The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.
Good morning! Take care of your elbow today.
Arms: What’s behind Dodgers’ awful pitcher health?
The Dodgers, with their nearly $400 million roster, may soon need to pull a kid out of the stands, Henry Rowengartner-style, and put him on the mound.
At one point this month, the defending champs had 14 pitchers on the injured list. That didn’t even count Shohei Ohtani, who this week made his first mound appearance in almost two years. With Ohtani and the now-oft-injured Clayton Kershaw back in action, the Dodgers have seven starters and six relievers on the IL this weekend.
Advertisement
Some of this could have been expected. L.A. seemed to have gone out of its way to acquire talented arms with durability questions. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell were hurt a lot long before they donned Dodger Blue. Even Ohtani, a unique case, was coming off Tommy John surgery when the Dodgers signed him. But the quantity is jarring even in an injury-laden game.
So I had to ask Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic’s Dodgers reporter, what’s going on. It’s not like the Dodgers are the only team telling pitchers to throw hard and spin the ball, so what gives? Fabian gives us some great intel:
- “They have absolutely gone out and targeted talented arms with checkered injury histories,” he tells me. “Part of how they rationalized acquiring Glasnow was the ability to lock down a premium-level talent at a less-than-premium cost.”
- The Dodgers have been fine with that in part because “they’re very good at developing intriguing arms that either can capably handle a few big-league innings or be interesting enough to other teams to flip in trades for more pitching.” See: 26-year-old Ben Casparius and his 3.02 ERA in 23 games (two starts).
- “They aren’t the only team prioritizing velo and spin, but they seemingly go closest to the red line. They had the hardest-throwing rotation in the sport at Double-A Tulsa in 2023. All of those guys have since either gotten hurt or hit a bump in the road. Some of that is an occupational hazard. Another part of it is that the stuff it took to get those guys to the big leagues is what caused them to break down.”
Whew. It feels like the Dodgers are a microcosm of pitching development in general with everything dialed up to 11, doesn’t it?
💬 Losing pitchers at this kind of rate isn’t sustainable, but then again, the incentives are all there for the status quo. For some of these arms, it’s maximizing their potential and getting them into the big leagues in the first place while understanding the hazards behind it. The team, the same thing.
To Fabian’s last point on incentives: L.A. is 47-30 and leading the NL West by four and a half games.
News to Know
Wisconsin lawsuit accuses Miami of tampering
In the latest legal dispute amid the changing landscape of college sports, the University of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami yesterday for allegedly tampering with a football player. Former Badgers cornerback Xavier Lucas had signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Wisconsin before leaving in January to play for Miami despite never entering the transfer portal. Wisconsin is seeking unspecified damages and an admission of tampering from Miami in the lawsuit, which is also being backed by the Big Ten. Oh boy. Plenty more details from the unprecedented lawsuit here.
Dodgers commit $1M to immigrant families
One day after the Dodgers said they denied federal immigration officials access to parking lots around their stadium, the team announced it is committing $1 million in assistance to families impacted by recent immigrant raids. The decision came shortly after a group of Los Angeles community leaders sent a letter to Dodgers ownership to take a public stand against the ICE raids. More on the Dodgers’ pledge here. (This and all links below are free to read.)
Advertisement
More news:
-
The Senegal women’s national basketball team canceled a 10-day training camp in the U.S. later this month after players and staff were denied visas. More here.
-
Jonathan Toews signed a one-year deal with his hometown Winnipeg Jets to complete his NHL comeback. The 37-year-old longtime Blackhawks captain hasn’t played since April 2023.
-
Former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in 21 years yesterday. Patrick Mooney has more on Sosa’s return to Wrigleyville.
-
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh broke Johnny Bench’s record for the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break, thanks to his sixth multi-homer game of the year yesterday. He’s on a torrid offensive pace.
Watch Guide
📺 WNBA: Mercury at Sky
1 p.m. ET on ABC
The Sky are off to a dreadful 3-8 start. Last year’s two promising rookies, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, have yet to take sophomore steps forward. Other than that, all is well.
📺 MCWS: Coastal Carolina vs. LSU
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series, capping what’s been a real humdinger of a College World Series for both the men and women.
Pulse Picks
The Athletic’s weekly sports news quiz.
I played the board game Wingspan for the first time this week. The first hour of learning how to play had me ready to quit, but the second hour was pretty enjoyable. It’s a really cool game when it clicks, with an even cooler backstory. — Sam Settleman
A helpful piece from our Collectibles desk: As the value disparity between PSA 10s and PSA 9s widens, an opportunity could be emerging in ungraded cards.
I hate to sound like peak dad, but I received some nice steaks as a Father’s Day gift and it’s unreal how much better a quality cut is than what I normally buy at the store. Go find your local butcher or a good subscription service and enjoy. — Chris Branch
Try Kinder’s Thai (BBQ) glaze on leftover steak, chicken, or veggies over some sticky rice. Yummm. — Chris Sprow
This is a fun conversation between Dan Shanoff and Richard Deitsch, who broke down the dynamics, pressure, pitfalls and opportunity for ESPN and the NBA heading into tomorrow’s Game 7.
I’d been dreading finding new running shoes, but I’m here to say I actually prefer the Brooks Ghost 17s (super original, I know) to my old faves. — Torrey Hart
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our newser on the Dodgers denying immigration officials access to their stadium.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Takeaways from the Pacers’ rout of the Thunder in Game 6.
Advertisement
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Top photo: Harry How / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Lefty Shota Imanaga Will Rejoin Chicago Cubs Next Week in St. Louis
<!--> Left-hander Shota Imanaga will rejoin the Chicago Cubs early next week in St. Louis following a sharp Triple-A rehab start on Friday, manager Craig Counsell said Saturday.Counsell wasn't sure when Imanaga would be slotted into Chicago's rotation but said before the Cubs' game against the Seattle Mariners that the 31-year-old "is gonna make his next start in the big leagues."Imanaga, who was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA as a rookie last season, is coming back from a left hamstring strain. He got hurt covering first base during the sixth inning of a 4-0 loss at Milwaukee on May 4.Imanaga is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts for the Cubs this season. His return is expected to provide a lift for the NL Central leaders, who entered Saturday 4.5 games in front of Milwaukee and St. Louis.ADVERTISEMENT -->Imanaga […]
INDYCAR To Debut Lighter Car In 2028 With More Power
Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider <!--> ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — The new INDYCAR vehicle to debut in 2028 will be lighter with a more powerful engine.Those features were expected, as INDYCAR released some details about the new car. Teams, however, had hoped that it could be rolled out in 2027. The current car has been used since 2012, with various additions such as the aeroscreen and the hybrid.The new car will be 85 to 100 pounds lighter than the current car, which ranges from 1,635 to 1,785 pounds — depending on whether it's at a speedway or road course. The new engine will be a 2.4-liter, V-6 twin-turbocharged engine, which should have more power than the 2.2-liter, V-6 twin-turbocharged engine currently used. Hybrid technology will continue."The new car will obviously be safer," Penske Corp. Chairman Roger Penske said a few […]
Sixes and a somersault – ‘Great entertainer’ Pant lights up Headingley
Perhaps Rishabh Pant's six off Chris Woakes in the final over of day one was a sign of the fireworks to come on day two at Headingley.When most Test batters would have played for the close, ensured they would still be at the crease the following morning, Pant opted to charge down the wicket and wallop England's Woakes into the stands over deep midwicket. As ever, he thought differently. That eye-popping shot came after a largely sedate knock up to that point with the India vice-captain reining himself as he ushered new skipper Shubman Gill through to a classy century.But Pant expressed himself to the max in the the opening session on Saturday with a swashbuckling, unorthodox display of batting.Sixes, a somersault, the 'falling paddle' as Ravi Shastri coined one audacious shot. There was majesty and madness in equal measure […]
Kylian Mbappe to miss Real Madrid’s Club World Cup game against Pachuca due to illness
Kylian Mbappe will not feature in Real Madrid’s Club World Cup game against Pachuca on Sunday.The 26-year-old missed his side’s opening game against Al Hilal on Wednesday and was later hospitalised after being diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.The France international left the hospital on Thursday but has not recovered in time to travel to Charlotte with his Real Madrid teammates to face Pachuca at the Bank of America Stadium.Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will also not be available for Sunday’s game against the Mexican side.The 33-year-old defender has been out of action since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee in October last year.He has since returned to training, but a neck injury will see him miss Real’s second group stage game.AdvertisementHowever, Antonio Rudiger will be part of Real’s squad for the Pachuca game. The 32-year-old centre-back […]
NBA Finals Game 7: Ranking the top moments as LeBron James, Bill Russell lead history of memorable finishes
For the first time in nine years, the NBA title comes down to a Game 7. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the charge with the Oklahoma City Thunder against the underdog Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton.The Pacers are trying to become the first professional franchise across the four major sports to win a championship despite odds at +8000 or higher entering the postseason, according to CBS Sports Research. With a victory, the Pacers would tie the 2004 Pistons (+700) as the largest NBA Finals underdog to win the series in the last 40 years (Odds per FanDuel Sportsbook). Oklahoma City hopes to bounce back from a lopsided showing in Game 6 that included eight turnovers from Gilgeous-Alexander — which tied the record for the most Finals giveaways — and an equally disappointing showing from Jalen Williams, who was held to […]
In NBA Finals Game 7, Pacers have chance to become misfit champions: ‘All we have is us’
INDIANAPOLIS — Their voices were excited but low. Their faces were beaming but serious. Their celebrations were joyful but muted.A couple of hours after the Indiana Pacers bounced the New York Knicks and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, Aaron Nesmith sat at his locker with his ankle in an ice bucket. The Pacers guard, who’d been playing through an ankle sprain, was sick of hearing about what Indiana had just accomplished. He was ready to move on, and so was his team. So, when the cameras and mics began to disappear, along with the cyclical questions about Indiana’s remarkable trek to the championship round, he welcomed the seclusion from the outside world.AdvertisementMyles Turner, the longest-tenured Pacer, pulled up a chair next to Nesmith. So did a few other staffers, who gathered to form […]
Related
Lefty Shota Imanaga Will Rejoin Chicago Cubs Next Week in St. Louis
<!--> Left-hander Shota Imanaga will rejoin the Chicago Cubs early next week in St. Louis following a sharp Triple-A rehab start on Friday, manager Craig Counsell said Saturday.Counsell wasn't sure when Imanaga would be slotted into Chicago's rotation but said before the Cubs' game against the Seattle Mariners that the 31-year-old "is gonna make his next start in the big leagues."Imanaga, who was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA as a rookie last season, is coming back from a left hamstring strain. He got hurt covering first base during the sixth inning of a 4-0 loss at Milwaukee on May 4.Imanaga is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts for the Cubs this season. His return is expected to provide a lift for the NL Central leaders, who entered Saturday 4.5 games in front of Milwaukee and St. Louis.ADVERTISEMENT -->Imanaga […]
INDYCAR To Debut Lighter Car In 2028 With More Power
Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider <!--> ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — The new INDYCAR vehicle to debut in 2028 will be lighter with a more powerful engine.Those features were expected, as INDYCAR released some details about the new car. Teams, however, had hoped that it could be rolled out in 2027. The current car has been used since 2012, with various additions such as the aeroscreen and the hybrid.The new car will be 85 to 100 pounds lighter than the current car, which ranges from 1,635 to 1,785 pounds — depending on whether it's at a speedway or road course. The new engine will be a 2.4-liter, V-6 twin-turbocharged engine, which should have more power than the 2.2-liter, V-6 twin-turbocharged engine currently used. Hybrid technology will continue."The new car will obviously be safer," Penske Corp. Chairman Roger Penske said a few […]
Sixes and a somersault – ‘Great entertainer’ Pant lights up Headingley
Perhaps Rishabh Pant's six off Chris Woakes in the final over of day one was a sign of the fireworks to come on day two at Headingley.When most Test batters would have played for the close, ensured they would still be at the crease the following morning, Pant opted to charge down the wicket and wallop England's Woakes into the stands over deep midwicket. As ever, he thought differently. That eye-popping shot came after a largely sedate knock up to that point with the India vice-captain reining himself as he ushered new skipper Shubman Gill through to a classy century.But Pant expressed himself to the max in the the opening session on Saturday with a swashbuckling, unorthodox display of batting.Sixes, a somersault, the 'falling paddle' as Ravi Shastri coined one audacious shot. There was majesty and madness in equal measure […]
Kylian Mbappe to miss Real Madrid’s Club World Cup game against Pachuca due to illness
Kylian Mbappe will not feature in Real Madrid’s Club World Cup game against Pachuca on Sunday.The 26-year-old missed his side’s opening game against Al Hilal on Wednesday and was later hospitalised after being diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.The France international left the hospital on Thursday but has not recovered in time to travel to Charlotte with his Real Madrid teammates to face Pachuca at the Bank of America Stadium.Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will also not be available for Sunday’s game against the Mexican side.The 33-year-old defender has been out of action since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee in October last year.He has since returned to training, but a neck injury will see him miss Real’s second group stage game.AdvertisementHowever, Antonio Rudiger will be part of Real’s squad for the Pachuca game. The 32-year-old centre-back […]
NBA Finals Game 7: Ranking the top moments as LeBron James, Bill Russell lead history of memorable finishes
For the first time in nine years, the NBA title comes down to a Game 7. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the charge with the Oklahoma City Thunder against the underdog Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton.The Pacers are trying to become the first professional franchise across the four major sports to win a championship despite odds at +8000 or higher entering the postseason, according to CBS Sports Research. With a victory, the Pacers would tie the 2004 Pistons (+700) as the largest NBA Finals underdog to win the series in the last 40 years (Odds per FanDuel Sportsbook). Oklahoma City hopes to bounce back from a lopsided showing in Game 6 that included eight turnovers from Gilgeous-Alexander — which tied the record for the most Finals giveaways — and an equally disappointing showing from Jalen Williams, who was held to […]
In NBA Finals Game 7, Pacers have chance to become misfit champions: ‘All we have is us’
INDIANAPOLIS — Their voices were excited but low. Their faces were beaming but serious. Their celebrations were joyful but muted.A couple of hours after the Indiana Pacers bounced the New York Knicks and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, Aaron Nesmith sat at his locker with his ankle in an ice bucket. The Pacers guard, who’d been playing through an ankle sprain, was sick of hearing about what Indiana had just accomplished. He was ready to move on, and so was his team. So, when the cameras and mics began to disappear, along with the cyclical questions about Indiana’s remarkable trek to the championship round, he welcomed the seclusion from the outside world.AdvertisementMyles Turner, the longest-tenured Pacer, pulled up a chair next to Nesmith. So did a few other staffers, who gathered to form […]
Be the first to leave a comment