Will Smith was back where the Dodgers have missed him most on Tuesday: in the starting lineup.
After nearly three full months away from that role, Smith returned for the opener of the club’s nine-game homestand and immediately gave the lineup a lift, finishing 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI. It wasn’t enough to save the night, though, as the Dodgers fell 13-8 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The hope in Los Angeles is that Smith can help steady and energize the offense as September rolls on. Sonja Chen of MLB.com described him as an “invaluable” part of the starting group, and Dave Roberts made clear why that label fits.
“The experience, the calmness in the box, the managing of the pitching staff -- all that stuff is crucial,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, remains on hold on the pitching side. There had been some expectation that he might return to the mound over the weekend in Detroit, but the Dodgers instead went with Tyler Glasnow in the finale of the road trip. The club still has not settled on a timeline for Ohtani’s return to pitching, though Jack Harris of the California Post reported that the Dodgers do expect him back in his two-way role at some point this season.
“Obviously, it’s tricky navigating a build-up progression with someone who is also DH’ing by night,” Friedman told the California Post in an interview on Tuesday.
Still, Friedman said Ohtani wants to get back on the mound.
“he obviously wants to get back out there, helping the team on the mound as well.”
The roughest night of Eric Lauer’s Dodgers tenure at home came Tuesday, when the left-hander gave up seven runs in just three innings and took his first home loss as a Dodger in six starts. The damage started to snowball after he allowed back-to-back two-out home runs in the second inning, and Lauer described the outing as a night where his command simply wasn’t there.
“I think, overall, my command wasn’t very good- too many misses, too many big misses. I didn’t feel like I really had a good grasp on where the ball was going today, and that obviously hurt. Trying to make in game adjustments, I gotta get better at that, and just making sure I don’t let things compound like that.”
In Other News...
Disturbing Scene Unfolded Near Dodger Stadium During Wednesdays Game
Police were called to the area near Dodger Stadium during Wednesdays game and found a man deceased outside the ballpark, a grim scene unfolding in the shadow of one of baseballs most familiar venues. Authorities have not identified the man, and at this stage they do not suspect foul play, leaving the focus on the work still ahead for investigators and the medical examiners office.
The case remains under investigation as officials try to determine what happened and notify next of kin. For a Dodgers crowd used to tracking every pitch and playoff race detail, the news was a stark reminder that the action around a game can sometimes extend far beyond the field. [Read more 🡒]
Disturbing Scene Unfolded Outside Dodger Stadium During Cardinals Game
Los Angeles police were called to the area near Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night while the Cardinals were in town, and officers later found a man dead outside the ballpark. The man has not been identified, but authorities said they do not suspect foul play.
The investigation remains open as officials work to notify the mans next of kin, leaving unanswered questions about how the scene unfolded near one of baseballs busiest settings. For a Dodgers crowd already focused on the game, the discovery added a somber note to an otherwise ordinary night around the stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Prospects Just Put More Pressure On A Crowded Depth Chart
The Dodgers farm system kept churning Wednesday, and the offensive noise came from a pair of Double-A bats who gave Tulsa another reminder that the organizations infield and outfield depth is anything but settled. Jake Gelof and Kole Myers each launched two home runs in the Drillers win, while the club also shuffled its roster with pitcher Aidan Foeller and second baseman Sean McLain coming off injury lists and Adrian Marrero moving down to Class-A Ontario.
At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Alek Thomas supplied the deciding punch with a go-ahead two-run homer, and starter Jackson Ferris turned in a strong outing on the mound. The days movement also included Ben Rortvedt heading to Oklahoma City, another small but notable sign of how many players are pushing for position as the Dodgers sort through an increasingly crowded depth chart. [Read more 🡒]