Monday, March 9, 2026

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2026

On a breezy Monday afternoon at American Family Field in Phoenix, Arizona, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-to-3. This game was a rematch of the 2025 NLCS in which the Dodgers swept the Brewers to advance to the World Series.

Emmet Sheehan looked better on Monday than he did in his first appearance in the Cactus League. He was slowed by an illness, so he is a little behind other starters. He ran into command problems in the third inning when fatigue hit him. With Blake Snell and Gavin Stone out for Opening Day, Sheehan is almost guaranteed a spot in the Dodgers’ starting rotation.

River Ryan was impressive on Monday. With every outing this spring, his command has improved. He has a good chance of making the Opening Day roster. The young right-hander has a slow delivery, making him susceptible to the stolen base. However, his pitches are electric. Looking at him now, no one would know he underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2024. In his 2.2 innings, he had three strikeouts while walking one and allowing a solo home run.

Tanner Scott proved he could strand a runner at third on Monday. This is a crucial skill for a late-inning reliever. After a disappointing first year with the Dodgers, he has looked sharp. He figures to be a primary setup man ahead of Edwin Díaz.

Again, the Brewers ran on Dalton Rushing. The young backup catcher must work on his throwing ability to second base. He has a strong, accurate throwing arm, but he has a slow transfer.

The Dodgers’ pitching staff has the most strikeouts in spring training, a terrific sign. If that trend continues, they should be dominant.