The Dodgers (51-29) took advantage of a Twin bullpen game with a 12-3 win in the second game of the series, snapping a streak of five-consecutive one-run wins. Seven of their last eight games in general had been decided by a run, and they were on the wrong side of a drubbing Sunday against the Orioles but finally had a relaxing win behind seven innings from Justin Wrobleski. Today, the Dodgers look for the sweep with their ace going up against the Twins’ best.
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| 4:40 P.M. | Minnesota | ||
| DH | Ohtani (L) | LF | Larnach (L) |
| CF | Pages | CF | Buxton |
| 1B | Freeman (L) | RF | Clemens (L) |
| SS | Betts | DH | Bell (S) |
| 3B | Muncy (L) | 1B | Lewis |
| RF | Call | 3B | Lee (S) |
| LF | Ward (L) | C | Caratini (S) |
| C | Rushing (L) | 2B | Gray (L) |
| LF | Freeland (S) | SS | Kreidler |
| P | Ohtani (R) | P | Ryan (R) |
Shohei Ohtani gets the ball for the Dodgers and is in the lineup, leading off. Ohtani had a tough time in his last start, suffering from blister issues again while allowing a season-high four runs and seven hits over six innings. Ohtani only allowed three baserunners through the first four innings, but gave up four runs on five hits and a walk in the fifth. They did let Ohtani get through six despite his finger like falling off, and a sixth-inning Freddie Freeman homer gave Ohtani the win. The Dodgers are 7-5 when Ohtani pitches and have won five of his last six starts despite him dealing with this blister (and some knee discomfort) for a few starts now. This will be Ohtani’s fifth time facing the Twins on the mound and his second time as a Dodger. Ohtani’s sixth start of the season last year came against Minnesota, and he allowed a run on four hits in three innings in a pseudo-rehab start. Byron Buxton led that game off with a homer off Ohtani for his lone run of the game. Ohtani faced the Twins as a rookie for the Angels and allowed a run and three hits on 6 1/3 innings with 11 strikeouts. He faced them again in 2022 and allowed two runs on three hits in five innings but matched a career-high with six walks, and allowed a run on two hits in six innings against them in 2023. The 2022 start was his only time pitching at Target Field.
The Twins send Joe Ryan to the mound after he was scratched with an illness yesterday. Ryan figures to be a very nice plan B for whoever loses out in the likely Tarik Skubal sweepstakes and has put up the best numbers of his career so far, with a 2.99 ERA/2.82 FIP in 87 1/3 innings over 16 starts. Ryan got off to a semi-rough start this season with a 3.72 ERA through April. His first start in May came with a huge injury scare, as he left a start against Toronto after two batters with elbow discomfort. It ended up not being a big deal and he made his next start and has been excellent since with a 2.40 ERA in his last eight starts. Ryan’s completed six or more innings in seven of those eight starts with the lone exception coming last time out in Texas. Ryan held the Rangers to three hits and two walks over five shutout innings, but needed 97 pitches to get through five. Ryan’s faced the Dodgers only once in his career and it did not go well. It came in 2022 in LA and the Dodgers tagged him for five earned (and a sixth unearned) runs in five innings. The Dodgers had nine hits in those five innings and six were for extra bases, five doubles and one Max Muncy homer.
Ryan is one of four qualified pitchers in the top-10 in strikeout rate (28.1 percent, good for 10th) and walk rate (5.1 percent, tied for seventh). He does give up some quality contact, as he’s below-average in barrel rate and hard-hit rate. Ryan throws a four-seamer 44.1 percent of the time which would be the least he’s used the pitch in his career. He also mixes in a sweeper (14 percent), knuckle curve (11.7 percent), sinker (11.5 percent), splitter (10.9 percent) and slider (7.2 percent). His fastball, sweeper and curve each have whiff rates over 25 percent despite his fastball “only” averaging 93.3 MPH.
Dalton Rushing is back in the lineup for the Dodgers after leaving Friday’s game to be checked for a concussion. He seemingly passed his testing and is back in there. Kyle Tucker remains out of the lineup with Alex Call getting another start in right and Ryan Ward starting in left.
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Lots of kinda vague injury updates.
Blake Snell will throw a 15-fastball bullpen session on Friday. Tucker remains out of the lineup and will swing today in hopes of returning this weekend in San Diego. Will Smith remains out and has yet to start doing baseball activities so it seems like a longshot that he’ll be back when the Dodgers return home against the Padres a week from tomorrow. Tyler Glasnow is also not throwing.
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First pitch is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT and will be on SportsNet LA.