Dodgers ‘hopeful’ Ohtani returns to lineup Sunday

Carrigg doubled and scored in the sixth inning, then singled and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth, crossing home plate for what would be the winning run for Colorado. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting an excellent .318/.390/.600 with four homers, 23 runs scored, and 21 RBI across 101 plate appearances.

Ohtani led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer off Michael Lorenzen to put the Dodgers on the board. It was a 112.2 mph shot to center field, going 409 feet. The 32-year-old star is up to 20 homers, 62 runs scored, and 56 RBI while slashing .294/.409/.541 across 391 plate appearances.

Romano was summoned in the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead to close out the game against the Dodgers. He worked around a hit and a walk, striking out the final batter to convert his fifth save of the season, second with the Rockies. The 33-year-old right-hander has immediately stepped into the closer role in Colorado. Still, he holds a 7.36 ERA across 11 innings this season.

Lorenzen surrendered a leadoff homer to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning. He got through three more scoreless innings before allowing a second run in on a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. The two runs would be all the Dodgers could get across on Lorenzen through five frames. An error and a hit in the sixth brought an unearned run in. Lorenzen’s day would be done at 95 pitches. He struck out five. The 34-year-old right-hander will take a 6.65 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and a 72/35 K/BB ratio across 92 innings into a start against the Giants in San Francisco on Sunday.

Wrobleski held the Rockies scoreless over five innings before Colorado brought a run in to score on two hits and a groundout in the sixth. He gave the Dodgers one more scoreless frame, going seven innings while collecting nine strikeouts. His two-run lead would be blown by the bullpen, saddling Wrobleski with a no-decision. The 25-year-old left-hander will go into the All-Star break with a 2.69 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 73/20 K/BB ratio across 100 1/3 innings.

Clase put the Blue Jays on the board with a three-run homer off Trevor McDonald in the second inning. His first home run of the season just cleared the right-field wall. He later added a base hit and another run scored in the third. Tuesday marked Clase’s first start since he was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo a week ago.

Clement singled in the first inning, then doubled in the second. He then brought a run in to score on a sacrifice fly in the third, part of a five-run inning for Toronto. Clement later knocked his third hit to lead off the ninth and scored on a groundout. The 30-year-old infielder is hitting .298/.319/.434 with seven homers, 39 runs scored, and 30 RBI across 354 plate appearances.

Miles got his first start since May 31 after pitching out of the bullpen over the last month. He went four innings against the Giants, giving up two runs on seven hits and no walks. He struck out one. Miles would depart after the fourth at 55 pitches. The 25-year-old right-hander holds a 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 56/17 K/BB ratio across 58 innings. He’ll likely revert to a long-relief role following the All-Star break with Max Scherzer nearing a return.

After a scoreless first inning, McDonald surrendered a three-run homer to Jonathan Clase in the second. Five hits in the third inning would bring five more runs across and chase McDonald from the game with two outs at 58 pitches. He failed to record a strikeout. The 25-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 5.31 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 50/20 K/BB ratio across 59 1/3 innings.

Rafaela has an even better case for an All-Star spot this year than he did last year, when he didn’t really warm up offensively until June, but since his Gold Glove defense in center just isn’t given enough weight, he’s still looking to be selected for the first time. Maybe he’ll get in as a replacement for Aaron Judge or Byron Buxton. He’s hitting .284/.332/.441, so it’s not all about defense.