Three-Inning Save: Dodgers injuries piling up

Shohei Ohtani already has more home runs in any three-year period in Dodgers history, and there is still half of 2026 yet to be played. The Dodgers star on Monday in Minnesota hit his 17th home run of this season, giving him 126 home runs since the start of 2024. That’s one more than Duke Snider’s previous franchise record of 125 home runs, hit in overlapping three-year periods from 1954-56 and 1955-57. Ohtani is also having another stellar June, a month in his career during which he has a slugging percentage above .700. Plus, more on Freddie Freeman’s 2,500th career hit and Dodgers history, team defensive improvements this season, interleague play, and Mexican food. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More Dodgers injuries came this week, when Kyle Tucker left Monday’s game with back spasms and won’t return until this weekend at the earliest. Dalton Rushing took a foul tip off the mask and missed nearly two games before returning Wednesday. Catcher Will Smith didn’t travel with the team on its 9-game road trip, which means July 2 is his earliest possible date back. On a more positive note, outfielder Teoscar Hernández is rehabbing this week with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and reliever Evan Phillips is getting closer to returning from Tommy John surgery last June. Plus notes on Emmet Sheehan, Brock Stewart, Landon Knack, and an upcoming Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Walker Bueherl pitching matchup this weekend in San Diego.  The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shohei Ohtani is dealing with inflammation in his left knee that isn’t going away, but he’s still found a way to be productive, including hitting a game-winning home run on Tuesday.   Ohtani on Wednesday gave up a four-run inning, just the second multi-run frame against him all season. But he still completed six innings in the win, something he’s done in 11 of his 12 starts. The blister on his right hand has bugged him for a few starts and busted open during Wednesday’s game. Plus, Justin Wrobleski stayed hot and worked quick to beat the Rays in under two hours, on four days of rest. Will Smith won’t be ready to return this Friday, as he still works through his neck inflammation. Teoscar Hernández might be ready for a rehab assignment next week. Brock Stewart is getting closer to a return as well, likely throwing on back-to-back days in the minors this week. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A closer look at Max Muncy’s 2026 season, during which he has been arguably the best third baseman in the National League, and in line for a potential third All-Star Game appearance. Muncy leads all NL third basemen in home runs (16), runs scored (46), on-base percentage (.371), slugging percentage (.532), OPS (.903), wRC+ (151), Outs Above Average (+5), and FanGraphs WAR (2.9). His 225 home runs with the Dodgers are just three shy of fifth-most in franchise history. Plus, Shohei Ohtani’s Cy Young Award chances against Jacob Misiorowski, Cristopher Sánchez, and others, and a look at the Dodgers schedule facing four American League teams in a row. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the second time in 10 months, Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto lost a no-hitter in the ninth inning. This time, on Saturday in Chicago, he flirted with perfection in a win over the White Sox, retiring his first 23 batters faced. Yamamoto is the first Dodgers pitcher to lose two no-hitters in the ninth inning. Coupled with his previous start, his 45 consecutive batters retired was one shy of Yusmeiro Petit’s major league record. The Dodgers had a so-so road trip, splitting six games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. Big innings felled the pitching staff over the last week-plus, and the home run ball has terrorized Los Angeles pitching all June. Jack Dreyer allowed four home runs in his first 91 major league appearances, but since returning from the injured list has allowed five home runs in his last seven outings, for instance. Freddie Freeman has been hot at the plate for about four weeks, and on Tuesday in Pittsburgh got his 2,500th career hit, just the 102nd player to reach that milestone. Shohei Ohtani (left knee) and Justin Wrobleski (right hamstring) had injury scares last week but appear to be okay. Tommy Edman will be activated off the injured list this week for his season debut after ankle surgery, while relievers Evan Phillips and Brock Stewart are nearing returns of their own. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We take a look at the Dodgers upcoming schedule, which includes their two longest road trips of the year within a 5-week span. Couple that with a June slate that has only nine home games, we are in a road-heavy pocket of the schedule. Plus, putting the recent mound exploits of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Roki Sasaki into perspective, a look at the success of the Dodgers’ six-man rotation, and the joys of eating popcorn and/or other treats at the movie theater. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dodgers moved Tyler Glasnow to the 60-day injured list over the weekend, pushing back his timeline for returning from back spasms until July 6 at the absolute earliest. Glasnow has been shut down from throwing. With Glasnow and Blake Snell out, we compare the Dodgers rotation this year to 2025, when those two were injured midseason but returned by August, giving the team a big four starters they rode to a championship in October and November. For now, the Dodgers have to first get through the next six weeks until the All-Star break, but with strong performances by Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski, and Emmet Sheehan, the pitching depth is in a much better place in 2026. Plus more on Nick Frasso, now back on the 40-man roster, what’s next for River Ryan, and more. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are a little more than a month from the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, so we take a look at various Dodgers who might play for Dave Roberts and the National League team at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Shohei Ohtani is a lock for the All-Star team, whether he’s voted as the starting designated hitter or not. He should make the team as both a DH and a pitcher for the first time since 2021 in Colorado. Andy Pages has been one of the best outfielders in baseball this year, and should be an All-Star for the first time. Max Muncy is off to a great start at the plate and has improved his defense, giving him an excellent start to make his third midsummer classic. Freddie Freeman is still humming along, but this brings a question of whether only first-half stats should count or should we also consider a player’s numbers since last year’s All-Star Game. Plus, we look at whether Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make his second midsummer classic and which Dodgers pitchers (Tanner Scott? Justin Wrobleski?) might join him.  The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We talk to Dodgers play-by-play announcer Stephen Nelson about his four years calling games in Los Angeles on television and radio, and much more about his process, the team, and more. Nelson joined the Dodgers broadcast team in 2023, and has called games on both SportsNet LA television and KLAC AM 570 radio for four seasons. He shared his gameday routine, from the time he arrives at the ballpark through the end of the game. Nelson has also been active in sharing moments from broadcasts, showing how the sausage is made during his calls, including his interaction with Rick Monday, Orel Hershiser, Eric Karros, or other analysts. He share the origins of wanting to take fans behind the scenes. We also talked about Nelson calling the World Baseball Classic, more on the 2026 Dodgers, the “Eric/Stephen” booth with Nelson and Karros, and obviously, the importance of three-inning saves. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Catching up on the first roughly third of the 2026 season for the Dodgers, who are atop the National League West as expected, despite injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Edwin Díaz, Mookie Betts and others. Shohei Ohtani is excelling at both the plate and on the mound in his first full two-way season since 2023. Andy Pages is having a breakout season both at the plate and playing exceptional center field. Max Muncy is having a resurgent season both at the plate and at third base. The Dodgers’ depth has shined through, especially in the bullpen with Will Klein, Kyle Hurt, and Edgardo Henriquez taking on load-bearing roles for an effective pitching staff. We look at how the two-way-player rule allows the Dodgers to carry Ohtani as an extra pitcher, and how that lessens the burden for the rest of the staff, to everyone’s benefit. The Three-Inning Save is part of Bleav Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.