Here’s what you need to know
Dodgers face myriad issues that ‘we got to get better at’ after another series loss
PITTSBURGH — Four weeks later, the Dodgers are right back where they started.
Through 26 games this season, they have as many wins as losses, dropping back to .500 after a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
And just like at the beginning of the year, their new-look roster is facing more questions than answers, continuing to sputter with an inconsistent and shorthanded offense, underwhelming and out-of-sync pitching staff, and previously unforeseen problems such as their inability to control the running game.
Dodgers go quietly to fall back to .500, lose series to Pirates
⚾ Pirates 6, Dodgers 2 — FINAL
Pirates right-hander David Bednar made quick work of the Dodgers in the final inning, striking out James Outman on three pitches — his fourth strikeout of the game — retiring David Peralta on a groundout to shortstop and getting Chris Taylor to fly out to left.
The Dodgers (13-13) fall back to .500 after losing the final two games in Pittsburgh and completing a 4-3 trip.
After rallying for an 8-7 victory on Monday night, the Dodgers mustered three runs — including two in the first inning today — in the last two games and went 1 for their last 21 to close out the contest.
Julio Urias (3-3) has lost three consecutive starts for the first time in his career. Today, he allowed three runs in the first inning, settled in, but then gave up consecutive home runs in the sixth before getting lifted.
Nothing doing for the Dodgers, another Victor Gonzalez appearance
⚾ Pirates 6, Dodgers 2 — End of the eighth inning
Another 1-2-3 inning as Mookie Betts lined out to short against Pirates right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. Left-hander Jose Hernandez came on in relief and struck out Freddie Freeman and retired pinch-hitter Miguel Vargas on a comebacker.
The Dodgers are 1 for their last 18 at the plate and have one hit since the third inning.
In the bottom of the inning, left-hander Victor Gonzalez worked a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, his second scoreless inning since being called up by the Dodgers on this trip.
Dodgers offense continues to stay quiet, Trayce Thompson makes great catch
⚾ Pirates 6, Dodgers 2 — end of the seventh inning
Pirates right-hander Duane Underwood Jr. came on in relief and retired the Dodgers in order on eight pitches.
Right-hander Phil Bickford continued his work for the Dodgers, working around a two-out double by Bryan Reynolds.
Bickford did get a nice assist from left fielder Trayce Thompson, who made a diving catch near the foul line before skidding into the wall to record the second out of the inning. Thompson’s play had a 15% catch probability, according to the SportsNet LA broadcast.
Pirates add to their lead on consecutive home runs
⚾ Pirates 6, Dodgers 2 — End of the sixth inning
Julio Urias ran into trouble after striking out Bryan Reynolds to start the inning. Andrew McCutcheon worked a full-count walk before Connor Joe drove a two-run shot to left field. Rodolfo Castro followed with a shot to center field on a 1-1 pitch to further extend the Pirates lead.
After a strikeout and single by Mark Mathias, Urias was lifted for right-hander Phil Bickford — who induced a flyout to center to end the inning.
Urias allowed six runs (all earned) and seven hits to go with five strikeouts and two walks on 96 pitches.
Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller finished strong, retiring the side for the third time to polish off a six-inning effort. Keller struck out 10, including James Outman for the third time in this inning, and allowed five hits and two earned runs on 97 pitches.
The Dodgers have had one hit since the third inning.
Dodgers strand Austin Barnes in scoring position, more quick work for Julio Urias
⚾ Pirates 3, Dodgers 2 — End of the fifth inning
Austin Barnes led off the inning with a single to left and stole second with two outs, but was left there as Jason Heyward tapped one back to Pirates starter Mitch Keller for the third out. Keller has thrown 84 pitches and collected nine strikeouts through five innings.
The Dodgers have left four on base and are 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position so far.
Julio Urias had another 1-2-3 inning, this time on 11 pitches, and has faced the minimum since allowing three runs in the first inning (he walked Rodolfo Castro in the fourth, but was caught stealing). Urias is through five innings on 67 pitches.
Another quiet inning for the Dodgers at the plate, Urias faces the minimum
⚾ Pirates 3, Dodgers 2 — End of the fourth inning
Pirates starter Mitch Keller mowed through the Dodgers, collecting two more strikeouts. He has eight for the game and has thrown 68 pitches through four innings.
Julio Urias allowed a leadoff walk to Rodolfo Castro but was able to catch him in a rundown for the first out. Urias then struck out Jack Suwinski and Mark Mathias to end the inning. Urias has three strikeouts and has thrown 56 pitches.
Dodgers strand two, Julio Urias has another quick inning
⚾ Pirates 3, Dodgers 2 — End of the third inning
With one out, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward singled to put runners on the corners for James Outman, who struck out looking. David Peralta could not replicate his first-inning performance, grounding to second to force Heyward out at second.
Julio Urias had another 1-2-3 inning, this time on 10 pitches. He’s through three innings on 41 pitches and has retired his last seven batters.
Dodgers go quietly in the second, Julia Urias settles down
⚾ Pirates 3, Dodgers 2 — End of the second inning
Nothing doing for the Dodgers in the second inning, as Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller struck out Michael Busch, Trayce Thompson and Austin Barnes.
Not to be outdone, Julio Urias bounced back and retired the Pirates in order on five pitches.
Keller is through two innings on 39 pitches, while Urias is now at 31 pitches.
David Peralta’s two-RBI single gets Dodgers going, but Urias gives up lead quickly
⚾ Pirates 3, Dodgers 2 — End of the first inning
David Peralta picked a great time to break his slump.
Peralta, who had been 0 for his last 14, singled with two outs in the top of the first inning to give the Dodgers the early lead.
Mookie Betts worked a full-count walk to start the game against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, and one out later, Jason Heyward singled to right to advance Betts to third. After James Outman struck out, Heyward moved to second on a delayed steal during the first pitch to Peralta. On the next pitch, Peralta singled to center.
Chris Taylor struck out to end the inning. The SportsNet LA broadcast pointed out that Taylor was 5 for 45 in his first 16 games this season (a .111 average) but had gone 4 for 7 the previous two games.
After accounting for the strikeout, Taylor is now batting .170.
The Pirates answered quickly in the bottom of the inning, Tucupita Marcano attempted to bunt his way on, and Austin Barnes threw wide of first to allow Marcano to reach third base. Bryan Reynolds followed with a single to score Marcano. After Andrew McCutcheon singled, Connor Joe popped out to Betts, playing second.
After executing a double steal to move Reynolds and McCutcheon to second and third, the Pirates got a sacrifice fly from Rodolfo Castro to score Reynold and tie the score.
Jack Suwinski then dunked a single to left to score McCutcheon.
For Urias, it was another slog of a first inning as he threw 26 pitches. In his start Friday against the Cubs, the left-hander threw 31 pitches in the opening frame.
‘You don’t get good sleep.’ Dodgers share secrets to thriving during their baby boom
PITTSBURGH — During his season-opening address at the start of spring training, Dave Roberts likes to go around the room sharing personal-life highlights of the players on his team.
The Dodgers manager will celebrate all the club’s recent newlyweds. He’ll congratulate each of the new parents who had children over the offseason. And he’ll read off the list of players expecting babies at some point in the campaign ahead.
Usually, that last part can be completed in a few brief moments.
This spring, however, “it was a long meeting,” quipped reliever Evan Phillips.
Indeed, not even a month into the schedule, the prevalence of parenthood has swept across the Dodgers roster in a sudden wave this season.
J.D. Martinez remains out for Dodgers rubber match game against Pirates
PITTSBURGH — J.D. Martinez will miss his third straight game Thursday with back discomfort, leaving the Dodgers lineup shorthanded again as they try to win their three-game series against the Pirates.
Martinez hasn’t played since tweaking his lower left back running the bases in Sunday’s series finale against the Cubs, and hasn’t swung a bat at all this series.
“It’s certainly been a little bit longer than we’ve already expected,” Roberts said. “Hoping that an IL is not a possibility.”
Without Martinez, Max Muncy (who will rejoin the team from paternity leave Friday) and Will Smith (who remains on track to return from his concussion Saturday), here is how the Dodgers will line up behind Julio Urías:
Dodgers prospect Michael Busch approaching first MLB stint with nothing to prove
PITTSBURGH — Three and a half hours before first pitch, Michael Busch gave himself a moment to take it all in.
The Dodgers rookie emerged from the PNC Park clubhouse Tuesday afternoon, climbed to the top of the stairs in the visitors dugout, then stopped and looked around at a quiet pregame scene — gazing out at a major league setting that, for the first time in his career, he’ll get to call home for at least the next couple of days.
“It really hit me when I came out here and started taking some early work on the field,” Busch said. “Seeing the stadium, seeing the city, just walking into the locker room … it was pretty cool.”
Wednesday recap: Poor pitching and hitting doom Dodgers
PITTSBURGH — For the second straight night, the shorthanded Dodgers started a lineup with Jason Heyward batting third, a trio of rookies in the Nos. 4-6 spots, and three sub-.200 hitters rounding out the batting order.
It didn’t look good on paper. And in an 8-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, it produced even worse results.
After surprisingly exploding for eight runs in a series-opening win Tuesday, the Dodgers managed just four hits in their blowout defeat Wednesday at PNC Park, feeling the continued absences of Will Smith (concussion), Max Muncy (paternity list) and J.D. Martinez (back tightness) acutely as they lost a three-game winning streak.
Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.
