New additions key in Dodgers’ early-season sweep
by Christian Romo
The last series the Dodgers played against the Braves before Friday turned into a late-2023 season litmus test of the two best teams in the National League — and it didn’t go well for the home side.
The Braves overwhelmed the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in September, taking three of four games.
It was the first of a few end-of-season disappointments for the Dodgers in 2023, disappointments the team took to heart as they embarked on one of the most talked-about offseasons in Major League history.
The expected results are starting to show.
The Dodgers defended their home this time around, finishing off a sweep with big performances from three new arrivals — players they acquired with the goal of becoming the premier club in baseball.
At center stage over the weekend was the team’s biggest addition Shohei Ohtani, who went 8-for-12 with three home runs and six RBI during the sweep.
A couple other new additions made their marks over the weekend, as well.
First was starter Tyler Glasnow, who recorded his third game of 10+ strikeouts in 2024 in a dominant seven-inning performance on Saturday.
Ohtani showed out on Saturday reaching base three times, with his 43.4% Win Probability Added his highest mark for any game this season
Two more free agent signings in left-handed starter James Paxton and slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernández joined the party on Sunday.
Paxton (4–0) pitched arguably his best game of the season against a high-powered Braves offense, allowing five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings matched up against Atlanta ace Max Fried. It came following a difficult start, where he allowed four runs in five innings in a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 29.
“It felt great,” Paxton said. “I finally got some rhythm out there. I’ve been working hard between games trying to figure it out. It just feels good to make some progress.”
Dodger manager Dave Roberts praised the lefty’s efficiency throughout the game.
“He’s been grinding through the mechanics, and I thought today his delivery was consistent,” Roberts said. “The fastball had more life in the strike zone than it had in his last starts. He incorporated the changeup more today, and that curveball was good. He kept those guys — a very lethal offense — really at bay all day long.”
It was the first time Paxton had entered the seventh inning of a game since June 30 for the Boston Red Sox. It helped to get the run support he needed the inning before from a fellow newbie.
Hernández made it a 4–0 game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, his second home run and third RBI of the series.
The home run was his eighth of the year and gave him 25 RBI for the season, third on the team behind Mookie Betts (27) and Will Smith (26).
He almost did it again in the eighth, trotting around first base after it appeared his opposite-field shot wrapped inside the right-field foul pole. The hit was called foul, however, and the call was upheld following a crew chief review.
Hernández added the biggest defensive play of the day in the seventh inning, corralling a Matt Olson hit one step from the warning track in right field and throwing him out on a line to second base.
“To start the inning off with a double would have changed that inning,” Roberts said.
Roberts before the game said it was time for the Dodgers to “get greedy” after a successful road trip, and said the team showed quality play through a playoff-like atmosphere.
“This entire series was a lot of fun,” he said. “Our players were looking forward to coming back home, and I saw some signs of the postseason — certainly that team over there we’re pretty familiar with in the postseason. And the fans were great. It was good to see our guys play to the level of energy our fans had this series.”
Treinen returns, Phillips to the IL
Right-handed reliever Blake Treinen made his first regular-season appearance since Sept. 5, 2022, battling shoulder injuries and a bruised lung from a comebacker suffered during Cactus League play on March 9.
Treinen pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out pinch hitter Jarred Kelenic while holding the Dodger lead.
“It was good to see him back out there, it was good to see him be efficient,” Roberts said. “That whiffle ball that he was throwing up there to Kelenic was pretty impressive. He’s a very good hitter versus right (handed pitching), and so to get that strikeout, that was a big exhale for Blake.”
The Dodgers added Treinen to the active roster, as closer Evan Phillips was added to the 15-day injured list after suffering a Grade 1 strain on his right hamstring getting his cleat caught in grass while running.
“It’s as mild as it can get,” said Phillips of his injury. “We’ll just take it day-by-day for now and see how we progress.”
Phillips was sporting an 0.66 ERA over 14 appearances — the lowest mark among qualified Dodger relievers — making eight saves while allowing only one run over 13 2/3 innings.
“It’s frustrating timing because I feel like I was in such a good spot on the mound and wanted to keep that consistency going,” he said. “So I’ll do my best to keep that locked in while I’m down, but hopefully I’ll be back soon.”
