Daily Clips June 28, 2016

Transcription

1 Daily Clips June 28, 2016

2 LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 LA TIMES: Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hopes time off will clear mind, improve hitting-andy McCullough Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw undergoes treatment for back stiffness-andy McCullough Dodgers hold on for 5-4 win over Pirates, avoid sweep-andy McCullough DODGERS.COM: Dodgers rally from early hole to edge Bucs-Adam Berry and Ken Gurnick Kershaw, Turner dealing with minor ailments-ken Gurnick Seager needs boost on All-Star Game ballot-ken Gurnick Kazmir shows mettle to set stage for comeback-ken Gurnick In midst of surge at plate, Seager gets breather-ken Gurnick Brewers, Dodgers to open set at Miller Park-Curt Hogg OC REGISTER: Dodgers dig out of early hole, avoid sweep with 5-4 win in Pittsburgh-Bill Plunkett 'Every at-bat has been a grind' this season for slumping Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez-Bill Plunkett On deck: Dodgers at Brewers, Tuesday, 5 p.m.-bill Plunkett Dodgers lineups: Yasiel Puig showing better swing since return from DL-Bill Plunkett DODGER INSIDER: 1976: Dodgers of the Future -Jon Weisman Reminder: All-Star voting ends Thursday-Jon Weisman Dodgers eclipse darkness in Pittsburgh with comeback-jon Weisman When your front s to the wall-jon Weisman TRUEBLUELA.COM: Clayton Kershaw dealing with lower back stiffness, not expected to miss start-eric Stephen Unheralded Brock Stewart, Andrew Toles could make second half impact-david Hood Nick Tepesch claimed off waivers by Athletics-Eric Stephen Brandon McCarthy completes 5 innings in rehab start, Willie Calhoun headed for Futures Game-Eric Stephen ESPN LA: Dodgers catch their breath to down Pirates in finale-doug Padilla Dodgers to call up Brock Stewart to start during Brewers series-doug Padilla Ellis caps rally as Dodgers top Pirates 5-4, avoid sweep-associated Press Clayton Kershaw not expected to miss start after back treatment-doug Padilla LA TIMES: Dodgers Dugout: Could Jay Bruce be in the Dodgers future?-houston Mitchell

3 LOS ANGELES DODGERS DAILY CLIPS TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 LA TIMES Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hopes time off will clear mind, improve hitting By Andy McCullough Adrian Gonzalez gazed at a clubhouse television, and then looked toward his locker. On the screen, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was giving a television interview conducted on the field at PNC Park. A.J. Ellis suggested Gonzalez should pay Turner a visit. You think I ll make it? Gonzalez asked. Assured he could get there in time, Gonzalez grabbed a white sombrero and the navy jacket of his custom-made charro suit, outfitted with silver medallions, to interrupt the interview. Once his sombrero popped up on the broadcast, occupying a significant portion of the screen, the Dodgers back in the clubhouse cackled with laughter before avoiding a four-game sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-4 victory over the Pirates. For the first time in four games here, the Dodgers (42-36) overcame a shaky effort from a starting pitcher. Scott Kazmir allowed four runs before recording two outs. His teammates pulled ahead with a four-run rally in the fifth capped by Ellis infield single. Dave Roberts used five relievers, including Kenley Jansen for a four-out save, to cover the final four innings after Kazmir s departure. It was really special to be a part of that win today, Ellis said. Those are the wins that show a lot of character. Gonzalez played a part in lightening the mood. The suit arrived last week, so he packed it for this road trip, waiting for the proper moment to maximize his teammates enjoyment. A designer from Mexico measured Gonzalez for the traditional horseman s outfit three months ago. He chose to wear it Monday, in part because he sought a diversion. The stress of the worst month of his career left him preoccupied at the plate. On the flight to Pittsburgh, Roberts told Gonzalez he would sit on Monday s matinee. Two days later, after Gonzalez went hitless in four at-bats on Saturday, he asked his manager for the day off on Sunday, too. He felt he needed time to decompress. It s rare for him, Roberts said. It s never easy to ask for an extra day. He s a guy that wants to be out there every single day. But he felt to help the club going forward, it might be good for him to take two days. So I think that as a manager, you ve got to listen to him. Roberts reversed course on Sunday, after six innings, when he realized his team might lose a game started by Clayton Kershaw. Gonzalez entered Monday s game in the sixth inning. He rolled a single through the infield for his third hit in the past week. The hit raised his on-base-plus-slugging percentage to.708, which is 122 points below his OPS in 2015.

4 For Gonzalez, the decline stems from a wretched June. He is suffering through the worst month of his career with a.507 OPS. Roberts suggested his slump arose from an attempt to defeat infield shifts. Gonzalez countered that he had overloaded his mind with competing strategies, shifting his approach from moment to moment in vain. Every at-bat has been a grind, Gonzalez said. I m thinking about my mechanics. I m thinking about where my hands are, where my legs are, where I want to hit the ball. And then the ball s by me. And then the next at-bat, I m like I m not going to think about anything, I m just going to get the [bat] head out. And then they throw me a changeup, and I roll over. The confusion has resulted in a bevy of weak flyballs to the left side and soft grounders to the right side. One such grounder snuck through on Monday, but Gonzalez understands he must elevate the baseball and hit line drives. Through his first 73 games in 2016, his groundball percentage was 51.7, well above his career average of Gonzalez turned 34 in May. He averaged 159 games per season during the first decade of his career. His health has declined in recent years. His neck bothered him in spring training. He received an epidural for a back issue in May. Since then, he explained, the issue has been his mind, not his body. I haven t had any symptoms in three weeks, Gonzalez said. And I think that s why I m putting so much pressure on myself. Because I m like I m finally healthy. I should be doing good. You re just pressing for that, rather than letting it happen. Gonzalez hoped the time off would allow his mind to clear. His outfit on Monday helped, at the very least, provided some comedy for a team in need of a laugh. He strutted through all corners of the clubhouse, from the weight room to the food room, exhorting his teammates to get a win. I was a little hesitant after we lost three in a row, Gonzalez said. But I thought it would lighten the mood. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw undergoes treatment for back stiffness By Andy McCullough Clayton Kershaw received treatment on Monday for lower back stiffness, but Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers ace would make his start later this week. Kershaw gave up four runs in six innings on Sunday against the Pirates. Kershaw has been dealing with a back issue for the last few weeks, Roberts said. I don t think it affected him [Sunday] night, Roberts said. But today, he came up a little sore. Still got through his workout, his post-start workout. It s day to day, but he ll be ready for that next start. Kershaw confirmed Roberts assessment of his condition. He otherwise declined to comment. He is scheduled to pitch on Friday against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

5 For the Dodgers, any issue with Kershaw (11-2, 1.79 earned-run average) must be monitored with care. He remains the most valuable player in baseball, according to Baseball-Reference s version of wins above replacement. But he was less sharp on Sunday, giving up nine hits, walking two batters and striking out only four. The Wednesday mystery revealed? The Dodgers had yet to reveal their choice to start Wednesday s game against Milwaukee, but one of the candidates tipped his hand on Monday afternoon. Brock Stewart, a 24-year-old right-hander, wrote on Twitter that he got the call. I m so incredibly fortunate to say that the dreams I ve had since I was a young boy have come true, Stewart wrote. Stewart started this season with class-a Rancho Cucamonga. He rocketed through the California League and the Texas League to reach triple-a Oklahoma City earlier this month. In three starts for Oklahoma City, Stewart struck out 27 batters in 18 2/3 innings with a 2.89 ERA. The Dodgers did not have many other candidates for the opening. The team tried Nick Tepesch as a starter on Friday, but designated him for assignment after he gave up five runs in four innings. The team is merely looking for a competent placeholder before Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy can return from the rehabilitation assignments. Dodgers hold on for 5-4 win over Pirates, avoid sweep Andy McCullough For three games here at PNC Park, the Dodgers did some version of the same thing. The starting pitcher stumbled. The offense failed to compensate. The formula is not conducive to winning, which is why the Dodgers appeared on the verge of a dispiriting four-game sweep heading into Monday s fifth inning. Down three runs, the team manufactured its first go-ahead rally against the Pirates in four games, pulling ahead and holding on for a 5-4 victory. Scott Kazmir gave up four runs to the Pirates before he recorded three outs. He recovered to finish five innings and avoid further damage. Infielder Chris Taylor, acquired this month from Seattle, hit a triple in his first at-bat as a Dodger and scored on Justin Turner s sacrifice fly in the third. The real answer from the offense, the one lacking the previous three nights, came in the fifth. After Enrique Hernandez walked for the third time in five innings, Justin Turner hit a double. Trayce Thompson walked to load the bases for Yasiel Puig. Batting in the cleanup spot, Puig smacked a two-run single. Howie Kendrick tied the game with a single of his own. A.J. Ellis put the Dodgers in the lead for the first time all series with an infield single. For the final four innings, the Pirates looked like the Dodgers the previous three nights, unable to damage their opponents bullpen. Manager Dave Roberts used five relievers Louis Coleman, J.P.

6 Howell, Joe Blanton, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen to secure the lead. Jansen completed a four-out save. Dodgers rally from early hole to edge Bucs By Adam Berry and Ken Gurnick DODGER.COM PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates landed the first blow Monday afternoon, jumping out to a big lead in the opening inning. But the Dodgers landed a pair of counters, silencing the Bucs' bats and rallying in the fifth to secure a 5-4 win at PNC Park. "We salvaged the series," manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers avoided their first four-game sweep by Pittsburgh since After one inning, Pittsburgh appeared to be well on its way to a much-needed four-game sweep. Dodgers starter Scott Kazmir labored through a four-run, 40-pitch first inning. But Kazmir calmed down in the following four innings, and the Dodgers' bullpen delivered a scoreless performance, with five pitchers holding the Pirates to one hit and two walks over four innings. Kenley Jansen did his part with a four-out save, his 22nd of the season. "He just pitched better. He got downhill angle. He started throwing strikes. The changeup played. He was a completely different guy on the mound," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Kazmir. "Their bullpen has been one of their strengths. We got to see some of that this series. The opportunities after the first, there weren't many." Spotted the four-run lead, Pirates starter Francisco Liriano continued to struggle. The left-hander allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings. Liriano was unable to get through six innings for the fourth time in five starts this month, and the bullpen couldn't pick him up. Reliever Jared Hughes replaced Liriano in the Dodgers' four-run fifth inning, serving up a game-tying single to Howie Kendrick and the go-ahead hit to A.J. Ellis. "We all know he's close. He's shown glimpses of it," Hughes said of Liriano. "Even today, it was good. If I could have gotten him out of it, it would have been even better." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED First strike: The Pirates quickly got to Kazmir, putting up four runs in the first inning -- three of them on a pair of unlikely plays. Starling Marte got things started with a line-drive single to right field, driving in leadoff man Jordy Mercer. With the bases loaded and two outs, Sean Rodriguez -- who walked twice (once intentionally) against Clayton Kershaw on Sunday night -- drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Bucs ahead by two. Then Erik Kratz swatted a two-run single into center field, his second hit as a Pirate. "He's a guy that's aggressive with that fastball, and he was missing quite a bit up," Kratz said. No way to start: Kazmir again fell victim to the early letdown, walking three during the laborious first. He bounced back, though, retiring 12 consecutive batters. His first-inning ERA this year is After that, it's 3.93.

7 "Everything changed after the first inning," said Kazmir. "I got my release point down. The bullpen, what they did today, to keep us right there. And the offense to answer bell down four runs, it was a huge team win." New role, new results: A day after making his first appearance since his move to the bullpen, righthander Juan Nicasio pitched three scoreless innings to keep Pittsburgh within a run. Nicasio, who struggled through 12 inconsistent starts before moving to the bullpen, tossed a perfect seventh, worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. "Very promising," Hurdle said. "We've still got some work to do, but sure do like what we've seen the last two days out of him." Rally walk: After Pittsburgh walked three times in its four-run first, the Dodgers walked twice in their four-run fifth, and scored the go-ahead run on Ellis' infield single. Both teams had two batters that walked come around the score. QUOTABLE "This dude goes out there every five days, doesn't make one excuse. If anybody's going to turn it around, he's going to be the guy, for sure." -- Kratz, on Liriano SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Pirates have not swept a four-game series against the Dodgers since Aug , The first two games of that series were played on Aug. 20, a doubleheader at Forbes Field. Kazmir had not pitched against the Pirates since June 27, 2008, when he played for the Rays. The following year, Kazmir was traded to the Angels in a deal that included a player to be named later: Sean Rodriguez, who drew a run-scoring walk off Kazmir in the first inning. WHAT'S NEXT Dodgers: Julio Urias' seventh Major League start comes against the Brewers, who he held to five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts two starts back. The 19-year-old is fun to watch, but he's still looking for his first win and is on a very short leash, meaning the bullpen is on call early. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. PT on Tuesday. Pirates: The Pirates headed west Monday night, beginning a nine-game road trip through Seattle, Oakland and St. Louis. Left-hander Jonathon Niese will start the first of the Bucs' two games against the Mariners at 10:10 ET on Tuesday. Niese's strong six-start stretch has come to a halt, as he's allowed 12 runs on 17 hits over 10 2/3 innings in his last two outings, both losses. Kershaw, Turner dealing with minor ailments By Ken Gurnick PITTSBURGH -- Key Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner are nursing minor injuries, manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Monday. Kershaw, who pitched six innings Sunday night, has lower back soreness.

8 "There was some back stiffness he's been dealing with last few weeks," said Roberts. "I don't think it affected him last night, but he came up a little sore. He still did his workout today. He's day to day, but he'll make his start, for sure." Turner, playing in the heat and humidity in Monday's 5-4 win, suffered a right leg cramp while batting in the top of the ninth inning and was replaced on defense for the bottom of the ninth. "It's just a cramp and we'll get fluids in him and see how feels tomorrow," Roberts said of Turner. Prospect Stewart tweets news of callup Triple-A Oklahoma City right-hander Brock Stewart tweeted Monday that he has been called up to the Major Leagues, presumably to start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night in Milwaukee, although the club has not confirmed the move. The Dodgers have almost no other options. There is no true swingman in their bullpen and none of the rehabbing pitchers management was counting on earlier -- Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brandon McCarthy, Frankie Montas, et al -- is ready. Mike Bolsinger is not in the mix and Zach Lee was just traded. Stewart, a sixth-round pick in 2014, is 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA at Triple-A, with 27 strikeouts and only two walks in 18 2/3 innings. Combined this year, he is 8-3 with a 1.47 ERA. It would have taken an injury to a current Major League pitcher to allow for the promotion of Carlos Frias, who is listed as the Monday night starter for Oklahoma City. He was optioned last Tuesday when the Dodgers called him up for two days and didn't use him, so he can't return until Thursday unless to replace a player put on the disabled list. A's claim Tepesch from Dodgers The Oakland A's claimed pitcher Nick Tepesch off waivers from the Dodgers on Monday. Tepesch was called up from Triple-A to make a spot start for the Dodgers on Friday night in Pittsburgh. He allowed five runs in four innings and was designated for assignment the next day when the Dodgers recalled infielder Chris Taylor. Seager needs boost on All-Star Game ballot By Ken Gurnick PITTSBURGH -- It looks like Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager will have to wait until July 5 -- the day starting lineups and reserves are announced for the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard -- to see if he'll make the National League All-Star team, as he remained a distant third in the most recent update of the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot results. Seager was tops among NL shortstops in hits (89) and runs (50), while ranking among the position leaders in home runs (second), RBIs (fifth), batting average (second) and slugging percentage (second) entering Monday. Seager leads L.A. in hits, homers, doubles and runs scored.

9 Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday at 8:59 p.m. PT. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times. Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to (USA) or (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info. Following the announcement of the 2016 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 12, watch the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 87th All-Star Game, in San Diego, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com. Other Dodgers among vote leaders at their positions are first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (fourth) and second baseman Chase Utley (fifth). Kazmir shows mettle to set stage for comeback By Ken Gurnick PITTSBURGH -- It's usually the other way around, but the Dodgers flipped the script on Monday and won a game after a Clayton Kershaw loss. They avoided an historic four-game sweep by edging the Pirates, 5-4, after starting pitcher Scott Kazmir spotted the Pirates a four-run first inning. The win was almost enough to obscure apparent minor injuries to Kershaw (sore lower back) and Justin Turner (right leg cramp). "It was resiliency. We spot them four in the first, Kaz throws up four zeros and we put up a crooked number and found a way to win a baseball game," said manager Dave Roberts. "We salvaged the series and I just liked the way we didn't quit." Avoiding the first four-game sweep to the Pirates since 1944 is a salvaged series to Roberts. Especially after that first inning, when Kazmir made 40 pitches and set the stage for a bullpen processional. Five relievers allowed only one hit over the final four innings, with Kenley Jansen nailing down a four-out save in his first outing in six days after back-to-back strikeouts from Pedro Baez. Kazmir has a 3.93 ERA after the first inning this year, but a 9.00 ERA in it. In the heat and humidity Monday, this first inning was different than the rest. "Honestly, I didn't feel like my energy was there, don't know if the heat zapped me but I kind of felt under water that first inning," he said. " As soon as I got in the dugout, I cooled off and I woke up. We're

10 trying to get some answers [why]. I talked to [pitching coach Rick Honeycutt] about the way I felt, and maybe next outing we'll do a simulated first inning to get that focus and adrenaline going instead of using all that [pregame] time to get loose. It doesn't feel like I'm locked in." Kazmir (6-3), key to a rotation plagued by injuries and inconsistency, said he was also distracted by a hole near the rubber on the mound that the grounds crew repaired before he pitched the second inning. Kazmir noted the bullpen's contributions, as well as the offense that put up a four-run fifth inning. The starting lineup was right-handed stacked, with lefties Corey Seager, Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley and Joc Pederson resting (although all four would find their way into the game off the bench). But after getting one run back in the third inning after Chris Taylor's first Dodgers hit, a triple, five of six batters reached base in the fifth. The third walk of the game by Kiké Hernandez, Turner's double, another walk to Trayce Thompson, cleanup hitter Yasiel Puig's two-run single and an infield single by A.J. Ellis for the tiebreaking run. "That was a great team win," said Ellis. "Guys stepping up. Kazmir battling back, the bullpen guys just grinding the last 12 outs. Those are the wins that show a lot of character. Kaz just locked it back in, mixed in the curveball a little more to steal some strikes. The first inning, he was pitching from behind." In midst of surge at plate, Seager gets breather By Ken Gurnick PITTSBURGH -- He's 22, a leading candidate for National League Rookie of the Year with a 10-game hitting streak. But on Monday, Corey Seager was out of the starting lineup in the Dodgers' eventual 5-4 win over the Pirates at PNC Park. Seager said he fought manager Dave Roberts' decision, but got nowhere. "I tried, didn't work," said Seager, whose streak has him flirting with a.300 average. "You say you don't want it, you feel good, stuff like that. He's the boss at the end of the day, and you listen to what he says." Roberts had no left-handed hitters in the lineup against Pirates lefty Francisco Liriano. Joining Seager on the bench were second baseman Chase Utley, center fielder Joc Pederson, switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who was taking a second day off that he told reporters he asked for to clear his head after a month-long slump. All but Grandal nonetheless found their way into the Dodgers' comeback win, with Seager entering as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. Seager's OPS is 145 points lower against lefties than righties, but Roberts said the decision was made in part to see what newly-acquired shortstop Chris Taylor can do. "I just think with this stretch, yeah it's hard to give Corey a day, but I'm still trying to be mindful of using a whole roster," he said. "Of all days to give him, this is one day that makes some sort of sense. And I want to see Chris Taylor play and get him involved." Seager said he was "a little worried" that a day off from the starting lineup could disrupt his momentum, but is trying to accept Roberts' explanation that rest spaced earlier in the season pays off later.

11 "You don't want it, you're feeling good and you want to play," Seager said. "But it's better in the long run to take them now and space them out, and it will help in the end. That's what they've told me. You don't really know, but they say it's shown it really helps. You've got to trust it and go with it." Brewers, Dodgers to open set at Miller Park By Curt Hogg A week after playing a four-game series jam packed with close games in Los Angeles, the Brewers and Dodgers will do it again, opening up a three-game series at Miller Park on Tuesday. During the June series, three games were decided in the winner's final at-bat. The Brewers took the first game on a Jonathan Villar two-run home run before the Dodgers walked off twice. Chase Anderson is expected to make his return to the rotation for the Brewers. Manager Craig Counsell utilized the team's three off-days during an eight-day stretch, giving Anderson additional rest by skipping his turn in the rotation last week. Rookie Julio Urias will make his seventh big league start for Los Angeles, looking for his first win. He threw a season-high 94 pitches in his most recent start on Wednesday against the Nationals. Three things to know about this game Brewers pitching may be a welcome sight for Justin Turner. The Dodgers' third baseman went 7-for-14 with three homers and seven RBIs in the last series between the teams. Anderson was on a roll on the mound before the team's recent road trip, when he gave up 11 runs in 7 1/3 innings. In his start at Dodger Stadium, Anderson gave up seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings. The righthander was 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA over his previous five starts before running into problems. Urias faced the Crew on June 17 and delivered his best start to date. The left-hander went five scoreless innings, scattering five hits and fanning eight. OC REGISTER Dodgers dig out of early hole, avoid sweep with 5-4 win in Pittsburgh By Bill Plunkett PITTSBURGH And in the big inning, the Dodgers rewrote the ending. For the second consecutive day, an early four-run inning by the Pittsburgh Pirates put the Dodgers in a hole and put them in danger of being swept in a four-game series by the Pirates for the first time since This time, though, they climbed out of it to claim a 5-4 victory Monday afternoon, snapping their threegame losing streak.

12 It was resiliency, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. We found a way to win a ballgame. They didn t quite find that way Sunday night after Clayton Kershaw allowed four runs in the second inning of an eventual 4-3 defeat. Monday s starter Scott Kazmir wasted no time, packing all of his trouble into the first inning. Kazmir threw 40 pitches while giving up four runs on three hits and three walks. Everything changed after the first inning, Kazmir said. Indeed. He didn t give up another hit until the fifth inning. It is a familiar pattern for Kazmir. In his 16 starts this season, he has given up 16 first-inning runs and batters are hitting.342 against him in those first innings. From the second inning on, Kazmir has a 3.72 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and has held hitters to a.211 batting average. He locked it back in and found the lane he needed for that ball away (from right-handed hitters), Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. We got counts back in our favor. The first inning, we were pitching from behind. We were able to mix in his curveball more after that. Kazmir said he struggled to find his release point early. He also had some issues with the mound and had the groundskeepers do some landscaping on the front slope before the second inning. Once I noticed it, I m trying to drive down the slope and it felt like, more or less, I was going toward the upper deck as opposed to going downhill, he said. Once we cleaned that up, I felt a lot more comfortable. It might have been in my head. Who knows? But it was good enough for me. But he had no explanation for the season-long difficulties getting started. I don t know. We re trying to get some answers, he said. Talking to Honey (pitching coach Rick Honeycutt), we might do a simulated first inning (in the bullpen), trying to get that focus and locked in (before the actual first inning). Roberts offered a smorgasboard of options to explain Kazmir s nearly-disastrous first inning against the Pirates. He was obviously missing arm side, up and away, Roberts said. The velocity was OK. I just don t think he had any feel with the humidity. His hands were a little sweaty. There was also something with the mound he had the guys fix. It seemed like after that he settled down. It s that first inning that sort of gets him. We have to be mindful of that. Scott was one hitter away from us trying to get eight innings out of our pen. It didn t come to that. While Kazmir was setting down 12 Pirates in order after Erik Kratz s two-run single in the first, the Dodgers got one run back in the third inning when Chris Taylor tripled in his first at-bat for the team and scored on Justin Turner s sacrifice fly. The rest came in one big gulp.

13 They scored four times to take the lead in the fifth on four hits, two walks and a wild pickoff throw by Pirates catcher Erik Kratz. Yasiel Puig drove in two runs with a single. Howie Kendrick and Ellis drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with their singles. The Dodgers bullpen protected the one-run lead over the final four innings, allowing just one hit a double by Sean Rodriguez in the sixth inning. Closer Kenley Jansen came on to get the final four outs for his 22nd save. It was the fifth time this season Roberts has brought him in during the eighth inning. Two of Jansen s three blown saves this season have come in those situations and Monday s conversion didn t come easy. Jansen has had surgery for an irregular heartbeat and breathing difficulties in the altitude of Coors Field. He said he had difficulty breathing Monday as well, struggling with the high humidity in the midafternoon, before closing out the win. 'Every at-bat has been a grind' this season for slumping Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez By Bill Plunkett PITTSBURGH For a player who has appeared in at least 156 games each of the past 10 seasons, it was an unusual decision. But Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said he benched himself. On the flight to Pittsburgh on Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Gonzalez he planned to give him a day off during the four-game series at PNC Park. But after an 0-for-4 night Saturday dropped his batting average for June to.183, Gonzalez said he told Roberts maybe it would be a better idea to take two days off. I thought it would be good for me to not think about hitting for two days, Gonzalez said. More than any theories about defensive shifts or questions about his back troubles, Gonzalez said that has been the root of his problem over the past few weeks he s thinking too much. That s the thing I don t have one approach. I ve had 800 approaches, he said. Four hundred have been to pull and 400 have been to go the other way. Every at-bat has been a grind. I m thinking about where my feet are, what my hands are doing. Then, before you know it, the ball s by me. I ve just been fighting myself, more than anything. It s been a case of me trying to do too much. Since receiving an epidural injection for back pain about three weeks ago, Gonzalez said he has physically felt great which has only made his mental struggles worse. That might be why I m pressing, he said. Because I m feeling so good, I feel like I should be doing good. When I was just worrying about how to get comfortable without my back hurting, I would just see the ball and swing.

14 Gonzalez s slump has hardly left him in a dark mood, though. He arrived at the ballpark for the Dodgers travel day Monday wearing a custom-made traditional Mexican charro suit featuring silver baseballs and topped off with a sombrero. For the second consecutive day, he entered the game as a pinch-hitter and played the last few innings, even getting a single in Monday s game. I know I ve still got half-a-season to go, Gonzalez said. It s not anything I m too worried about. BACK PAIN Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw has been receiving treatment for lower-back stiffness but Roberts said he doesn t consider it a major issue. He s been dealing with that for a few weeks. I don t think it affected him last night, Roberts said. But today he came in a little sore. Still got through his post-start workout. It s day to day, but I think he ll be ready for his next start. The Dodgers gave all of their starters an extra day s rest before this time through the rotation. But Kershaw gave up four runs in the second inning Sunday night, more runs than he had allowed in 25 of his previous 26 starts, and failed to complete seven innings for only the second time this season. His next scheduled start is Friday at Dodger Stadium against the Colorado Rockies. BACK IN FORM When Yasiel Puig went to the DL for nearly three weeks earlier this month, the Dodgers were hopeful the time off would be good for more than his hamstring. Puig has returned with a cleaner swing, Roberts said, and the results have shown. Puig is 8 for 23 (.348) with three multi-hit games in his first six since returning from the DL. I think he s really making a concerted effort which sounds crazy on just seeing the baseball, Roberts said. Before he went on the disabled list, he was kind of chasing hits. He s kind of re-set. He s slowing things down and, like we ve talked about all year, taking balls and swinging at strikes. I think he s doing a better job of that. FIFTH STARTER Before the game Monday, Roberts said the Dodgers were still not ready to name Wednesday s starter. We still haven t gained any ground on that, he said. We re still thinking through some things. Or not. Triple-A right-hander Brock Stewart let it out Monday afternoon, posting to his Twitter account the news of his promotion to start for the Dodgers on Wednesday in Milwaukee.

15 A sixth-round pick out of Illinois State two years ago, Stewart has progressed through three levels of the Dodgers farm system this year, going a combined 8-3 with a 1.47 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 86 innings. He will become the ninth starting pitcher used by the Dodgers this season, the fourth to make his majorleague debut (joining Julio Urias, Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda). On deck: Dodgers at Brewers, Tuesday, 5 p.m. By Bill Plunkett Where: Miller Park TV: SNLA, 5 p.m. Did you know? In his past four starts, Julio Urias has a 2.33 ERA and has held batters to a.243 average with 28 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. The Dodgers have won three of those four games. THE PITCHERS DODGERS LHP JULIO URIAS (0-2, 4.33) Vs. Brewers: 0-0, 0.00 At Miller Park: First game Hates to face: Ryan Braun, 2 for 2 Loves to face: Jonathan Villar, 0 for 3, K BREWERS RHP CHASE ANDERSON (4-7, 5.13) Vs. Dodgers: 0-1, At Miller Park: 3-2, 3.74 Hates to face: Adrian Gonzalez, 6 for 13 (.462), 2B, HR Loves to face: Corey Seager, 0 for 4, 2 Ks UPCOMING MATCHUPS Wednesday: Dodgers TBA at Brewers RHP Junior Guerra (4-1, 3.67 ERA), 5:10 p.m. SNLA Thursday: Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (6-5, 2.91 ERA) at Brewers RHP Zach Davies (5-3, 3.74), 11:10 a.m. SNLA Dodgers lineups: Yasiel Puig showing better swing since return from DL

16 By Bill Plunkett PITTSBURGH -- When Yasiel Puig went to the DL for nearly three weeks earlier this month, the Dodgers were hopeful the time off would be good for more than his hamstring. Puig has returned with a "cleaner swing," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, and the results have shown. Puig is 7 for 19 (.368) with three multi-hit games in his first five since returning from the DL. "I think he's really making a concerted effort -- which sounds crazy -- on just seeing the baseball," Roberts said. "Before he went on the disabled list, he was kind of chasing hits. He's kind of re-set. He's slowing things down and, like we've talked about all year, taking balls and swinging at strikes. I think he's doing a better job of that." Reminder: All-Star voting ends Thursday By Jon Weisman Dodger Insider With the fan vote ending at 8:59 p.m. Thursday, Corey Seager remains approximately 700,000 votes removed from the starting shortstop spot for the National League All-Star team. Seager has picked up 300,000 votes in the past six days, but needs a lot more to get himself over the Addison Russell hump. Chase Utley made his first appearance in the top five, though he is nearly 2 million votes behind Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist. Adrian Gonzalez rests a distant fourth place at first base. The All-Star participants will be revealed July 5, save for the players reaching via the Final Vote competition. Official voting notes: You may vote in the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Balloting Program a maximum of thirty-five (35) times between April 24, 2016, and June 30, 2016 (limit of five (5) times during any twenty-four (24) hour period, with that twenty-four (24) hour period to begin as of the time of the first vote; following the expiration of the initial twenty-four (24) hour period, the next twenty-four (24) hour period begins at the time of your next vote). You can also receive the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game ballot by texting VOTE or VOTA to In Canada, fans can receive the ballot by texting VOTE to Dodgers eclipse darkness in Pittsburgh with comeback By Jon Weisman

17 Shortly after high noon at Pittsburgh, the clock looked like it was going to strike an early midnight for Los Angeles. The Pirates took a 4-0 lead in the first inning of today s afternoon special, and the dark side of history had the drop. The Dodgers would need a big rally to avoid their first four-game sweep by the Pirates since 1944 (when it happened twice in July and August). They were also trying to end an eight-game losing streak at PNC Park. The last Dodger pitcher to win there was Hyun-Jin Ryu, who hasn t appeared in an MLB game in more than 21 months. But whatever flag the Dodgers will hoist this year, it won t be white. With a run in the third inning and four in the fifth, the Dodgers bucked the Bucs, rallying for a 212-minute, 5-4 victory that was their 23rd comeback win of the season. It s hard not to wonder what s going on with Scott Kazmir in the first inning. Historically, it hasn t been a problem for him. In 2014 and 2015, the OPS against Kazmir in the opening frame has been.563 and.554. But when Kazmir, clearly struggling to locate at the outset of today s game, allowed four runs on three hits and three walks in the first inning today, that gave him a first-inning ERA of 9.00 in That was rough first inning, to say the least, Kazmir said, via SportsNet LA. I don t know. Honestly, (I) didn t feel like my energy was there. I don t know if the heat zapped me or what. Just felt kind of underwater that first inning, and it seemed like as soon as I got in the dugout and was able to cool off, I was kind of woken up and ready after that. Just a complete change from how I felt. Then, after striking out Francisco Liriano with his 40th pitch of the first inning, Kazmir retired the next 12 Pirates on only 38 pitches. He had to escape a two-on, two-out jam in the fifth by fanning Starling Marte, but he bought enough time for the Dodgers to climb back into the lead. Said Dave Roberts: Scott was one hitter away from us trying to get eight innings out of our pen. But he beared down and made pitches. In the third inning, the Dodgers got their first run when Chris Taylor tripled in his initial Dodger at-bat, and Justin Turner hit a sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Kiké Hernandez s third straight walk (a career high for one game) catalyzed a four-run inning. Cleanup hitter Yasiel Puig followed a Turner double and Trayce Thompson walk with a two-run single, before Howie Kendrick singled in Thompson to tie the game. One out later, after Puig had advanced to third on an ill-fated pickoff attempt, A.J. Ellis brought him home on an infield single that shortstop Jordy Mercer couldn t cleanly backhand. Five Dodger relievers combined for the final 12 outs, with Kenley Jansen getting the final four in his first game since June 21. Pittsbrugh had two hits and two walks after the first inning. When your front s to the wall

18 By Jon Weisman This is going to sound particularly banal, but as I ve pondered what to write before today s getawayfrom-pittsburgh game, I m stuck on how change is a way of life in baseball. Players and teams go up and down, without exception, and a season is really about who gets a few more ups than the rest. The Cubs, thought to be indomitable, have lost six of seven. Bryce Harper, looking in April like an MVP for the next 10 seasons, has a.680 OPS over the past six weeks. I m not saying that it s impossible to tell the difference between an aberration and a trend. But some players are performing uncharacteristically, and reversals of fortune shouldn t be ruled out. Just as you shouldn t expect Corey Seager or Justin Turner to hit seven or eight homers every month, there are other players whom you shouldn t expect not to turn it around. TRUEBLUELA.COM Clayton Kershaw dealing with lower back stiffness, not expected to miss start By Eric Stephen Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is dealing with minor discomfort in his back, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Monday in Pittsburgh, though the pitcher isn't expected to miss his next scheduled start. The malady was first reported on Monday morning by Doug Padilla of ESPN, with Roberts saying the back issue did not affect Kershaw's start against the Pirates on Sunday night, in which Kershaw allowed four runs in six innings and suffered just his second loss of the season: Roberts called Kershaw's lower-back discomfort an "off-and-on issue" but sounded far from concerned about it, saying Kershaw "absolutely" would make his next scheduled start, expected to be at home Friday against the Colorado Rockies. Roberts confirmed the news after the game when asked by other reporters as well. Kershaw leads the majors this year in ERA (1.79), innings (121) and strikeouts (145), and if he has been dealing with the back issue for a few weeks, it is hard to pinpoint any direct effect on his performance. Sunday night was just the second time all season that Kershaw allowed more than two runs in a start in Perhaps from a relative standpoint, Kershaw's 2.86 ERA over his last four starts looks rather ordinary, though that's only compared to his own lofty standards, and it also comes with 36 strikeouts against only two unintentional walks in 28⅓ innings during that span. If he remains on rotation, Kershaw will only have two more starts before the All-Star break, Friday then next Wednesday. Even if he pitches in his sixth straight All-Star Game, on July 12 in San Diego, Kershaw

19 could have a built-in period of extra rest during which he only pitches an inning in an eight-day span, and that span could be made longer depending on how the Dodgers shuffle their rotation coming out of the All-Star break. Every team in baseball is off on July 13-14, with the Dodgers resuming their schedule on Friday, July 15 in Arizona. Unheralded Brock Stewart, Andrew Toles could make second half impact By David Hood Entering the 2016 season, neither Brock Stewart nor Andrew Toles received much fanfare in my prospect reviews, ranking 36th and 44th respectively. All of that has now changed, and given their performances in the first half of the minor league season, not only do I see them both as top-20 guys, but I believe they both have a skill set that can aid the Dodgers' run for the 2016 playoffs. Toles might have the most unique skill set that the current Dodgers' regime has been seeking to develop in the system, namely game-changing speed. In a recent Drillers game, I clocked Andrew Toles at 4.07 seconds home to first from the left-hand side... on a double. Toles also clocked a 3.9-second time tagging up from second to third on a fly ball to center. Toles isn't just fast, he's an instinctive runner that knows when and where to apply his speed. He has excellent closing speed and a second gear when stealing bases, and he's been caught only five times in 27 steal attempts this year. Toles also has the range to track down balls in the gaps in center field or either corner. His defensive tools, though, are still developing. Toles doesn't always make consistent reads and occasionally needs his speed to bail him out. Toles also tends to drift on balls rather than anticipating their location. His arm strength is average for center or left, but may be stretched in right field. The biggest positive on Toles is that he's not just a slap-and-run speedster; he has real offensive tools. Toles' power is more gap power, but he has enough strength and bat speed for ten to twelve home runs a year in a starting role. Toles has been compared to Michael Bourn in the past, but exhibits a similar batted ball profile, with enough of a line drive rate to be dangerous. Toles hits from a low crouch that shrinks his strike zone, though he doesn't walk as much given his aggressive approach. He drops his hands in his load and swings with a slight upper cut, and though his swing can get long, he has the bat speed to catch up to good fastballs. Toles is most vulnerable to offspeed pitches, where he occasionally fails to properly diagnose them out of hand and will chase pitches out of the zone. Miscast as a leadoff hitter in Tulsa, Toles lacks the patience to effectively play the role at the next level, though he has enough enticing offense to threaten at the bottom of the order. The Dodgers might find the most value in bringing Toles up as a speed weapon off the bench that can also provide outfield range as a late-inning replacement. He has the tools to eventually develop into a starter, but makes the most sense right now as a matchup weapon and a different look from the current Dodger bench options.

20 I recently got the chance to see Stewart pitch in Double-A right before his call up to Oklahoma City. Thanks to a doubleheader start time, I was not able to catch the first few innings of Stewart's completegame win. The innings I did see were rather efficient and clean, and Stewart did not show the shakiness he supposedly exhibited in the first two innings. Stewart's fastball was primarily mph, with a few 94s in the sixth and seventh inning. The pitch has late life and a little sink, and he throws it to all quadrants of the plate. His control of the pitch was plus, though he could refine his command to make it a true plus pitch. The fastball on Tuesday would earn a 55-grade, or above average, from me. Stewart's best chance for a swing and miss pitch might be his changeup. Stewart throws the pitch at 82 mph with excellent fade to the left side of the plate, and gets additional sink when he works it further over the middle. His arm speed was merely good not great on the pitch, but a several hitters were still in front of the pitch. Stewart's slider had a tight cutter-like shape, and was thrown pretty hard at mph. The break is more gradual than severe and hitters didn't have trouble picking up the pitch. While it may have been an off night for the pitch, he didn't have much feel for the pitch and either caught too much of the middle of the plate or wasted it down and away. Stewart kept a good pace on the mound and attacked hitters in the zone with the fastball. He stayed ahead in counts and seemed content to let Northwest Arkansas hitters pound the pitch into the ground. Despite struggles in the first few innings, he was composed on the mound in the middle and late innings and kept his team in the game to earn the win. Stewart held his velocity through the duration of his outing. Stewart has a physical build at a listed 6'3 and 210 lbs. that suggests durability. His delivery is clean and without frills, pitching out of a high three-quarters slot. Stewart's arm action is a bit long in back, but it clearly doesn't hamper his ability to throw strikes, and he does a solid job staying on line to the plate. Stewart has plenty of arm strength, but also incorporates his strong lower half in his delivery, likely aiding his stamina. While it wasn't his best outing from a statistical standpoint, Stewart was still pitch efficient and in control. Based on this abbreviated look, I could see Stewart becoming a solid number four pitcher, and just a tick or two more on the fastball and an improved breaking ball away from number three upside. A number four starter that can eat innings and hold his stuff deeper into starts is still an asset, and an improvement on my impression of Stewart at the start of the season. Because of his age and stamina, Stewart might be able to steady the back end of the Dodgers' rotation in 2016, capable of throwing six innings with quality stuff each time out. That might be enough of a break for the bullpen to conserve innings it has otherwise had to use during Julio Urias and Mike Bolsinger starts. Stewart might not end up factoring heavily during the playoffs, but he can certainly aid the process in getting there. Nick Tepesch claimed off waivers by Athletics By Eric Stephen

21 LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers won't be able to keep pitcher Nick Tepesch around for depth, as the pitcher was claimed off waivers by the Athletics on Monday afternoon, Oakland announced. The transaction was full of old friends, as Oakland designated Eric Surkamp for assignment to make room on the roster for the new pitcher. Surkamp was Tepesch-like for the Dodgers in 2015, as both appeared in one game for the team, a outing that saw each allow more runs than innings pitched. Friday was the day for Tepesch, who started the opener against the Pirates in Pittsburgh and did not fare well, allowing five runs in four innings to take the loss. The Dodgers could have optioned Tepesch to the minors had they wanted to keep him on the 40-man roster, but instead designated him for assignment on Saturday when infielder Chris Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. That extra space on the 40-man roster will be used to call up Brock Stewart to start for the Dodgers on Wednesday in Milwaukee, though the Dodgers have yet to officially announce their starter for he middle game at Miller Park. Tepesch, 27, signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers on June 6 after opting out of his minor league deal with the Rangers, for whom he made 39 major league starts in before missing all of 2015 with elbow problems. In three starts for Oklahoma City, Tepesch was 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA, with 17 strikeouts and three walks in 18 innings. Brandon McCarthy completes 5 innings in rehab start, Willie Calhoun headed for Futures Game By Eric Stephen Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy is getting closer and closer to his return to the majors from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander completed five innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in his fourth minor league rehab start, on Monday night in Visalia. McCarthy allowed four runs on seven hits, including one home run, in his five innings, with three strikeouts and no walks. Three of the runs were earned, though there seemed to be at least three or four plays that probably should have been made that weren't, including one hit that was changed twice by the official scorer, first to an error then back to a hit. But most importantly, McCarthy kept progressing and continued to build up his arm strength 14 months after surgery. The right-hander was on a limit of five innings or 80 pitches, and ended up throwing 72 pitches on a brutally hot night in Visalia, 99 degrees at the 7 p.m. PT game time. McCarthy threw a whopping 56 of his 72 pitches (77.8 percent) for strikes. McCarthy said he is unsure where his next start will be. He last pitched in a major league game on April 25, 2015, and had surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow five days later. Player of the day Dodgers 2015 fourth-round draft pick Willie Calhoun, 21, began the year as the seventh-youngest player in the Texas League, and the third-youngest on Double-A Tulsa, and has handled the promotion just fine,