This is a brief look at everything Dodgers prior to the game against the Rangers today.
- Doctors checked up on Mookie Betts yesterday and confirmed he got food poisoning which has caused him to miss the last two games. He was taking swings in a cage earlier today. Dave Roberts said Mookie will play Monday, possibly as DH, instead of Wednesday as previously planned.
- Blake Treinen made his debut yesterday pitching a scoreless inning. Later on, he admitted to having first-time nerves that brought him “jitters and Bambi legs.” Nonetheless, Doc was happy with his outing:
“I thought Blake was good. First time with a new ballclub, you’re wearing a new uniform, I thought, all things considered, he was very good,” Roberts said. “I thought the sinker was good. Very positive day. So we’ll give him a couple of days and get him back into a game.”
Throughout spring training camp the coaching staff has been tinkering with Treinen’s mechanics in hopes of regaining his 2018 form according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:
The mechanical adjustments were just “subtle tweaks” in his delivery, Treinen said. Some physical issues over the course of the 2019 season might have caused the changes…
For a variety of reasons, he threw his sinker a career-low 66.9% of the time last season and his cutter a career-high 19.7% of the time. That imbalance might be the most significant change Treinen is making with the Dodgers.
“That’s not me as a pitcher. I know that,” Treinen said. “That’s what’s frustrating. I ran into some tough tendencies and I’m trying to create better tendencies this year.
“Just trying to mix pitches differently because historically you look at my charts and last year was something that I didn’t even know about until the end of the year.”
- Jimmy Nelson threw a 17 pitch bullpen session today. His control was inconsistent but felt good, physically. He’s been slowly working his way into making his Dodgers debut while dealing with lower-body issues. At this point, the chances of him making the opening day roster are slim.
- Walker Buehler is set to make his 3rd appearance this spring on Wednesday against the Brewers. In 2 appearances this spring, he’s pitched 4.1 innings allowing 2 runs, 3 hits (1 of them a home run), 2 walks while striking out 4.
- Cody Bellinger was scratched from today’s lineup due to a scheduling mixup. He’ll play tomorrow.
- Justin Turner isn’t with the team today, he’s in Los Angeles supporting his wife running the L.A. Marathon.
- Dave Roberts will announce the opening day starter tomorrow.
- Julio Urias is set to make his 2nd appearance of the spring today in a start against the Rangers. In his first game, he lasted only 0.2 innings pitched allowing 2 unearned runs to score after the leadoff hitter reached on an error.
Oskar is a writer/editor for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Graphic credit: Alberto