Dodgers' Max Muncy: Slugs three homers in blowout win
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Muncy went 4-for-5 with three home runs and four RBI in Saturday's 11-2 win over Atlanta.
The three home runs were a single-game career high for Muncy, who ended a season-long power drought after he had blasted just five long balls through his first 30 contests of the campaign prior to Saturday. Muncy's slugging percentage rose exactly 100 points after the huge game and now sits at .551 for the season, which is the best mark of his career since his first year with the Dodgers in 2018.
Heyward (back) took batting practice on the field prior to Saturday's game against Atlanta, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Hewyard was cleared to begin baseball activities Friday, and Saturday marked the first time he has taken batting practice since landing on the injured list April 3. The veteran outfielder still doesn't have a clear return timeline, but he may move onto simulated games if his back is able to hold up after a few rounds of BP.
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Dodgers' Michael Grove: Nabs win in relief Friday
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Grove (1-1) earned the victory against Atlanta on Friday, retiring all three batters he faced in the 11th inning.
Grove faced a daunting task in the top of the 11th frame, as he came on with the automatic runner at second base and Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley due up for Atlanta. The right-hander handled the situation with aplomb, retiring all three batters without allowing the ball to leave the infield. Grove then picked up the win when the Dodgers scored in the bottom of the inning. The right-hander has turned things around after his early-season struggles, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB over his past 11.1 frames and holding the opponent scoreless in seven of his past eight outings.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Notches two steals Friday
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Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI, two walks and two stolen bases Friday in a 4-3 extra-innings victory versus Atlanta.
Ohtani's first theft came in the third inning, and it led to Los Angeles' first run, as Will Smith followed with a two-out RBI single. It looked like Ohtani would be picked off in the eighth frame, but Matt Olson mishandled the throw to first base, allowing the Japanese superstar to make it to second base safely. Ohtani later came up with a huge hit in the bottom of the 10th, stroking a one-out single to center field to plate the tying run after Atlanta had scored in the top of the frame. Ohtani continues to put up big numbers for the Dodgers and for fantasy managers, as he's slashing .336/.405/.612 with seven homers, 20 RBI, 26 runs and seven steals (in seven attempts) through 153 plate appearances.
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Dodgers' Teoscar Hernandez: Slugs homer in victory Friday
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Hernandez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 extra-innings win against Atlanta.
Offense was sparse for both teams until extra innings, and Hernandez's solo shot in the fourth held up as the decisive margin until Ronald Acuna tied the score with a solo shot of his own in the eighth. Hernandez's long ball was his seventh of the season -- he's tied with Shohei Ohtani for the team lead in that category and ranks third with 23 RBI. Hernandez has slugged at least 22 homers in every full campaign since 2018 and is well on pace to meet that mark again in his first season as a Dodger.
Pages went 4-for-5 with one RBI in Friday's win over Atlanta.
The four hits, all singles, were a new career high for Pages. The Dodgers rookie also drove in the game-winning run, bringing home Will Smith for a walkoff victory in the 11th inning. Pages has enjoyed a productive start to his big-league career, slashing .333/.354/.567 with three home runs, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored over 65 plate appearances.
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Dodgers' Gavin Stone: Strikes out five in no-decision
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Stone did not factor into the decision Friday against Atlanta, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out five.
Stone held up well against a tough Atlanta lineup, generating 14 whiffs and five punchouts. His only blemish on the evening was a 449-foot solo shot by Austin Riley in the first inning. Stone has made four straight starts in which he's allowed two or fewer runs, tossing a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings over that span. The Dodgers right-hander is slated to make his next start against the Marlins at home.
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Dodgers' Bobby Miller: Throws off mound
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Miller (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Miller has been on the injured list since April 13 due to inflammation in his right shoulder, and Friday marked his first time throwing off a mound since then. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he isn't sure how many more bullpen sessions Miller will need to throw before he progresses to facing live hitters, so the 25-year-old righty will likely remain without a clear return timeline until he gets to that point.
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Dodgers' Blake Treinen: Could return for homestand
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Treinen (chest) could be activated from the 15-day injured list during this weekend's series against Atlanta, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Treinen appeared in back-to-back games with Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday and Thursday, allowing one hit over two scoreless frames while striking out three. Treinen's return to the Dodgers' bullpen would be a welcome one, as Joe Kelly is dealing with a right groin injury.
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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Throws BP session
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Kershaw (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Kershaw has been limited to throwing from flat ground, and Friday was the first time he's thrown off a mound since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The veteran southpaw threw 15 pitches, and manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw "came out well" from the bullpen session, per J.P. Hoornstra of Dodgers Nation. Kershaw is not expected to return until after the All-Star break.
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Dodgers' Jason Heyward: Begins baseball activities
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Heyward (back) ran at full speed Friday and began swinging a bat, J.P. Hoornstra of DodgersNation.com reports.
Heyward landed on the 10-day IL on April 3 due to lower back tightness. The injury persisted well past his return window, and Friday marked the first time that the veteran outfielder has participated in any sort of baseball activities. The Dodgers will have a better idea of a timeline for his return once they see how Heyward's back responds to his most recent work.
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Collects three hits Wednesday
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Betts went 3-for-5 with two RBI against the Diamondbacks in Wednesday's 8-0 victory.
Betts hasn't homered over his past 17 games, but he continues to be productive, collecting seven multi-hit efforts over that stretch while slashing .406/.481/.536. The move to shortstop this season hasn't impacted the All-Star's offensive production, as Betts is leading MLB in hits (49) and OBP (.481) while tying for first in runs (29) and walks (26). Betts' 1.104 OPS also leads all major-leaguers.
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Dodgers' Will Smith: Continues power surge
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Smith went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Wednesday in an 8-0 win over Arizona.
Smith hit one of two homers in the game for Los Angeles, taking Jordan Montgomery deep to left field for a fifth-inning solo shot. The All-Star catcher went deep just once over his first 23 games of the season but has picked up the power since, swatting three long balls over his past five contests. Smith has complemented his four homers on the campaign with a .355/.395/.555 slash line, 24 RBI and 18 runs over 124 plate appearances.
