‘I sucked today’: Clayton Kershaw’s All-Star path rockier after rough loss
DENVER — On Monday afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts thought there was a possible path for Clayton Kershaw to start next month’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
By the end of Tuesday night, however, those hopes took a serious beating in the left-hander’s worst start of the season.
After giving up six runs in four innings in the Dodgers’ 7-4 defeat to the Colorado Rockies, Kershaw didn’t try to look for positives or put an upbeat spin on his 77-pitch outing.
“[I’m] going to just not overthink it,” he sighed, “and just say I sucked today.”
Final: Dodgers lose again at Coors Field, falling 7-4 to Rockies
The Dodgers’ woes at Coors Field continued Tuesday, with the team losing 7-4 to the Colorado Rockies.
The Dodgers are now 1-4 this season at the stadium, and have clinched a second-straight losing trip to Denver.
Despite taking a couple early leads, they fell behind big after Clayton Kershaw’s four-inning, six-run start and never recovered.
The Dodgers are now 45-28.
Final: Rockies 7, Dodgers 4
Max Muncy homers, but Dodgers still trail
The Dodgers got one run back in the top of the sixth, when Max Muncy hit a booming solo home run 434 feet to right field.
It was Muncy’s sixth home run of the year, and third since he returned from the injured list earlier this month.
However, the Rockies got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning, when Yency Almonte gave up a sacrifice fly in his first game back at Coors Field after spending the first four seasons of his MLB career with the Rockies.
End 6th: Rockies lead 7-3
Clayton Kershaw suffers worst start of season as Rockies extend lead
Clayton Kershaw’s worst start of the season lasted just four innings. The final line wasn’t pretty.
The left-hander gave up six runs, all earned (the first time he’s done that since June 2017). He had as many walks as strikeouts, four apiece. He gave up nine hits and hit the strike zone on just 45 of 77 pitches.
The Rockies extended their lead with runs in the third (an Elias Díaz home run) and the fourth (a José Iglesias RBI single).
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have gone scoreless in three straight innings against Kyle Freeland.
Mid 5th: Rockies lead 6-2
Hanser Alberto homers, but Rockies surge in front with three runs in second innings
Hanser Alberto’s second home run of the year briefly gave the Dodgers the lead back in the top of the second.
By the end of the inning, however, the Rockies had surged back in front.
With Clayton Kershaw struggling to find his command, the Rockies scored three runs in the second inning.
Randal Grichuk led off with a solo homer. Then the hosts strung together two more on three singles and two walks.
After issuing just seven free passes in his first 45 innings this year, Kershaw has given up four in two innings tonight.
End 2nd: Rockies lead 4-2
Both teams get a run in the first inning
After another day full of off-the-field drama for Freddie Freeman, who said he is in the midst of a “fluid” situation with his agents, the first baseman responded on the field by singling in his first at-bat.
It extended Freeman’s current hitting streak to 12 games, and set the stage for the Dodgers to open the scoring, after he later stole second and was driven in by Justin Turner’s RBI single.
The Rockies got the run back in the bottom of the inning against Clayton Kershaw, who gave up a single and two walks but limited the damage there.
End 1st: Tied 1-1
Dodgers to call up Jake Lamb, place Zach McKinstry on the IL
DENVER — Former All-Star infielder Jake Lamb will join the Dodgers on Tuesday, set to be called up by the team for the first time since signing with them in spring training.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters the news pregame, saying Lamb’s addition will coincide with Zach McKinstry going on the injured list with neck stiffness.
Lamb, 31, is an eight-year veteran who starred with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2014 to 2020 before bouncing around the league the past two years.
A career .236 hitter with 91 home runs, 331 RBIs and strong numbers against right-handed pitching as a left-handed hitter, Lamb signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers in March and made a strong impression during camp.
He didn’t make the big-league club at the start of the season, but has played well with triple A Oklahoma City, batting .290 with 15 home runs, 50 RBIs and a .932 OPS in 61 games with the affiliate this season.
“Jake has been performing,” Roberts said. “Really love him in the organization, love the guy. I’m going to try to find ways to get him at-bats.”
Roberts said Lamb will likely see his most action as a designated hitter and could spell Freddie Freeman at first base at times.
Roberts said he isn’t sure yet if he’s comfortable playing Lamb in the outfield. He doesn’t envision Lamb playing much third base.
Lamb was expected to arrive to Coors Field on Tuesday until close to first pitch.
In the meantime, the Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw (5-1, 2.00 ERA) to the mound as they try to even their series against the Rockies.
Here’s the Dodgers lineup:
*Note: The Dodgers announced a late tweak, saying Justin Turner will play third base Tuesday and Max Muncy will DH.
Freddie Freeman, seemingly upset with free-agency process, reportedly terminates agents
DENVER — Freddie Freeman has reportedly filed paperwork to terminate his relationship with his long-time agents at Excel Sports Management, saying in a statement his “representation remains a fluid situation” barely three months after he signed a six-year, $162-million contract with the Dodgers.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, ESPN reported that Freeman was planning to change representation.
According to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak on the record, the MLB Players Assn. sent an email to all agents asking them not to contact Freeman, a procedure that typically takes place after a player changes representation.
In his statement, which was provided to MLB.com, Freeman said he is “working through some issues with my longtime agents at Excel” and that he will “update [the situation] if needed.”
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season:
ICYMI: Travel-weary Dodgers hurt by lagging offense in loss to Rockies
DENVER — After a successful trip to Atlanta this past weekend, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had hoped his team could keep the party going against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Instead, the Dodgers suffered one of their most lackluster displays of the season in a 4-0 loss at Coors Field, getting shut out by Rockies starter Chad Kuhl in what felt like the baseball equivalent of a hangover from the long night, and series, before.
“We didn’t really deserve offensively to win that game,” shortstop Trea Turner said. “Our pitchers did a pretty good job of giving us a chance late. But offensively, we were pretty bad. It happens.”