The Cardinals tried something big during their previous series against the Dodgers. On the surface, it was a routine video tribute. However, Clayton Kershaw knew that the timing, the footage, and the repetition were all intentional. Max Muncy did not slide it, who saw what the Cardinals were trying to do, and instead of getting rattled, flipped the narrative. What came after was not just a game; it was a reaction—one that exposed more than just a scoreboard stunt.

Sometimes, motivation comes in strange forms. For the Dodgers, it appeared on a giant video board in the Cardinals’ home—looping the tough moment of Kershaw’s postseason career. They played Matt Adams’ 2014 NLDS home run off Kershaw. “They actually played that video before all the games,” Muncy said on Foul Territory. 

Muncy did not stop there. “I think it was more so just celebrating a moment of, you know, Cardinals history for them, but when you’re opposing team and that’s the video that’s popping up, it does feel like they are trolling you,” he said. While it’s open to interpretation of whether or not the Cardinals intended to troll Kershaw, it worked well in the favor of the Dodgers. And for that, Muncy seems thankful.

“He [Kershaw] handled it with grace as he always does. He just went out there and shoved it, and you know, he got seven more strikeouts, got closer to 3,000. That was, you know, for us, that was a big takeaway, is that Kersh was back to being Kersh,” added Muncy proudly. Kershaw, fresh off rehab and as calm as ever, did not take the bait. He gave up just one run, walked none, and struck out seven. The Cardinals tried to haunt him with a ghost from 2014. Instead, they got burned by the living legend standing on the mound.

But this was not just about trolling; it had deeper layers. As AJ Pierzynski hinted, the Cardinals had unravelled Kershaw’s old flaw: pitch tipping. “He used to tip really bad, that’s why Cardinals used to beat up on him all the time. He used to tip, so he fixed it,” Pierzynski jokingly, drawing chuckles but also reminding fans of the mental chess behind baseball.. Whether true or not, the connection was implied; St. Louis had used it before, and now they were reaching into that history again. But as Pierzynski said, “He was not tipping anymore, Max.” And that was the difference.

Kershaw’s first win of the season came with a strong start against St. Louis. The veteran lefty has now made five starts for the Dodgers in 2025, posting a 4.35 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings of work. While he is not the ace he was in his prime, Kershaw is still a solid fantasy option in deeper leagues. With pitching issues still dominating the Dodgers’ headlines, the team’s increasingly thin outfield has gone somewhat under the radar until now.

Dodgers eye $107 million All-Star on the trade block

As the trade deadline approaches, one star quietly drawing serious attention is Bryan Reynolds, the $107 million outfielder from the Pirates. He is not officially linked to the Dodgers yet; however, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale highlighted, the Pirates are listening to offers for everyone except Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz.

Reynolds’ current hot streak—batting .341 with a 1.000 OPS over the last 12 games—highlights that he is regaining his rhythm after a slow start. Historically, Reynolds has hovered around a .270+ average with 24–27 homers a year, making the star an elite offensive star. However, his defense provides a dilemma. Graded in the 10th percentile in fielding with -3 Outs Above Average, he is far from a glove-first option. The Dodgers, already managing defensive liabilities, need to consider whether the bat outweighs the risk.

Overall, he is an upgrade over Michael Conforto, who is on a short-term deal. However, he is three years into a massive eight-year contract. Taking on that kind of financial risk mid-season could jeopardize the Dodgers’ long-term flexibility even if Reynolds’ bat continues to deliver. The interest may not be loud yet; however, if the Dodgers are considering a serious offensive addition, this quiet rumor could grow into a full-on pursuit.