Sunday, June 22, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

On a picturesque Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers closed out a ten-game home stand with a 7-3 record. The Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 11-to-7. The Dodgers have a 3.5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants and a 4.5-game lead over the San  Diego Padres in the National League Western Division.

Shohei Ohtani could have had a perfect inning if Mookie Betts hadn’t lost a pop fly in the sun. He struck out two. He still struggled with his command, particularly on the splitter. However, he looked much better than in his first start as a Dodger.

Ben Casparius relieved Ohtani and toiled for the first inning, where he gave up a three-run homer. However, he settled down and pitched well for five innings. He struck out two and walked a mere hitter. He relied on his defense.

Before the game, Dave Roberts was asked if Casparius was the MVP of the Dodger pitching staff. After much thought, he answered, “one of them.”

Casparius isn’t getting much national attention for his rookie campaign. He should, but most relieving rookies don’t. He has been a Godsend for an injured star-studded pitching staff. He has been a Swiss Army knife. When a starter couldn’t go long, Casparius pitched the bulk innings. He has done short relief with the game on the line or has been an opener.

When the Dodgers were in San Diego, the Dodgers announced that Casparius was going to join the starting rotation. Since then, he has relieved Ohtani. When Ohtani gets built up as a starter, Casparius should be able to be a starter, but Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell will be rejoining the rotation.

Before the sixth, the Dodgers’ offense looked dead. For 4.2 innings, Michael Soroka held the Dodgers hitless until Hyeseong Kim doubled.

Then, the Dodgers exploded. Max Muncy hit his 200th and 2001st home runs, a grand slam and a three-run shot, as a Dodger. Ohtani had a three-run triple and a two-run homer to break out of a week-long slump. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman showed signs of breaking out of their slumps. Dalton Rushing was on base all four times, including two runs.

Anthony Banda, Lou Trivino, Kiké Hernández, who gave up two runs, and Alex Vesia, who gave up a sacrifice fly and a single, pitched well in relief.