Three-Inning Save: Dodgers heat up on the road

Today on The Three-Inning Save podcast, Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch look back at Pete Mikkelsen, a right-handed reliever who pitched for the Dodgers from 1969-1972. Mikkelsen had the first four-inning save in Dodgers history, in 1969, when he closed out the final win of Don Drysdale’s legendary career. Mikkelsen pitched in nine major league seasons for the Yankees, Pirates, Cubs, Cardinals, and Dodgers. The Three-Inning Save podcast is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers offense hit a snag in San Diego, dropping their first series in three weeks. But strong pitching has kept the team in every game, and fueled a hot streak. Walker Buehler struggled in his first two starts back after missing nearly two years recovering from Tommy John surgery, which was to be expected. Several high-leverage relief pitchers are injured, including Evan Phillips and Joe Kelly. But the pitching staff rolls on, allowing four or fewer runs in 19 straight games, the longest stretch in franchise history. Teoscar Hernández had several clutch hits last week and Freddie Freeman found his power stroke, but the Dodgers offense struggled recently, with just nine runs on 13 hits over their last four games. Still, they won two of those games thanks to strong pitching. Before the Dodgers lost a road series to the Padres, they swept the Marlins at home, giving Los Angeles three winning weeks in a row. Up next this week, a road series in San Francisco before returning home to face the Reds. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers kept rolling with another 5-1 week and a sweep of the Braves. Now, Walker Buehler is back in the majors. The last week for the Dodgers included a game delayed nearly two hours by bees in a stadium that has a roof, Shohei Ohtani gave Dave Roberts a toy car then hit three home runs in two days, Max Muncy hit three home runs in a game, and LA got fantastic starting pitching. The rotation gets a boost on Monday with the return of Walker Buehler from Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair, making his first MLB start in 696 days. Also, we talk about how the Dodgers bullpen will be used in the next few weeks with closer Evan Phillips on the injured list and Blake Treinen back. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, Eric Stephen talks to Kris Willis of Battery Power to preview this weekend's three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers and Braves met in back-to-back NLCS in 2020 and 2021, with each team winning a championship in those years. Both teams have won 100 or more games in the last two seasons too, but both were bounced in the Division Series. In 2024, both teams are strong again, but also dealing with pitching injuries and while the overall offensive numbers are good for both the Dodgers and Braves, both are dealing with struggles in parts of the lineup. Here's a look ahead to what should be a fun weekend series in Los Angeles. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we recap a winning road trip for the Dodgers, and discuss MLB agreeing to fix the great 2024 uniform fiasco. The Dodgers won five out of six games on the road last week, sweeping the Nationals then taking a series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Mookie Betts stayed ridiculously hot, both at the plate and on the bases. Shohei Ohtani hit two memorable home runs, including one that tied him with Dave Roberts.  The team also got great pitching, including the best start of April by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow continuing to pitch like an ace, Gavin Stone setting a career high in innings in a game, and Landon Knack earning his first major league win. Andy Pages impressed as a rookie, and will get a long leash to continue to do so with Jason Heyward progressing slowly from his back injury. Plus, rehab updates on Walker Buehler, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, and Kyle Hurt. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we recap a rough homestand for the Dodgers, who lost three series in a row at Dodger Stadium. There were troubles with runners in scoring position, and especially so with the bases loaded, too many strikeouts for the hitters, and the continued issue of having the bottom of the lineup produce. The bullpen has struggled as well, and the team just hasn’t been in sync for the last two weeks or so. Among the positives though last week was Shohei Ohtani passing Hideki Matsui for the most home runs in MLB by a player born in Japan, and the Dodgers had three major league debuts – outfielder Andy Pages, plus pitchers Landon Knack and Ricky Vanasco – all in the same series. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we interview Andy McCullough about his new book, 'The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness.' McCullough has covered baseball for over a decade, including covering the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Times, and currently writes at The Athletic, and also co-hosts The Roundtable podcast about MLB as well. You can follow Andy on Twitter at @ByMcCullough. In this interview, McCullough details how the Kershaw book came about, his process of researching and writing the book, plus various highlights along the way, and McCullough's perspective along the way. You can pre-order 'The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness' from Hachette Book Group, before its wide release on May 7. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we marvel at the details of the criminal complaint against Ippei Mizzuhara, who was charged with bank fraud and stealing over $16 million from Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani and the Dodgers say they want to move on and focus on baseball, and Ohtani for the most part has, going on an extra-base barrage that included tying Hideki Matsui for most home runs in major league history by a player born in Japan. We also take stock of the Dodgers pitching staff with Bobby Miller landing on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, and Walker Buehler nearing a return from his rehab assignment (even though Buehler took a ball off his middle finger in his last minor league start). All that, plus so much rain in Los Angeles that the Dodgers have had three rain delays at Dodger Stadium in a 16-day span, including two in a row this weekend against the Padres. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Three-Inning Save podcast, Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch look back at Pat Zachry, a right-handed pitcher who relieved for the Dodgers in 1983-84 and died on April 4 at age 71. Related reading: Remembering Zachry at True Blue LA Zachry’s SABR bio, written by David Skelton Obituary at the Waco Herald-Tribune Jay Horwitz of the Mets remembers Zachry’s time in New York Obituary in the Cincinnati Enquirer The Three-Inning Save podcast is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we banter about Shohei Ohtani’s first home run as a Dodger, and the hubbub surrounding the aftermath regarding Dodger Stadium security and the fan who caught the ball. The Dodgers have used their bullpen an awful lot in the early part of the season, and in doing so added and subtracted several members along the way. Nabil Crismatt got a win in his one day on the roster, and Dinelson Lamet pitched three times and recorded the first professional save of his 11-year career. A week and a half ago, neither were on the Dodgers 40-man roster, and they aren’t now either, because both have since been designated for assignment. The Dodgers traded for left-hander Nick Ramirez, who is now in Triple-A. They also traded for right-hander Connor Brogdon, who will join the team in Minnesota this week. Lefty Matt Gage was released while on the Triple-A injured list, but has reportedly returned on a minor league contract. Plus, the Dodgers ran a planned bullpen game last week rather than have two starters pitch on four days rest, and they moved Brusdar Graterol to the 60-day injured list, which means he’s out until mid-May, and Blake Treinen is at least “weeks away” from returning from his own injured list stint. Hence the patchwork nature to the LA bullpen so far. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices