The Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals is definitely not the kind of result they anticipated. So far this season, the boys in blue have done enough to propel their team to the top. But, unfortunately, their injury-plagued pitching unit has been a debacle. Perhaps one of the main reasons behind their loss, too!

The Dodgers’ pitching staff, with 15 pitchers in the IL, seems like suffering a domino effect! And this time, they couldn’t keep up with the Nationals, giving away five home runs. And Dustin May gave away three of those – all solo.

The first one came from James Wood, who blasted off the biggest homer at Dodger Stadium, leaving behind the 448-foot one by Ohtani on April 16. Luis Garcia Jr. hit another in the same inning until the final solo homer from Nathaniel Lowe in the sixth inning. While it may feel like the Dodgers’ $2.1M starter let his team down, manager Dave Roberts is here to save him from the jabs. 

Roberts was quick enough to defend him in the post-game conference. “I thought, honestly, it was a really good outing. I thought he managed a couple of stressful innings and gave us a chance to win.” Heaping praise on May, Roberts further added, “And I think Dustin has shown his ability to go deeper in games and, you know, rest in armor to give us a chance to win.”

True that Dustin May gave a quality start, preventing the Nationals from scoring in the first three innings. May attempted to move the same way in the fourth inning, but James Wood broke that momentum with a blast off his sinker. And then Garcia Jr. and Lowe carried on that momentum. 

Overall, May allowed five hits, walked two, and recorded only five strikeouts. “The solo homers, they suck, but they’re solo homers. Going back-to-back—that’s not what you want to see,” May exclaimed, clearly frustrated with what happened.

However, Dave Roberts isn’t complaining. And for the third time in his last five starts, he has been able to throw six innings, that too, some quality ones. No wonder Roberts is still calm and composed!

Plus, amid the pitching slump, LA might have just received a glimmer of hope…

Dodgers’ injury-plagued pitching unit gains a major boost with a new acquisition

It may come as a surprise, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the top teams to have so many players on the injured list. And that includes Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. The two-way phenom came back on the mound almost two years later, but Ohtani pitched just one inning against the Padres because LA could not afford to compromise his bat. Then, there is a struggling Dustin May, who went 4-5 with a 4.46 ERA and 14 G, striking out 72 hitters at a 1.32 WHIP.

So, the Dodgers had to do something to bounce back. Enter Zach Penrod.

Designated for assignment by the Red Sox, Penrod has now been traded to the Dodgers. To make room for him in the lineup, the team has transferred Sasaki to a 60-day IL.

As for the 28-year-old pitcher, owing to an elbow inflammation, he was sidelined for around three months. After his return from rehab, he pitched 7 1/3 minor league innings, issuing only 7 walks, showing flashes of his potential. Penrod has also been able to strike out 25%. Plus, his 95 mph fastball almost matches his 2024 spark.

Zach Penrod’s impressive 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, and three strikeouts may not be an absolute banger of a deal for the Dodgers. But considering the team’s track record of making the most of underutilized talent, the team is exactly what he might have been searching for.