Three-Inning Save: A Los Angeles Dodgers Podcast

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we are stunned at the enormity of Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. Ohtani’s deal shattered records for both total value and average annual salary in both baseball and North American Sports. His agreement with the Dodgers came after speculation that he might sign with the Blue Jays, plus flight tracking of a plane to Toronto that was actually carrying someone from Shark Tank. We recap the week that led up to Ohtani picking the Dodgers, including Dave Roberts daring to plainly state the obvious in an otherwise secretive situation. So now Ohtani joins an offense that includes Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, giving them a formidable trio atop the lineup. Those three also have a similar contract structure, it seems. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we take stock of the Dodgers ahead of the winter meetings. The first four weeks of the offseason have been mostly quiet. Jason Heyward is coming back to Los Angeles after a nice bounce-back year. Lance Lynn signed with the Cardinals. Yency Almonte avoided arbitration, and Ricky Vanasco found his way back to the 40-man roster. Shohei Ohtani is the big prize of the offseason, and the Dodgers will certainly be in the mix. But mystery surrounds him. Plus we look at potential pitching additions like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell at the top of the free agent market plus potential trade candidates Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we usher in the official start of the MLB offseason. On November 2, the day after the World Series, 12 Dodgers became free agents, headlined by shoulder-surgery-recoverer Clayton Kershaw and J.D. Martinez. We go over the Dodgers roster at the start of the offseason, plus Max Muncy’s new 2-year contract, various club option decisions and important dates upcoming. We also look at the volatile nature of postseason performance, personified by Corey Seager, who found the upswing again with another World Series MVP, this time with the Rangers, and Mookie Betts, who had two straight bad playoff performances. Plus, Betts comments on Trevor Bauer, Dodgers trivia, offseason questions, and more. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we lament the Dodgers getting swept in three games by the Diamondbacks in the NLDS. Game 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix went much like the first two games in Los Angeles. Arizona took an early lead with four solo home runs in the third inning against homer-prone Lance Lynn. Dodgers starting pitchers in the NLDS allowed 13 runs and recorded 14 outs in the series. Those four runs proved too much for an inept Dodgers offense, who scored only two runs in the seventh inning of Game 3, and scored exactly two runs in every game of the series, with a dismal .498 OPS. The Dodgers had their fourth-worst OPS in a single playoff series, but not quite as bad as the 1920 Brooklyn team in basically the end of the dead ball era. Now, the season is over, so we take a brief look at how the Dodgers will start the offseason, with many decisions ahead, including whether Clayton Kershaw will return. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we dissect the Dodgers implosion in the first two games of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw had the worst start of his career, allowing six runs while recording only one out in Game 1. Bobby Miller recorded only five outs in his postseason debut in Game 2. The Dodgers trailed by several runs before they batted in both games. The offense could not pick up the slack, scoring only twice each in the first two games, mostly shut down by D-backs starters Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen. The Dodgers aren’t giving themselves many chances with runners in scoring position (13 PA in two games), and they aren’t coming through when they do (two hits). Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have just one hit in 13 at-bats in the first two games, but they aren’t alone. The Dodgers scored a combined four runs on 10 hits in the first two games. Now, they have to win three straight games to keep their season alive, the first of which is Game 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix, with Lance Lynn starting on the mound. The Dodgers face an uphill battle, to say the least. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we preview the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card round, giving the Dodgers their fourth straight NLDS against a divisional opponent, and fifth in the last seven years dating back to 2017. We look at the matchup, including the Dodgers’ strong performances against D-backs starters Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt this season, plus how Dodgers pitchers have curbed stolen bases as the season wore on. Plus, we look at notes from three days of Dodgers scrimmages at Dodger Stadium, plus guessing the potential NLDS roster, and pitching plans beyond Clayton Kershaw and Bobby Miller starting the first two games. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. 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 won 100 games for the fourth full season in a row, and will play either the Brewers or Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series. We briefly look back at the regular season, including amazing campaigns by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. And we also look ahead to Clayton Kershaw set to make his 12th career Game 1 start on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. 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 have less than one week left to go in the regular season, with their October path now fairly clear. The Dodgers have clinched a bye past the wild card round and into the Division Series, which means they will have five days off between their regular season finale and Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, October 7. We know Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw will start the first two games, but the order remains to be seen. At least for the NLDS, there aren’t many roster battles at all, if any. The Dodgers are locked into the No. 2 seed in the National League, which means playing the winner of the series between the NL Central-winning Brewers and the third wild card team. We also look at some statistics in play in the last week of the regular season, including 60 doubles and 100 RBI for Freddie Freeman, 40 home runs for Mookie Betts, 100 RBI for J.D. Martinez, 100 wins for the Dodgers, and more. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. 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 the Dodgers clinching their 10th division title in 11 years. Despite a starting pitching staff that was decimated, and growing pains for several rookies along the way, the Dodgers cruised to yet another division title. How they managed the pitching in the last two days in Seattle against the Mariners is a potential preview of how the team might deploy its pitchers this postseason. Over the weekend, hard-throwing right-handed rookies Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone followed left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Ryan Yarbrough, respectively, with great success. The playoffs will be a mix-and-match scenario for the pitchers, though Bobby Miller will figure prominently at or near the top of the Dodgers rotation. Manager Dave Roberts already said Miller would start one of the first two games in the National League Division Series. Also in this episode, Stone got a 10-out save, Mookie Betts ties leadoff home run and RBI records, Jason Heyward continued his incredible resurgent year, plus we remember the time Duaner Sanchez threw his glove during a play, and debate ice cream toppings (or not). The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. 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 very eventful week for the Dodgers, the good, the bad, and the despicable. Julio Urías was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball. While not official yet, given the timing and his pending free agency, this effectively ends his time with the Dodgers in ignobility. Mookie Betts fouled a ball off his left foot and left the stadium in Miami and crutches, which made everyone panic and for good reason. But it turned out to be a bone bruise and he only missed two games. Freddie Freeman broke the Dodgers doubles record, Bobby Miller continued to pitch his way into a more prominent role in October, Ryan Pepiot flirted with a perfect game, and the Dodgers had three rain delays in three days in Washington D.C. Also, pitcher Ryan Yarbrough joined the new Dodgers dads club, after the birth of his daughter he's the seventh player on the team to go on paternity leave this season. Scott Miller in the New York Times wrote a great article about the Dodgers dads. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we take stock of the good, bad, and the ugly of the Dodgers losing three out of four games to the Braves. Bobby Miller impressed on Sunday with seven strong innings, making a strong case to move up in the pecking order in the October postseason rotation. We recorded this episode on Sunday night, before news of Julio Urías getting arrested in Los Angeles on felony domestic violence charges. Urías will not accompany the team on their road trip to Miami and Washington D.C., and an MLB investigation is pending. Also in this episode, the Dodgers bullpen needs more right-handers but none of the injured pitchers are particularly close to returning. Starter Walker Buehler did start a rehab assignment though, and his return nearly 13 months after Tommy John surgery suddenly looks more real and possible than before. Mookie Betts and James Outman won awards for August, the Dodgers optioned Ryan Pepiot for some reason, and we guess if and when Betts might break the record for leadoff home runs in a season. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Three-Inning Save podcast, we preview the series at Dodger Stadium between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, the two best teams in the National League (and maybe even the major leagues). Kris Willis from Battery Power joins us for insight on Atlanta. This series has arguably the top four contenders for NL MVP in Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman, and Matt Olson, and the two teams will likely send the top four pitchers in their starting rotation to the mound in the four games in Los Angeles. This should be an exciting series, and potentially a preview of the National League Championship Series, which if it happens would be the third time in four years the Dodgers and Braves met in the NLCS. They also played each other in the 2018 NLDS, so there's lots of history between these two teams. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. 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 pitcher Pete Richert, who pitched for the Dodgers at the start (1962-64) and near the end (1972-73) of his career. 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

The frustrating 2023 season of Tony Gonsolin officially comes to an end, with news that the Dodgers right-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery on Friday, September 1. Gonsolin started the season on the injured list with an ankle injury, and was pitching at a diminished capacity for the bulk of his 20 starts, though the team insists he didn't risk further injury while pitching. This surgery likely knocks Gonsolin out for 2024 as well, so we look at the Dodgers rotation for next year, with fellow surgery-recoverer Dustin May out until midseason himself, and free agency looming for Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw. Also, a look at how Gonsolin's contract structure gave him a perverse incentive to continue pitching while hurt this season. The Three-Inning Save podcast is hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch and produced by Brian Salvatore. We are part of the Fans First Sports Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, Mookie Betts continued one of the best hot streaks in Dodgers history, and returned to Boston for the first time since getting traded by the Red Sox. Betts is on such an incredible hot streak, dating back two months, that he might now be the favorite for National League MVP. There’s still five weeks left in the season to decide this award, and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves will have a lot to say about it. So will Freddie Freeman, who already broke the Los Angeles Dodgers record for doubles in a season with more than a month left to play. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we look back at another winning week for the Dodgers, led by a scalding-hot Mookie Betts and a resurgent Austin Barnes, among others. Also, Tony Gonsolin reached the end of his rope after pitching hurt for two-plus months, landing on the injured list with elbow/forearm inflammation and unlikely to pitch again this season. The Dodgers had a 23-year rainout streak snapped thanks to the first tropical storm in California in 84 years. J.D. Martinez reached on catcher’s interference twice in a game, the first Dodger to do so in 87 years, so it was a big week for rarities. We predict the 2023 playoff teams as well, so be sure to yell at us at our inevitable wrong answers. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. 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 punctuated their ninth consecutive win by living up to our podcast name, with Ryan Yarbrough collecting a three-inning save. Yarbrough, one of five players acquired by the Dodgers before the trade deadline, has impressed in a hybrid bulk relief role since joining Los Angeles, and has helped "save" the rest of the bullpen with his extended outings. For Yarbrough to get his three-inning save -- like Andre Jackson twice and Emmet Sheehan's four-inning save before him -- multiple factors played into the opportunity. First, starter Bobby Miller was fantastic in his six innings, retiring his final 18 batters faced. And the Dodgers offense had to cooperate with a five-run rally in the sixth inning to take the lead, just as Yarbrough entered. It was Yarbrough's first career save of any kind, and fourth save of at least three innings by a Dodgers pitcher in 2023. Also, a look at the current Dodgers bullpen, which added Gus Varland and could add Shelby Miller within the week as they await returns of Joe Kelly and Yency Almonte from the injured list. 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, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch discuss the juggernaut Dodgers, who have won eight straight games and now have a commanding 8½-game lead in the National League West. Clayton Kershaw returned for the first time in over six weeks, and Lance Lynn continued to ride his fastball to success since getting traded to the Dodgers. Fellow deadline acquisitions Kiké Hernández (131 wRC+) and Amed Rosario (130 wRC+) have boosted the offense as well, especially against right-handed pitching. The Dodgers have won 12 out of 13 games before their first off day of August, and after one of the worst starting pitching months in franchise history in July, the LA rotation has a 2.25 ERA in August, stabilizing the staff. In the bullpen, manager Dave Roberts introduced the term "trust tree" this week, to our delight. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. 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 pitcher Ed Roebuck, the former Dodgers reliever who was a rookie on the 1955 Brooklyn team that won the first World Series in franchise history, and was used heavily down the stretch as the Dodgers lost the pennant to San Francisco in 1962. We talk about Roebuck’s 11-year major league career, his tirade about manager Walt Alston after getting traded to Washington, Roebuck’s legendary prowess with the fungo bat, how he overcame major shoulder injuries to last, plus his longtime scouting career. Sources include: SABR bio of Roebuck, written by Paul Hirsch; Roebuck’s obituary, by Bill Shaikin in the Los Angeles Times; Dodgers trade Roebuck to Washington, True Blue LA. 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, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch give a final recap of the Dodgers trade deadline, including the deal for Eduardo Rodrigez that fell through and adding Ryan Yarbrough. Emmet Sheehan pitched a perfectly-timed four-inning save (no, we are not changing the podcast name), and the Dodgers won five out of six games against the A’s and Padres, losing only thanks to a nightmare eighth inning by the bullpen in San Diego on Saturday. The players the Dodgers did trade for factored in, with Lance Lynn winning both starts, Amed Rosario homering twice, and the Dodgers as a team tattooing left-handed pitchers of late, facing a ton of them in the last week and a half. Also, Clayton Kershaw is likely going to return to the rotation this week. The Three-Inning Save 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, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch look back on last week’s plea that the Dodgers very clearly needed to trade for starting pitching, then they went out and proved it by having a terrible week on the mound. The Dodgers did get a head start on the MLB trade deadline by making three deals. They brought back Kiké Hernández and traded for Amed Rosario to bolster the right-handed options among position players. Plus they got Rosario for pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who was on the outs in Los Angeles. The Dodgers also got starting pitcher Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly from the White Sox, a trade that on its surface doesn’t look like a huge upgrade. The team still needs pitching help, and have about a day and a half left until the trade deadline to make more deals. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. 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 pitcher Mike Harkey, the former Cal State Fullerton pitcher who ended his playing career down the stretch with the Dodgers in 1997, who came on our radar thanks to Immaculate Grid. 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

The Dodgers made their first and almost certainly not last deal of trade deadline season, acquiring old friend Enrique Hernández from the Red Sox, trying to revitalize the utility man who is having a down year at the plate. Sent to Boston in the trade were Triple-A relievers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman, with the Red Sox paying $2.5 million of the roughly $3.7 million remaining on Hernández's salary in 2023. A look at what this means for the Dodgers in the short term -- Hernández will face lefties, provide more versatility -- and that it doesn't necessarily rule out the Dodgers from trading for another hitter. The Three-Inning Save podcast is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, with hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, the Dodgers had a wildly successful road trip, winning all three series including taking four of six games against the Orioles and Rangers, two first-place teams among the top-five records in the majors. The Dodgers have a top-five record, too, and have cemented their usual perch atop the National League West. Freddie Freeman went supernova, which overshadowed a surreal week by catcher Will Smith and contributions from just about everyone on offense. But the starting pitching struggled, with nearly a 9.00 ERA this last week, and blow-up starts by Julio Urías and Emmet Sheehan, accentuating the Dodgers’ need to acquire starting pitching at the trade deadline, which is a little over a week away. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. 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 third baseman Robin Ventura, who was acquired by the Dodgers at the 2003 trade deadline. In addition to his excellent years with the White Sox, the six-time Gold Glove winner Ventura also played with the Mets and Yankees. For the Mets, Ventura famously hit a walk-off grand slam single in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS, on a ball he hit over the wall in right field but never actually rounded the bases during the celebration and only got credit for a single. The Dodgers acquired Ventura from the Yankees in 2003, and he played with Los Angeles for the final season and a half of his career. 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