninth, to make it a laffer. Ted Blankenship wound up getting the win in relief, with Red Faber picking up the save.

The 19-run output remains tied for 12th all-time in White Sox history.

1925
After enduring a rainout at Yankee Stadium on August 13 and a travel day by train back home to Chicago on August 14, Ray Schalk finally was able to set the all-time games caught record (1,613 games) during a 12-5 win over Detroit.

Schalk went 1-for-2 in the game with a walk, and also threw out the only base-stealer attempting against him. He also was reunited with Dickey Kerr, who made his White Sox comeback four years after being put on baseball’s restricted list for refusing a Charles Comiskey salary cut after the 1922 season. Kerr relieved Red Faber, who was knocked out of the box after just two innings.

Schalk held the MLB games caught record until 1939, and remained the AL record-holder until 1945.

1960
The dreams of a repeat White Sox pennant were getting fainter into the dog days of August, and indeed with a 4-1 loss to Detroit, the White Sox fell out of first place, never to return in 1960.

The 1960 White Sox would spend a total of 31 days in first place, mostly for a big chunk of May. However, after falling back as far as fifth in mid-June, the club scratched back into first in July and on-and-off into August. But by season’s end, the White Sox had fallen to third place at 87-67, 10 games back of the Yankees.

1973
White Sox GM Roland Hemond acquired starting pitcher Jim Kaat on waivers from Minnesota. All “Kitty” did was become a two-time 20-game winner for the White Sox in 1974 and 1975. Those two seasons ended up being the best of the future Hall-of-Famer’s career. In 1975, he made the All-Star team and finished fourth in AL Cy Young race, compiling a career-best 7.7 WAR.

In 92 career appearances and 87 starts over two-plus years in Chicago, Kaat won 45 games and had 15.3 WAR.

1986
GM Ken Harrelson’s stabs at signing longtime veterans to the roster continued. Just three days after inking legendary Steve Carlton to finish the year out in the White Sox rotation, Harrelson grabbed slugger George Foster. Foster had been released by the New York Mets after a poor 1986, but was just one year removed from a .792 OPS and 121 OPS+.

Foster made a splash with his new team, homering in the second at-bat of his debut, part of a 2-for-4 night during a loss to the Brewers at Comiskey Park, 4-3.

However, Foster’s career was coming to an end, as he was released just three weeks later, playing in just 15 games with the White Sox. That homer in his debut proved to be his very last in the majors.

1996
White Sox first-rounder Bobby Seay was declared a free agent because the team failed to offer a formal contract within 15 days of the draft. He was reportedly asking for a $2 million signing bonus, which would have been a record for the time, and refused to negotiate with GM Ron Schueler when he flew down to see him in Florida — directing him to talk with his agent, Scott Boras. 

The southpaw became the first player in the 32 years of the draft to become a free agent in the same summer he was selected. Seay signed with Tampa Bay in October for $3 million, made his MLB debut six years later, and would end up with 3.0 WAR in his career.

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The Houston Astros are -125 favorites to best an ice cold Seattle Mariners team that has dropped eight of its past 10 games.

With Houston playing its best ball of the season, my Mariners vs. Astros predictions and MLB picks are happy to back the home team at a very reasonable price.

Who will win Mariners vs Astros today: Houston Astros (-125)

Emerson Hancock is somewhat of a home merchant. He owns a 3.26 xFIP in Seattle compared to a 4.71 xFIP on the road.

He’ll have his hands full against a Houston Astros side sitting eighth in wOBA vs. righties over the past month – in a more favorable hitting environment, at that.

The Seattle Marinersslot 28th in wOBA against righties over the same period, and rank tied for last in runs scored.

They’ll make life a little easier on Hayden Wesneski, giving the Astros a strong chance of getting a win.

Back Houston to -135.

COVERS INTEL:Hancock's 24th percentile ranking in hard hit percentage is likely to lead to trouble against an Astros attack sitting fifth in SLG vs. RHP the past three weeks.

Mariners vs Astros Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-110)

Hancock has not only benefited from plenty of starts in Seattle, but a relatively soft schedule. 

Just four of 16 appearances have come against Top-10 offenses in ISO vs. righties. He didn’t hold up in those games, posting a 5.32 ERA. That includes a game where he conceded three runs to the Astros over five innings of work.

Wesneski ranks in the 16th percentile in xSLG and 12th percentile in xwOBA. Those are alarming numbers considering he has only faced the Angels, Blue Jays, and Giants – three bad offenses.

Bet the Over to -125.

Mariners vs Astros home run prediction: Taylor Trammell (+625)

Taylor Trammell is hammering the baseball. He leads the Astros in ISO and SLG while barreling the ball at an astronomical 40% clip over the last 20 games.

He is striking out a ton while chasing power, but it’s hard to argue with a sky-high barrel rate and average distance of 340 feet over that period of time.

Of the four pitches Trammell has seen at least 7% of the time, the two he owns the highest ISO against are Hancock’s two most frequent pitches vs. LHH: the fastball and sinker.

Bet to +600.

Mariners vs Astros weather

This game will be played in a dome.

Mariners vs Astros odds

• Moneyline: Seattle +105 | Houston -125
• Run line: Seattle +1.5 (-190) | Houston -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)

Mariners vs Astros trend

Houston has won 16 of its last 22 games (+7.45 units, 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Astros.

How to watch Mariners vs Astros and game info

Mariners vs Astros latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country.

Earlier this week I asked you a Cubs-related question in the SB Nation Reacts survey, but we’re going to start this one with the national question asked of everyone, not just BCB readers:

So it looks like Pete Crow-Armstrong has the attention not only of all Cubs fans, but of baseball fans nationwide. This is a significant result — Shohei Ohtani has won the last two NL MVP awards and four MVP’s overall in his career, but it appears that voters in this survey discounted Ohtani’s 2026 season for a couple of reasons.

First, obviously, is the fact that he’s not pitching at this time (although this article indicates he might return before the regular season is over). While Ohtani pitched very well in the 14 starts he did make — 1.79 ERA, 0.946 WHIP, 3.0 bWAR — that doesn’t appear enough for folks voting in this survey. Also, while Ohtani is having a good offensive season, batting .290/.390/.540 with 27 home runs in 113 games, it’s not quite as great as the two previous years, when he topped 50 home runs in both seasons. Ohtani isn’t stealing bases anymore either, with just seven this year.

Meanwhile, PCA enters Saturday’s action batting .279/.378/.534, pretty close to Ohtani’s slash line, and also has 27 home runs. He’s also recorded 30 steals and seems likely to have his second straight 30/30 season. Then there’s the defense, and as noted in this post in The Feed, is at the top of SABR rankings in fielding for the year to date. Overall PCA has 7.3 bWAR, leading all MLB players, and is also atop all MLB players in fWAR with 7.8.

PCA is in a bit of a hitting funk right now, 0-for-8 in his last two games, but we have seen him come out of these dry spells with good offensive stretches many times. Hopefully that starts today.

Now, here’s the question I asked you here at BCB earlier this week:

With the caveat that it’s still six weeks till the postseason begins, I think this is the correct answer. Matthew Boyd has been remarkably good since he returned from that freak knee injury. Over that span of nine starts: 2.43 ERA, 1.186 WHIP, and the Cubs won eight of the nine games. Overall this year the Cubs are 11-3 in the 14 games Boyd has started.

Maybe the Cubs don’t have an official “ace,” but that is certainly ace-type pitching.

Boyd takes the mound Saturday afternoon against the Cardinals. Let’s hope that continues.

This edition of SB Nation Reacts is sponsored by FanDuel.

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (62-55) won 1-0 (BOX SCORE)

Burrows made a rehab start and was solid tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts. The offense got on the board in the 7th inning on a Loperfido sacrifice fly. Nezuh tossed 4 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts as he closed out the 1-0 win for Sugar Land.

Note: Nezuh has 105 strikeouts over 88 innings this season.

• Ray Delgado, 2B: 1-for-4, R, 2B
• Joey Loperfido, RF: 0-for-3, RBI
• CJ Alexander, 1B: 1-for-3

• Mike Burrows, RHP: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (WIN)

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (52-60) lost 1-0 (BOX SCORE)

Tredwell started for the Hooks and allowed one run over 3.2 innings while striking out three batters. Marrero got the final out for the 4th and then was relieved by DeVos who was dominant. DeVos tossed 4 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts to keep it a 1-0 game. The offense struggled all night collecting just four hits as they fell 1-0.

Note: DeVos has a 1.93 ERA in Double-A.

• Trevor Austin, LF: 2-for-4, 2B
• Walker Janek, C: 1-for-4

• Alonzo Tredwell, RHP: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
• Andrew Marrero, RHP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Nolan DeVos, RHP: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (38-72) won 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Moss RBI single. They got 2 more runs in the 3rd scoring 2 on a wild pitch and an error. Oakes started for Asheville and allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, over 4.2 innings. In the 5th, Powell tied the game on a 2 run home run. Walker gave Asheville the lead with a solo home run in the 6th. The pen was solid tossing 4.1 scoreless as they closed out the 6-5 win.

Note: Moss is hitting .358 in Asheville.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 1-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SB
• Xavier Neyens, 3B: 0-for-1, R, 2 BB
• Caden Powell, RF: 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Jack Moss, 1B: 2-for-4, RBI
• Kyle Walker, 2B: 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB
• John Garcia, C: 2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 SB
• Hector Salas, 3B: 1-for-3, R, BB, SB

• Kellan Oakes, RHP: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (WIN)
• Colby Langford, LHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (SAVE)

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (57-52) won 13-11 (BOX SCORE)

Beck got the start for the Woodpeckers and allowed 2 runs, both in the first inning, over 5 innings while striking out 6 batters. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the third inning scoring 2 runs on Tryon and Cauro RBI singles. In the 4th inning, the offense scored 3 runs on a Hughes 2 run double and Alvarez RBI single. Piasecki added a sac fly in the 5th. Forcucci came on for the 6th inning but struggled allowing 6 runs while walking 4 and retiring just two batters. The offense rallied in the bottom of the 6th scoring 4 runs on a sac fly, two on an error and a wild pitch. The Nationals rallied in the 8th scoring 2 runs to tie it at 10. The offense would respond again getting an Alvarez RBI double and Tryon 2 run single to take the lead. The pen was taxed but Nigh was able to get the final out in the 13-11 win.

Note: Hughes is hitting .333 through four games.

• Kam Durnin, SS: 2-for-4, 3 R, 2 BB, SB
• Logan Hughes, DH: 1-for-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB
• Kevin Alvarez, CF: 3-for-6, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Ben Tryon, RF: 4-for-5, R, 2 RBI, BB
• Carlos Cauro, 1B: 1-for-6, RBI
• Owen Nowak, LF: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Arturo Flores, C: 3-for-3, R, 3 BB
• Aaron Piasecki, 2B: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI
• Brandon Nigh, 3B: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB

• Jagger Beck, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
• Ryan Forcucci, RHP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
• Leomar Rosario, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Mick Uebelhor, RHP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Taz Butler, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (WIN)
• Brandon Nigh, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Bryce Mayer – 7:05 CT

CC: Andrew Taylor – 6:05 CT

AV: Parker Smith – 5:05 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

The forecast was optimistic.

Provided that Shohei Ohtani doesn’t experience any setbacks from his 34-pitch mound session on Friday, he will throw another bullpen session or two, after which will face hitters a couple of times in simulated games.

“Then,” manager Dave Roberts said, “I would see him in a major league game.”

Ohtani’s potential return to pitching has to be a welcome development for the Dodgers, who are being reminded what it’s like to not have the two-way player in their rotation.

Ohtani last pitched in a game on July 3, but that’s only part of the problem.

His absence from the mound has forced the Dodgers to reduce the number of relievers on their active roster from eight to seven, which in turn has contributed to their firemen resembling arsonists in many of their recent games.

“Essentially,” Roberts said, “all of our relievers are overworked right now.”

The predicament in which the Dodgers now find themselves explains why they are as supportive as they are of Ohtani’s efforts to pitch again.

Because of Major League Baseball’s roster rules, when Ohtani is pitching, the Dodgers have an edge over other teams that can be, well, Ohtani-sized. 

Ohtani is expected to spend the remainder of the regular season gradually building up his arm strength, and that will limit the degree to which the Dodgers will be able to benefit from the Ohtani Rule. However, his status as a pitcher could provide them with a massive advantage in future seasons, which is why they need him to remain a two-way player for as long as he can.

Ohtani playing both ways will influence not only how the Dodgers construct their rosters but also how their players perform.

As was the case this year.

Here’s why: From opening day to Aug. 31, teams must have 26 players on their active roster. Of them, as many as 13 of them can be pitchers.(Rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, with the maximum number of pitchers increasing to 14.)

Since Ohtani is classified as a two-way player, he doesn’t count against his team’s total number of pitchers. The Dodgers can therefore have 13 pitchers other than Ohtani.

For most of the season, that meant the Dodgers could have a roster that included a six-man starting rotation and eight-man bullpen, which led to Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell calling the Ohtani Rule “a bad rule.”

Dodgers starters pitched once every six or seven days instead of the customary five or six. The extra day between their starts helped them pitch deeper into games, and that limited the bullpen’s workload.

Everything changed when Ohtani went down with a sore knee.

The Dodgers were suddenly forced to choose between carrying a sixth starter or eighth reliever.  They couldn’t have both.

“We’ve missed that,” Roberts said.

Initially, the Dodgers went with five starters. When Blake Snell returned from the injured list, they returned to a six-man rotation.

“The six-man rotation is something we are kind of beholden to,” Roberts said.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is only three seasons removed from pitching in the Japanese league, and Roki Sasaki two. Yamamoto and Sasaki generally pitched once a week in their home country.

Roberts acknowledged the Dodgers could use an extra reliever, particularly now when they are near the end of a 13-day stretch in which they will play 13 games.

“It’s tough to navigate,” Roberts said. “We have a seven-man pen in the middle of 13 in a row.”

In the postseason, active rosters will consist of 26 players, including 13 pitchers – and that’s why the Dodgers will take whatever Ohtani can give them from the mound.

When Ohtani resumes pitching, he will be deployed as an opener. He will pitch an inning in his first start or two, two innings after that, and so forth. The Dodgers plan to bring him along at a deliberate pace, which could limit how stretched out he will be for the playoffs.

But even if Ohtani can pitch only an inning or two per game as an opener, that’s still an inning or two they won’t have to be covered by any of the team’s eight relievers. 

And by pitching this year, Ohtani will be positioning himself to pitch again next season. If he’s pitching, Yamamoto and Sasaki could stay on schedules in which they pitch once every six or seven days. But if Ohtani isn’t pitching, Yamamoto and Sasaki could have to pitch with less time between starts.

On the surface, that might not seem like much. It’s just a day a week, after all. But as the Dodgers’ recent troubles have shown, little things can add up to make a big difference.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was evaluated for a concussion after a knee-to-the-head collision with New York shortstop George Lombard Jr. on Aug. 14. The incident forced Guerrero Jr. to leave the game early under protocol during the Blue Jays’ 3-1 victory over the Yankees.

The play unfolded when George Springer hit a sharp bouncer to third base. Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon fielded the ball and forced out Nathan Lukes at third before firing a quick throw to first.

McMahon’s throw to first was mishandled by Luis García Jr., who lost his glove in the scramble. Seizing the opportunity, Guerrero Jr. dashed toward third base, leaped in an attempt to beat the throw, and was inadvertently kneed in the head mid-air by Lombard Jr. as he slid in safely.

Guerrero’s helmet flew off, but he managed to scramble home to score. Following the hectic play, Guerrero Jr. admitted to having a slight headache and was immediately removed from the game as a precaution.

Guerrero Jr., who had only recently returned to the lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury, is now listed as day-to-day while undergoing concussion protocol. The Blue Jays have not yet provided an update on his status ahead of their Aug. 15 afternoon game against the Yankees.