Dodgers pitching staff will only get better this year
The Sporting Tribune's Doug Padilla writes about a Dodgers pitching staff that will get stronger as this season progresses.
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1. Dodgers pitching staff will only get better this year
The Sporting Tribune's Doug Padilla writes about a Dodgers pitching staff that will get stronger as this season progresses.
It was a few years ago, following the end of an unsuccessful playoff run for the Dodgers, when a major league scout summed up the situation succinctly.
“Ran out of pitching,” the scout said as the Dodgers limped into the offseason without a World Series appearance that was expected.
The assessment was delivered matter of factly and in one drawn-out word: “ranoutofpitching.” There was no shoulder movement, although you could see the shrug. Nothing else was said, although you could hear his, “No surprise.”
Twice in the past 10 seasons, the Dodgers had enough late-season pitching to win a title. In 2017, they had a championship in their grasp, but it was the Houston Astros who banged on the back of plastic buckets and took it away. In 2020, the Dodgers landed their title, when they pitched their way past the Tampa Bay Rays.
2. Los Angeles to be an Olympics host unlike any other
The plan is for the 2028 Olympics to be the first summer Games in recent history in which no new venues will need to be constructed, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Jackson Thompson.
When the Paris Olympics closes Aug. 11, the world can turn its attention to a handover ceremony that will feature a heavy Los Angeles theme.
The moment was teased by U.S. Olympics committee CEO Sarah Hirschland and LA 2028 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans at the U.S. Olympics Media Summit in New York this week, but all of its key details of the ceremony are still under wraps.
The ceremony will be the first tick in the countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the first Olympics hosted by LA since 1984 and the third overall.
“This very well may be the single most important decade in sports in this country and we see a massive obligation and massive opportunity,” Hirschland said.
Many of the same pillars from 1984 will be reprised in 2028, but in many ways Los Angeles will be a vastly different host city from that of 1984.
3. TST’s betting guide to the first round of the NBA Playoffs
The Sporting Tribune's Danny Burke shares his approach to handicapping the beginning stages of the NBA Playoffs.
It’s postseason time on the hardwood. The action begins this weekend and I’m here to get you ready with several wagers throughout round number one.
As always, make sure to shop the odds around the different sportsbooks you have available to yourself so you can guarantee the best price in your jurisdiction.
I won’t be previewing every series, per se – but I will be sharing my analysis of the ones that I am betting, or have strong leans on.
4. Lakers get playoff rematch against Nuggets in first round
The Lakers were swept in four games in the Conference Finals last year against the Nuggets. They now play in the first round, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Rey Moralde.
The quest for Title #18 starts on Saturday night for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Standing in their way in the first round? The defending champion Denver Nuggets, the team that ousted Los Angeles in the Western Conference Finals in last year’s postseason.
At some point, the Lakers were going to face the Nuggets but they probably didn’t think it would be the first round. Nevertheless, the rematch is here and L.A. has to make the best of this situation.
As been mentioned several times, Denver has beaten the Lakers eight straight times, including last season’s playoffs. In the regular season, the Nuggets went 3-0 and those games were under brighter lights.
5. Dodgers’ skid continues as Mets win series opener
The Dodgers’ bullpen falters late as their offense continues to sputter, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Grant Mona.
The Mets continued their hot streak with a convincing 9-4 victory over a team searching for answers in the Dodgers.
Young right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1) took the mound for Los Angeles and while he did struggle early on, settled in to only allow three earned runs over six innings pitched. The bullpen however faltered late, giving up five runs in three innings to decide the result of the game.
The veteran lefty Sean Manaea (1-1) toed the rubber for the Mets and did an admirable job against the potent offense of the Dodgers. He went five innings, giving up only four hits and two earned runs while striking out three.
While the Dodger offense did come alive to tie the ballgame at four in the sixth inning, they were still 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left ten on base. A consistent theme over this tough stretch for the team has been their inability to drive in runs when they need and come up clutch.
On Friday, that trend continued to give them their fifth loss in seven games.
The Dodgers are now 12-10 on the season.
6. The Final Stop on the Road to the Preakness
On Saturday, they’ll stage the final Preakness Prep: the Federico Tesio Stakes, named after the famous Italian horse breeder and trainer, who brought his talents to Maryland, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Louie Rabaut.
The Road to the Preakness ends this week.
While we’ve hit a soft spot in the Kentucky Derby prep schedule, we still have another prep series to watch: The Road to the Preakness, otherwise known as the second jewel of the American Triple Crown.
Every racing jurisdiction has its own version of a Derby: in the case of Maryland, it’s the Preakness; in New York State, it’s the Belmont Stakes, etc.
On Saturday, they’ll stage the final Preakness Prep: the Federico Tesio Stakes, named after the famous Italian horse breeder and trainer, who brought his talents to Maryland. I often say on the Horse Racing Happy Hour Podcast that the Tesio is a great predictor of who won’t win the Preakness, and this year should be no different.
7. Video of the Day
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8. Ticket Time
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:
1:05 p.m. – Mets at Dodgers – $41
7:30 p.m. – New York Red Bull at LAFC – $55
9. On the Air
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:
1:05 p.m. – Mets at Dodgers – SportsNet LA
3:40 p.m. – Angels at Reds – Bally Sports West
5:30 p.m. - Lakers at Nuggets (Game 1) - ABC
7:30 p.m. – New York Red Bull at LAFC – Apple TV
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher. You can also watch every Friday on BLEAV on FuboTV.
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That’s it for today. Talk to you tomorrow!