The Dodgers cruise past the A's, and somehow the biggest headline is Ohtani not pitching. File that under nice problems to have. If you're just tuning in: Tyler Glasnow's back has kept him out of the rotation since early May, and the last checkpoint was bleak — still shut down from throwing. The club's timetable had started to drift toward August, because he still needs clearance just to begin a throwing progression, then enough runway to build back up for actual starts. This is Dodgers Daily. Series in the bag, Ohtani getting Friday off, a reliever DFA'd — and Edwin Díaz might finally face live hitters. Let's get into it. Here's what Aaron Coloma at Dodgers Nation is reporting. Series win over the A's, and it wasn't really close — just a comfortable one. After the week we just had, I'll take comfortable. Comfortable against the A's. Let's keep the trophy case measured — it was a tune-up before the real tests. Fine, it's the A's. But three days ago I was gnawing my own arm off over the injuries. Let me enjoy a clean series for one segment, Kirk. Enjoy away. I remember what freaking out over a soft patch looks like around here. This was more like the lineup doing exactly what it should against a team that couldn't stop it. Here's Jesse Rogers at WETM - MyTwinTiers.com:
“If there’s any opportunity to give him some extra rest, we’re going to try to take advantage of it,” Roberts said. “So pushing him to Friday allows us to have him still take two starts before the break and get on two division opponents. In that vein, there’s just no downside. This made too much sense.”
Thirteen games in thirteen days — and now they're bubble-wrapping Ohtani. I get it, but Roberts pushing him to Friday makes me squint a little. Squint at what, Joey? The team's in a stretch of thirteen straight days of baseball. Roberts said the whole point is he still gets two starts before the break against division opponents. That's a schedule move, Joey — I don't see the red flag. Except 'rest' is the only thing on the label. No inning count, no soreness, no nothing — just 'rest.' Coming right off beating up on the A's, why get cute now? Or — and hear me out — a two-way player who never stops working gets a day. And the payoff is he lines up Friday in San Diego against the Padres. You'd take Ohtani on the mound in that building, wouldn't you? Here's Cody Snavely at Darragh McDonald:
The Dodgers announced that right-hander Wyatt Mills has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Fellow righty Jonathan Hernández has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move. Hernández, 29, was signed to a major league deal just over six weeks ago. Since then, he has made 12 appearances for the Dodgers, working a low-leverage role.
Roster move to close the loop on the A's series: Wyatt Mills up from Oklahoma City, Jonathan Hernández designated for assignment. Per MLB Trade Rumors, Hernández signed a big-league deal six weeks ago and posted an 8.15 ERA over seventeen and two-thirds innings. Six weeks, one exit. An eight-fifteen ERA! Yeah, that'll do it. He throws ninety-seven on the four-seamer and still couldn't strand a runner to save his life — 59 percent strand rate. He's out of options and off the 40-man now, so this is a full DFA — waivers, trade window, the works. Somebody might bite on the velocity. And this is what gnaws at me — they're churning the back of the pen while Díaz is still building up. Mills is the guy they're leaning on right now. It's not exactly a fortress. Ari Koslow, writing in FantasyPros:
Injury updates, per Dave Roberts:-Edwin Díaz could face hitters for the first time this weekend.-Will Smith is still not doing baseball activities.-(from yesterday) Tyler Glasnow is back to playing catch, but the team is taking it slow in hopes of avoiding another setback.
Okay, here's the first real date on the Díaz calendar — live hitters this weekend, per Sonja Chen. No more vague 'on track' stuff. Either he hits that checkpoint or he doesn't. Right, and it's specific, so I'll actually mark it. Roberts saying live BP this weekend is the first concrete step toward getting an elite closer back — Díaz would be the best late-inning arm they've had available since early in the season. Which matters, because we just spent all that time on the Hernández DFA and Mills coming up — they're covering innings however they can right now. Getting Díaz back after the break changes the whole math. And in that same update, look at the contrast — Díaz is moving toward hitters, Will Smith is still not doing baseball activities. Díaz is trending the right way; the catcher still doesn't have a return date. Yeah, that's the part that keeps me from getting too happy today. Díaz good news, sure, but Smith frozen, and now Ohtani getting rested? That's a whole-roster handle-with-care thing heading into July. There's a Glasnow line buried in there too — he's back to playing catch, though they're going slow to avoid another setback. Basically, one throw at a time. If Dodgers Daily Podcast is part of your routine, take a second to subscribe or leave a quick review wherever you’re listening. It really helps other Dodgers fans find the show.
Next, we’re watching Shohei Ohtani’s scheduled Friday start against the Padres, and whether Edwin Díaz faces hitters for the first time this weekend.
You’ll find links to every story we covered today in the show notes, so if one caught your ear, you can tap through and read more there. That’s Dodgers Daily Podcast for today. This is a Lantern Podcast.