Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Jacob deGrom in yesterday’s series opener in Texas, throwing seven shutout to counter deGrom’s seven innings of one run ball. The Dodgers added some needed insurance in the eighth, and Tanner Scott made thing squirrely in the ninth but got through it with some help from defensive specialist Max Muncy. It was the fourth straight Dodger win after sweeping the Rockies in LA, and moved the Dodgers to a half game behind the Padres at 15-6. Today, they face an old friend as Roki Sasaki looks to build off his longest start.
1:05 P.M. Arlington 2B Edman (S) 2B Semien SS Betts SS Seager (L) 1B Freeman (L) 1B Smith (L) RF T. Hernández RF García LF Conforto (L) DH Pederson (L) C Smith 3B Jung 3B Muncy (L) LF Harris (L) DH Rosario (L) C Higashioka CF Pages CF Taveras (S) P Sasaki (R) P Eovaldi (R) Sasaki took his first career loss in his last start but arguably turned in his best outing. He completed five innings for the first time in his Major League career and allowed a run on four hits and two walks. He left the game before the six with a 1-0 deficit and the Cubs put up 15 runs off two Dodger relievers and Miguel Rojas. Despite the good results, he only struck out three and while he started the season generating weak contact, he’s allowed average exit velocities over 90 MPH in each of his last two starts. Sasaki only got six whiffs on 81 pitches, but wasn’t as wild as he’s been in the past (59.3 percent of his pitches were in the zone, his first time over 50 percent this season).
Nathan Eovaldi gets the ball for Texas and has been excellent in his first four starts this season. He’s allowed seven runs in 24 innings over those four starts and is one of two pitchers this season with a complete game shutout. He did that in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Cincinnati, allowing four hits and striking out eight while barely earning a Maddux (99 pitches). He followed that start up with the worst start of the season, allowing three earned over 4 2/3 in Chicago. He’s only issued two walks all season, both coming in that Chicago game. However, he also hit two Cubs and last time out in Seattle also hit two batters. Somehow, the 14-year vet has only faced the Dodgers three times in the regular season in his career. Those both came after the Dodgers traded him to Miami. He started about a month after being traded to Miami against LA and got shelled, allowing six runs and three homers over three innings. He got some revenge in 2013, allowing two earned runs (one unearned) over seven innings in a losing effort. He also faced the Dodgers three times as a reliever in the 2018 World Series as a Red Sox (Sock) and was stellar. He tossed perfect innings in Games 1 and 2 before being called upon in Game 3. He came in in the 12th and allowed an unearned run to keep the game going in the 13th, but kept Boston in it until an 18th inning walkoff by Muncy. Crazy how I have no recollection of what happened next anyways.
Through four starts, Eovaldi’s used his fastball less frequently than ever thus far. His lowest usage rate on the pitch coming into this season was 37.2 percent in 2023, but so far he’s only throwing it 29.3 percent of the time. He’s leaned on his splitter, throwing it 30.4 percent of the time with a 36.8 percent whiff rate. He’s thrown a curve 23.2 percent of the time with a 45.5 percent whiff rate and mixed in a cutter (15.5 percent) and slider (1.7 percent).
The Dodgers roll out the same Ohtani-less lineup as yesterday, with Eddie Rosario serving as the DH again. Texas shifts a few things and sits Dodger-killer Jake Burger and sit Jonah Heim for Kyle Higashioka.
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Evan Phillips is back sooner than expected because Blake Treinen is hurt.
Dave Roberts said Blake Treinen is going on the injured list with forearm tightness. Evan Phillips is here and will be activated
Treinen is going for a scan today. Roberts said he’s “not too concerned,” but no timeline until he gets his scan
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) April 19, 2025
Treinen reportedly felt something Sunday and warmed up in the ninth yesterday while Scott was struggling, but felt the tightness. Phillips was supposed to be activated in Chicago next week, but is back and should officially be activated soon.
Clayton Kershaw will be making another rehab start on Tuesday.
#Dodgers Clayton Kershaw said he will make his second rehab start Tuesday. Undecided whether it will be Double A or Triple A. Potentially weather involved
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 19, 2025
He looked great in his first rehab outing for OKC, allowing two hits over three shutout innings. His start Tuesday might be for OKC again or it could be for Tulsa.
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First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM PT and will be shown exclusively on FOX (with Joe Davis on the call at least). Also sidebar, I wrote this while listening to the Sinners soundtrack. Go watch that movie. It was incredible.
