Latest news with #NationalLeagueWest
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dodgers 'Scouring Market' For Left-Handed Bench Bat
Dodgers 'Scouring Market' For Left-Handed Bench Bat originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in great shape, sitting atop the National League West with a 36 and 22 record. They are three games ahead of the San Diego Padres for first place in the West. But despite being in a good position, the Dodgers still have needs to address leading up to the MLB trade deadline. Advertisement According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Dodgers are in the market for more offensive help. "The Dodgers," Nightengale wrote, "are scouring the market for a left-handed hitting bat off the bench." The Dodgers' batting order is among the best in baseball. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, Michael Conforto, Dalton Rushing, and Hyeseong Kim are all left-handed batters. While that group is great, the Dodgers are reportedly looking to add depth as a left-handed hitting bench bat. While there will be plenty of intriguing names available at the trade deadline, the Dodgers' target will be one lower on the totem pole. Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto (23), center fielder Hyeseong Kim (6), and right fielder Andy Pages (44) celebrate after the final out of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Adding a bench-bat, and a left-handed hitting one specifically, would give the Dodgers more flexibility on their bench. Advertisement While not a major issue, the Dodgers still could use more depth from their left-handed hitters. The Dodgers don't need a star lefty hitter, as Ohtani and Freeman are more than enough. But the left-handed hitting depth is a concern. Conforto is batting just .173, while Muncy had been struggling before his 7 RBI onslaught against the New York Yankees. For their right-handed hitting depth, Enrique Hernandez, Miguel Rojas, and Andy Pages have all been solid contributors when necessary. Nightengale's report doesn't name any specific targets, but he does report that the Dodgers are looking around for a left-handed hitting batter. It's not the most pressing issue for the Dodgers, but it is one to monitor as the trade deadline approaches. Advertisement Related: Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge Make MLB History in Dodgers-Yankees Showdown Related: Dodgers Fans Upset Over Mookie Betts News Before Yankees Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MLB Sends Clear Message After Yankees-Dodgers Series
MLB Sends Clear Message After Yankees-Dodgers Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The weekend series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up Sunday night. The Yankees took the finale with a 7–3 win, but the Dodgers claimed the series victory. Advertisement Across the three games, the two storied franchises combined for 43 runs, putting on an offensive showcase for fans on both coasts. Both teams finished the high-profile matchup leading their respective divisions. The Yankees improved to 36–22, holding a 5.5-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. The Dodgers sit at 36-23, two games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West. Following the series, Major League Baseball summed up the buzz surrounding the rematch with a clear message: "The highly-anticipated 2024 World Series rematch did not disappoint." Last October, the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the 2024 World Series, winning in five games. Los Angeles had 98 regular-season wins, while New York posted 94. Though the Dodgers won the series 4-1, the series included a dramatic start where LA took the first three games before the Yankees avoided a sweep with a Game 4 win. Freddie Freeman earned World Series MVP honors after launching four home runs during the series, including a walk-off grand slam that won Game 1 for the Dodgers. Advertisement This weekend's matchup brought plenty of star power once again. Both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, last season's league MVPs, delivered fireworks in the opener. Each homered in the first inning Friday, and Ohtani added another blast later in the game. The Dodgers rallied with six unanswered runs to secure an 8–5 win. Shohei Ohtani and Michael Conforto of the Los Angeles J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Saturday's game turned into a rout. The Dodgers erupted for 21 hits, including two three-run home runs from Max Muncy, who drove in seven runs in total. LA scored 10 runs over the first two innings and kept piling on, eventually winning 18-2. Ohtani went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Judge tallied three hits in a losing effort. Sunday's game saw both Ohtani and Judge go hitless, but DJ LeMahieu stepped up for New York. The veteran infielder collected four hits, helping the Yankees to 11 total hits and six walks in the 7-3 victory. Advertisement This was the only regular-season meeting between the Yankees and Dodgers. The Yankees now head home for six straight games at Yankee Stadium, starting Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians. The Dodgers stay in Los Angeles to host the New York Mets in a four-game set beginning Monday night. Related: Shohei Ohtani Reacts to Dodgers' Max Muncy Announcement Related: Shohei Ohtani's Behavior During Dodgers' Blowout Over Yankees Catches Attention This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Will Matt Chapman play tonight against San Diego Padres? Latest update on San Francisco Giants star's injury report (June 2, 2025)
Image Source: Getty As the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres were set for a clash on June 2, 2025, anything Matt Chapman-related was bound to pique the curiosity of the fans, for he is their premier third baseman. After undergoing a collision during a game that could have endangered his physical condition, the question arose as to whether or not the 31-year-old infielder would be able to show up for the all-important division clash tonight. In a battle for division placement in the National League West, the presence of Chapman could sway the outcome. So, is he taking the field? Here's what we know about his state and potential availability for the game. An incident for Matt Chapman's fitness San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman was involved in a collision with Miami Marlins' Liam Hicks during the fifth inning of Sunday's game. Both were converging on the base path when the incident happened, resulting in a short pause in play. Chapman remained in the game after the collision, indicating that any injury was not immediately severe. No official injury report filed Any official report on Matt Chapman's injury by the San Francisco Giants has not yet come to light as of June 2, 2025. He has not been put on any injury list; in addition, nothing has been announced about his availability for tonight's game against the San Diego Padres. With his participation in recent games, Chapman would seem fit for play, but without an official statement, his status remains unconfirmed. Anticipated role of Matt Chapman in tonight's game The Giants are scheduled to play the Padres at 10:00 pm ET on Oracle Park. Since it is such a pivotal contributor to the lineup, and given that there isn't any official injury designation on Chapman, it is pretty much white-listed for the decision: he should be available for selection. Also Read: Matt Chapman net worth 2025: Everything on Giants' money from MLB and other sources It is, however, important to point out that the final decision regarding player participation is usually made right before the game; hence, its fans are advised to keep looking out for the official lineup announcement. To wrap this up, there is a good chance that despite Chapman's recent collision causing some concerns, all implications because of no official injury listing and his demonstrated physical involvement in games suggest his participation tonight. Nonetheless, that will be confirmed when the official lineup is out.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Yoshinobu Yamamoto runs into problems quickly as Yankees thwart Dodgers sweep
Dave Roberts downplayed the easy narrative on Sunday afternoon. 'No,' he said when asked if his Dodgers had the New York Yankees' proverbial number, having followed up their defeat of the Bronx Bombers in last year's World Series with two impressive wins to start this weekend's rematch at Dodger Stadium. 'I think we've had their number the last two nights,' Roberts said, 'but today's a different day.' Was it ever. Twenty-four hours after a total annihilation of the Yankees in an 18-2 rout on Saturday, the Dodgers suffered the kind of setback that has so often plagued them this season, squandering the chance to build momentum in a 7-3 loss that prevented a series sweep. For as complete a performance as the Dodgers (36-23) put together Saturday, they looked equally out of sorts in a Sunday Night Baseball finale, getting a rare bad start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, mistakes on defense and base paths that cost them early runs, and virtually nothing from a lineup that looked largely discomobulated against funky left-hander (and former Dodger) Ryan Yarbrough. They might have come out of the weekend with a marquee series win, continuing to nurse a narrow lead in the National League West standings. But, they invited more scrutiny over their inconsistent start to the season with a finale flop. Yamamoto had been the one constant in the Dodgers' injury-plagued rotation. His 1.97 earned-run average was second in the NL. His 64 innings not only led the team, but were almost twice as many as anyone else besides Dustin May. Yamamoto had an impressive track record against the Yankees (36-22), too, shutting them out over seven innings in New York last June before delivering 6 ⅓ innings of one-run ball in Game 2 of the World Series. On Sunday, however, he couldn't consistently find the strike zone or execute his trademark splitter. And after scoring just two runs in their previous 15 innings in this series, the Yankees finally came to life at the plate. In the first, Trent Grisham singled and Ben Rice walked before Jason Domínguez dumped a line drive into left, driving in a run when Andy Pages airmailed his throw to home plate. In the third, a leadoff walk to Judge was followed by a two-run homer to Rice — Yamamoto missing badly with two splitters in the first at-bat before leaving one hanging in the next. Later in the frame, the Yankees scored again after Yamamoto gave up two singles and spiked a splitter for a run-scoring wild pitch. And with two outs in the fourth, Roberts was walking to the mound to pull Yamamoto, his pitch count having ballooned to 96 on a day he gave up a season-high in hits (seven) and walked three others. It was the first time this year that Yamamoto, whose ERA rose to 2.39, had failed to complete the fifth. The Dodgers faltered in other ways on Sunday, as well. After his first-inning throwing error, Pages made a mistake on the bases in the second inning. Following a one-out double, he was thrown out on an over-aggressive steal of third. That meant that when Tommy Edman homered moments later –– his first long ball in 17 games, snapping him out of a recent funk at the plate –– it was only a solo blast, temporarily tying the game before the Yankees answered in the next half-inning. There would be no counter-punch from there out of the Dodgers' offense, which was missing Mookie Betts for a third-straight game because of a toe fracture (Betts said pregame his toe was starting to feel better, and went through pregame activities in hopes of avoiding a stint on the injured list). Instead, Yarbrough cruised against the team that dealt him away at last year's trade deadline. Even though he never hit 90 mph with his fastball, he induced a string of soft contact while striking out five in a six-inning start. Yarbrough was especially effective against the top of the Dodgers' order, which went a combined 0-for-16 on the day. The Dodgers did show some life after Yarbrough's exit in the seventh, with Pages and Max Muncy each taking reliever Jonathan Loáisgia deep within the space of three at-bats. But by then, it was much too little, much too late –– resulting in the Dodgers' second-straight series in which they failed to complete a sweep, and yet another momentum-halting loss in a season that continues to be plagued by a few too many of them.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Dodgers remind baseball world how good they can be in blowout win over Yankees
It was a statement, a reminder and a warning all wrapped into one. The Dodgers might not have been playing their best baseball entering this weekend's World Series rematch against the New York Yankees. But in a ceaseless offensive onslaught in the opening two innings on Saturday, things seemed to suddenly, profoundly and perhaps permanently change. The Dodgers didn't just beat the Yankees in a nationally televised, late-afternoon contest to clinch a weekend series win at Dodger Stadium. They executed a slaughter in broad daylight. Four runs scored in the first inning. Six more came around in the second. And by the end, their 18-2 victory did more than set up the chance for a sweep in Sunday's series finale. It sent a shot across the bow to the rest of the baseball world, signifying that for all the Dodgers' shortcomings of late, they might finally be clicking into top gear. Granted, the Dodgers haven't exactly been struggling to hit the ball during the first two months of the year. Entering Saturday, they were second in the majors in runs scored, second in OPS and first in batting average. They had been getting monster production from Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith. And, largely on the strength of their lineup, they were leading the National League West, still on a near 100-win pace in their pursuit of a second-consecutive World Series title. Still, over much of the last month, it had felt like something was missing. The team's injury-ravaged pitching staff had put a strain on their recent play, leading to an 11-12 slide entering this weekend's marquee Yankees matchup. And their offense was only picking up so much of the slack, weighed down by early slumps from Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Michael Conforto, as well as inconsistent performances from other bottom-half hitters. It led to a malaise epitomized by a lack of signature moments. Not since knocking off the Detroit Tigers at the start of the regular season had the Dodgers won a series against a legitimate title contender. They were just 10-9 overall against opponents with winning records. Manager Dave Roberts downplayed that notion Friday afternoon. 'We know that we have a good ballclub, and I don't think that us not winning series against X amount of teams with winning records is an indictment on our ballclub,' he said. 'I don't think we're thinking too much about that.' Then again, with the Yankees coming to town as winners of 16 of their previous 20 games, this still felt like something of a litmus test –– even if Betts was out with a fractured toe, and the pitching staff remained far less than full strength. 'We try to win each and every game, of course,' Ohtani said in Japanese on Friday night, 'but I think it's a special atmosphere.' Two games in, it has produced a couple of special results. After coming from behind to steal Friday night's opener, the Dodgers (36-22) wasted no time Saturday putting their foot firmly on the Yankees' neck. In the bottom of the first, Ohtani, Freeman, Smith and Muncy all singled within the first five at-bats against rookie Yankees starter Will Warren, scoring two runs. Conforto later added a sacrifice fly, before Tommy Edman hit a hard ground ball that got past third baseman (and former Dodgers farm hand) Jorbit Vivas for a run-scoring double, punctuating an inning in which the Dodgers batted around. In the second inning, the Dodgers sent all nine batters to the plate again. After walks from Hernández and Freeman, Muncy hit a three-run homer to right, chasing Warren from the game with his 200th career long ball. Edman doubled home another run with two outs. Then Hyeseong Kim got the Dodgers to double-digits, hitting his second home run of the year. By the time the Yankees (35-22) recorded their first hit on Austin Wells' leadoff single in the third, it was already 10-0. As starting pitcher Landon Knack cruised through six strong innings with the big lead — he gave up his lone run on a fourth-inning solo blast from Aaron Judge, his first of two long balls on the day — the Dodgers kept adding on. In the fifth, Freeman plated a run with his 525th career double, tying Willie Mays and Ted Williams for 46th most all-time. Then, Muncy went deep again, continuing a recent surge at the plate by belting another three-run homer high off the right-field foul pole, tying a career-high with seven RBIs on the day. Over his last 19 games, Muncy is now batting .300 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and a .991 OPS. And he isn't the only Dodgers hitter starting to heat up, either. Edman snapped a recent cold streak with three total hits Saturday. Kim also had three hits, plus two stellar defensive plays: Doubling off a runner at second base with a diving effort from shortstop in the third inning, then throwing out Judge at second with a perfect throw from deep center after shifting to the outfield mid-game. Andy Pages maintained his strong form with a solo home run in the seventh. Dalton Rushing hit his first career home run off a position player in the eighth. The Dodgers' biggest stars, meanwhile, have continued to dominate. Ohtani, coming off his second live batting practice as a pitcher before the game (he threw 29 pitches over two simulated innings), had two hits, moving his OPS to 1.062 on the season. In the National League, only Freeman has a better mark in that category, finishing Saturday at 1.078 (to go along with his NL-leading .374 batting average) after his own two-hit showing. Couple all that with the impending returns of pitchers like Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen — all of whom could be back within the next month or two, and in some cases sooner — and the Dodgers are starting to look more like the juggernaut they were supposed to be all along.
