Dodgers Dugout: The First Problem Of The Season Has Arrived

Hi, and invited to different version of Dodgers Dugout. My sanction is Houston Mitchell, and it looks for illustration nan Dodgers won’t beryllium needing Tatiana Tate to beryllium a unrecorded trumpeter for a while.

Well, we knew immoderate bad news had to deed nan Dodgers eventually, and it did connected Monday erstwhile they put caller person Edwin Díaz connected nan injured database because of “loose bodies” successful his correct elbow. He will person room and will beryllium retired until sometime aft nan All-Star break.

Díaz signed a three-year, $69-million woody pinch nan Dodgers earlier nan season, and aft a awesome debut, has steadily declined. He has a 10.50 ERA and has fixed up 9 hits and walked 5 successful six innings, striking retired 10. He has 4 saves. Let’s look astatine each game:

March 27 vs. Arizona
1 IP, 0 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, save

March 28 vs. Arizona
1 IP, save

March 31 vs. Cleveland
1 IP, 1 hit, 1 ER, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

April 5 astatine Washington
1 IP, 1 strikeout, save

April 7 astatine Toronto
1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, save

April 10 vs. Texas
1 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, blown save, win

April 19 astatine Colorado
0 IP, 3 hits, 3 ER, 1 walk

We kept proceeding from Díaz and nan Dodgers that he was healthy, but his fastball had mislaid astir 2 miles per hour, and he went 9 days without pitching. The Dodgers are known for not ever being 100% forthcoming astir injuries (I’m beautiful judge their wellness advisor is the Black Knight from “Monty Python and nan Holy Grail”).

And past connected Monday we perceive astir “loose bodies.” Loose bodies successful nan elbow are mini fragments of bony aliases cartilage which are floating successful nan joint.

At nan moment, Díaz joins names that see Don Stanhouse (2-2, 5.04 ERA) and Kirby Yates (4-3, 5.23 ERA) among unspeakable free supplier reliever signings by nan Dodgers. Tanner Scott was unspeakable past season, led nan convention successful blown saves and didn’t transportation successful nan postseason, but has rebounded truthful acold this twelvemonth (of course, it’s still early).

I thought aft Yates and Scott were truthful bad past play that nan Dodgers would hold a while earlier offering large money to a reliever. But no. You person to fig they will beryllium awkward now.

Of course, Díaz could retrieve from this and travel backmost to beryllium a awesome closer. But correct now, yikes.

So who will beryllium nan caller closer? The conjecture present is that Dave Roberts will spell pinch whoever nan matchups dictate. Their champion relievers this play person been Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer and Scott. Blake Treinen sounded good until his past outing. Same pinch Will Klein.

So, looks for illustration different play of bullpen uncertainty. We should each beryllium utilized to it by now. But conscionable think: Closer injured, Mookie Betts injured, Kyle Tucker not hitting arsenic expected and nan Dodgers are still 16-6 (on gait to triumph 118 games) and person nan champion grounds successful baseball.

And of people those pesky San Diego Padres are correct location pinch them astatine 15-7, nan third-best grounds successful baseball.

Welcome, Jake Eder

The Dodgers brought left-hander Jake Eder up from nan minors to switch Díaz. Eder, 27, was pinch nan Angels past season, wherever he went 0-1 pinch a 4.91 ERA successful 18 1/3 innings, stepping 9 and striking retired 15. He was selected retired of Vanderbilt successful nan 4th information of nan 2020 draught by nan Miami Marlins.

Of course, we cognize 1 point if he’s pinch nan Dodgers, and judge enough: He missed nan 2022 play aft Tommy John surgery. The Marlins traded him to nan White Sox successful 2023 and he had an 11.42 ERA successful 5 starts successful double A. In 2024, he had a 6.61 ERA successful 24 minor-league starts. His statement was purchased by nan Angels earlier nan 2025 season, and they traded him to Washington connected July 30. The Dodgers purchased his statement connected April 1.

Dalton Rushing is amazing

Dalton Rushing has 12 hits this season. Seven of them are location runs. In 27 at-bats, he is hitting .444/.496/1.296. He is 1 down Max Muncy for nan astir location runs connected nan Dodgers. He is tied for 4th successful nan NL successful homers, but everyone he is tied pinch aliases trailing has astatine slightest 50 much sheet appearances.

He has 13 RBIs, tied for 3rd connected nan squad pinch Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández, trailing Andy Pages (21) and Freddie Freeman (14). They each person astatine slightest 50 much sheet appearances.

At this point, I’d play him each time until Freeman comes backmost from paternity time off and powerfully see starting him astatine DH erstwhile Shohei Ohtani is nan starting pitcher. This tally won’t past forever, but mightiness arsenic good thrust it retired while you can.

Davey Lopes remembered

I’m a small down connected this, but nan Dodgers honored Davey Lopes earlier nan first location crippled they played aft he died. They played a video and had a infinitesimal of soundlessness for him.

I deliberation he deserves a spot connected nan uniform, but, nan Dodgers must deliberation otherwise.

Charley Steiner says thanks

After nan past newsletter, wherever readers gave their champion wishes and shared their favourite Charley Steiner moments, Steiner sent on nan following:

“This has each been truthful very flattering. I’m emotion amended and stronger. The messages were truthful kind, flattering and overwhelming.”

Up next

Tuesday: Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 2-1, 2.10 ERA) astatine San Francisco (Landen Roupp, 3-1, 2.38 ERA), 6:45 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Wednesday: Dodgers (Shohei Ohtani, 2-0, 0.50 ERA) astatine San Francisco (Tyler Mahle, 0-3, 7.23 ERA), 6:45 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Thursday: Dodgers (Tyler Glasnow, 2-0, 3.24 ERA) astatine San Francisco (Logan Webb, 2-2, 5.40 ERA), 12:45 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

*-left-handed

In lawsuit you missed it

Dodgers person Edwin Díaz to acquisition surgery, will return aft All-Star break

Rick Monday connected redeeming an American emblem astatine Dodger Stadium: ‘I get letters each week’

Shaikin: Rick Monday saved an American emblem successful 1976. Why nan infinitesimal resonates 50 years later

Behind nan scenes of a milestone Make-A-Wish acquisition pinch nan Dodgers

And finally

Vin Scully discusses what he does to hole for a game. Watch and perceive here.

Until adjacent time....

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