LOS ANGELES, CA—Before the Los Angeles Dodgers kick off a massive four-game series against the National League leading Milwaukee Brewers, we have lots to catch up on from earlier this week, including multiple updates on Blake Treinen, Shohei Ohtani, and the recent sale of the Los Angeles Lakers, which could impact the Dodgers.
Dodgers Shake Up the Bullpen, Recall Landon Knack and Option Seth Halvorsen
Before the start of the third and final games of the Dodgers series against the Kansas City Royals, the team made yet another roster move for their recently taxed bullpen.
Despite having a solid performance in his Dodgers debut, keeping the game tied in the 10th inning, Los Angeles opted to option flamethrowing right-hander Seth Halvorsen to Triple-A while recalling right-hander Landon Knack.
The Dodgers acquired Halvorsen just before the trade deadline from their National League West rival, the Colorado Rockies, hoping to take advantage of his elite stuff that was never able to come together in the Mile High City.
Still, despite the demotion, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Halvorsen to be back on the big league club soon, with many predicting he and left-hander Kris Bubic will be in consideration for the team's bullpen come October.
In Halvorsen’s place, he’ll be replaced by Landon Knack, who has pitched in five innings for the Dodgers this season, giving up five runs in those appearances.
Knack’s role was to preserve innings for the Dodgers bullpen after left-handed starter Eric Lauer, and he did his job, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, picking up the save in yesterday’s 4-2 win.
Ohtani Inches Closer to Mound Return With Bullpen Session on the Horizon
The most encouraging update from Dave Roberts on Wednesday came on the Dodgers’ biggest question: Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound. Roberts revealed that Ohtani threw from more than 200 feet Tuesday before also going through dry work from the mound. Now, the next step is finally getting back on the mound and throwing for real.
“I do think that we should all be encouraged,” Roberts said. “Throwing out 200-plus feet yesterday and then doing the dry throws, as you mentioned, probably the next progression is getting on the mound.”
Once Ohtani returns to the mound, the Dodgers plan to follow a progression similar to the one they used with him last season. He will work through bullpen sessions, advance to facing live hitters, and eventually build up innings in Major League games rather than going through a traditional minor-league rehab assignment.
“I don’t know how many bullpens, don’t know how many lives,” Roberts said. “But I would say the rehab games are going to be major-league games.”
The Dodgers also have the luxury of not needing to rush Ohtani. With Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and the rest of the healthy rotation giving Los Angeles plenty of options, the team can prioritize Ohtani’s health and let his progression dictate the timeline.
“His health is kind of the main thing anyway,” Roberts said. “Regardless of having Skubal or not or having Snell back, you still got to treat him individually and what’s best for him. It is additive, given he’s a two-way player, to get those innings, for sure.”
Ohtani’s previous setback has only reinforced the Dodgers’ willingness to take a cautious approach. Roberts said the ultimate goal is making sure Ohtani is healthy and ready when the games matter most.
“At the end of the day, he wants to be healthy,” Roberts said. “He wants to be there in the postseason. I think that did check him up. If you look at how we’ve kind of paused things, we all want to be smart and careful, and I’m happy that we’ve done that with him.”
Blake Treinen Takes Big Step Toward Return With Live BP, Rehab Assignment Next
The Dodgers’ bullpen has struggled since the All-Star break, with injuries keeping several key relievers sidelined. That includes Blake Treinen, who has been out since June while dealing with right elbow inflammation.
Treinen took an important step toward returning Wednesday, throwing a live batting-practice session before the Dodgers’ game against the Royals. He remains on the injured list but was encouraged by how he felt afterward.
“Today felt amazing,” Treinen told SportsNet LA. “I feel very confident… If I’m healthy and I’m throwing like I was today, I feel like I can really help the team down the stretch.”
Treinen has dealt with recurring elbow issues in recent seasons, but when healthy, he has been a major part of the Dodgers’ bullpen. After posting a 1.93 ERA in 2024, he struggled through injuries last season and has been limited again this year, posting a 3.47 ERA. If he can return healthy and regain his old form, Treinen could provide the Dodgers with another important bullpen option for the stretch run.
Treinen is set to throw another live bullpen session before the end of the week and could begin a rehab assignment shortly after that, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Lakers Sale Sends Shockwaves Through Sports World, but What Does It Mean for the Dodgers?
After just one year of taking ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, current Dodgers owner Mark Walter is reportedly selling the historic franchise for over $12 billion, a record price, a news headline that has sent shockwaves across the sports world.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner are poised to become the new owners of the Lakers after reaching an agreement to purchase the team from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion, a record-breaking price for a sports franchise.
The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for $12.5 billion, a record-breaking price, multiple sources told ESPN.
Walter selling the team, along with his federal investigation that is taking place against him, has many fans wondering what this means for his other marquee franchise, the Dodgers, but according to a variety of reports, Walter has no intention of selling the team.
The Lakers sale will not affect Mark Walter’s ownership of the Dodgers. According to Jack Harris of the California Post, Walter plans to retain control of the Dodgers through Guggenheim Baseball Management and remain chairman of the club.
However, the billionaire businessman’s ownership of the Dodgers is not expected to change, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed, with Walter planning to retain control of the franchise under his Guggenheim Baseball Management group and continue in his role as chairman of the club.
The $12.5 billion deal only covers the Lakers and still requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors, with at least 23 of the league’s 30 governors needing to approve the transaction. Walter also remains involved with several other sports properties, including the Los Angeles Sparks, Chelsea FC and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Walter purchased a controlling stake in the Lakers from Jeanie Buss for a then-record $10 billion last October, but his decision to sell the franchise less than a year later would reportedly give him a roughly $2 billion profit. The reason for the sale has not been publicly disclosed.