Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Not expected back during weekend
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Manager Dave Roberts said after Friday's game that he doesn't expect Freeman (personal) to return to the Dodgers before the end of their series against Houston, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Freeman was a late scratch from Friday's lineup, allowing him to travel back home to tend to a family emergency. It remains unclear if the Dodgers will move the first baseman onto the family emergency list, but the chances of him playing this weekend seem to be low either way. Cavan Biggio will serve as Los Angeles' primary first baseman while Freeman is away.
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Dodgers' River Ryan: Penciled in for Sunday start
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Ryan will start Sunday's game against the Astros, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Ryan will make his second career start after allowing an unearned run in 5.1 innings against the Giants in his debut Monday. With Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw now healthy, it was unclear if Ryan would stick around for another start, but he'll compete with Justin Wrobleski to remain the fifth starter once Walker Buehler (hip) returns.
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Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Scratched from lineup Friday
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Freeman (personal) has been scratched from the Dodgers' lineup for Friday's game against the Astros, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Freeman was originally slated to start at first base and bat third Friday, but he is flying back home to be with his family with his son in the hospital, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. There is no timeline on when Freeman may return to the club. Cavan Biggio will slide to first base Friday while Gavin Lux enters the lineup at second base, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports.
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Dodgers' Gavin Lux: Absent from lineup
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Lux is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Houston, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
The left-handed hitting Lux is getting a day off as the Astros send lefty Framber Valdez to the bump. Cavan Biggio -- who also bats left-handed -- will be at second base for the Dodgers.
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Dodgers' Jason Heyward: Sitting against left-hander
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Heyward is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Houston, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Southpaw Framber Valdez is toeing the slab for the Astros, so Heyward will begin the game on the bench. Teoscar Hernandez will be in right field while Miguel Vargas handles left.
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Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Records three hits Thursday
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Hernandez went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Thursday's 6-4 win against the Giants.
Hernandez opened the scoring in the contest with a second-inning RBI single and added a run-scoring double in the fourth. The utility man has hit safely in four of his past six games and is slashing .318/.318/.545 with a home run, four RBI and four runs over that span. With the Dodgers' infield decimated by injuries to Mookie Betts (hand), Max Muncy (oblique), Miguel Rojas (forearm) and Chris Taylor (groin), Hernandez has had an opportunity to play nearly every day. He's started at shortstop or third base in each of Los Angeles' past five contests.
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Dodgers' Daniel Hudson: Deployed in sixth inning Thursday
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Hudson earned a hold against the Giants on Thursday, walking one batter and striking out two in a scoreless sixth inning.
Hudson had earned a save in each of his previous four outings coming into Thursday, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to bring him in with Los Angeles up 4-2 in the sixth frame. The veteran reliever issued a two-out walk but kept the team's lead intact with a scoreless inning. Meanwhile, Evan Phillips -- who has been Los Angeles' primary closer for most of the campaign -- worked the seventh inning Thursday, while recent signee Brent Honeywell got the ninth and notched a save. Hudson is the most likely reliever on the team to be called upon for save chances, but it's clear that Roberts isn't tied to any individual closer and won't hesitate to use his top high-leverage options in situations outside of the ninth inning.
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Dodgers' Moises Bolivar: Heads to Dodgers in Paxton trade
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The Dodgers acquired Bolivar from the Red Sox in exchange for James Paxton on Friday.
Bolivar is a 17-year-old infielder who has slashed .270/.364/.423 with three homers in 31 games this season in the Dominican Summer League. He's a lottery ticket for the Dodgers.
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Dodgers' James Paxton: Could return to Boston
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The Red Sox are in talks to acquire Paxton from the Dodgers, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Boston was immediately linked to Paxton after the left-hander was designated for assignment by the Dodgers and it sounds like a trade could come together soon. Paxton has collected an underwhelming 4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 64:48 K:BB in 89.1 innings over 18 starts this season, but he did post a 101:33 K:BB across 96 frames in 2023 with the Red Sox.
Ahmed went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Thursday's 6-4 win over the Giants.
Ahmed inked a major-league deal with the Dodgers on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 during his debut with Los Angeles. In his second game Thursday, Ahmed lifted a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning against his former team. Before being released by the Giants on July 11, Ahmed logged a .232 average with one homer, 15 RBI and 13 runs in 172 plate appearances.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Goes yard Thursday
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Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run during Thursday's 6-4 win over the Giants.
Ohtani and Nick Ahmed hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning off Tyler Rogers to put the Dodgers ahead. The long ball was Ohtani's 31st of the season, a total that trails only Aaron Judge in MLB. Since the start of July, Ohtani has gone 22-for-74 (.297) with five home runs, 12 RBI and 12 runs scored.
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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Solid in 2024 debut
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Kershaw didn't factor into the decision Thursday against San Francisco, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
Kershaw made his first start since October 2023 after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and threw 72 pitches. Kershaw had to shake off a bit of rust, allowing a pair of baserunners in the first inning, but he kept the Giants off the scoreboard until the third frame. Both runs attributed to Kershaw came in that inning, as the left-hander surrendered three consecutive hits, including an RBI triple to Tyler Fitzgerald. Kershaw is on track to face the Padres in San Diego next week and should continue building up to a more traditional workload.
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Dodgers' Brent Honeywell: Grabs save Thursday
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Honeywell picked up the save Thursday against the Giants, allowing one hit and no walks with a strikeout across a scoreless inning.
Honeywell was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on July 13 and had fired seven scoreless innings leading up to Thursday's save chance. Interestingly, Daniel Hudson and Evan Phillips -- the Dodgers' primary ninth-inning options -- pitched the sixth and seventh, leaving Honeywell to snare his first save of 2024. It's unclear if Honeywell will be in line for more save chances going forward, but Phillips has struggled in his past 10 outings with four homers allowed and a 9.35 ERA.
The Dodgers recalled Outman from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
He will absorb the roster spot vacated by Chris Taylor (groin). Outman has slashed a woeful .153/.250/.258 in 45 games with the big club this season and will not be guaranteed regular at-bats while on the active roster.
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Dodgers' Chris Taylor: Officially placed on IL
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The Dodgers placed Taylor on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left groin strain, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.
Taylor exited Wednesday's contest with left groin tightness after legging out a double in the seventh inning, and an MRI revealed a strain that will officially keep him sidelined for at least 10 days. Enrique Hernandez is set to start at third base for Thursday's series finale against the Giants and may continue to do so while Taylor is out. Meanwhile, James Outman will come up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the open roster spot.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's loss to San Francisco that he expects Taylor (groin) to go on the injured list, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Taylor hurt his groin while rounding first base on a double and exited with a trainer. Roberts later indicated that the team's level of concern is "sort of " high and that the utility man is likely to land on the injured list, though that won't be certain until he gets scans Thursday. Roberts also stated that if Taylor does need to go on the IL, James Outman would be recalled from the minors.
