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On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch react to the Dodgers signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million contract. Hernández adds a right-handed-hitting power hitter who averaged 28 home runs and 31 doubles over the previous three seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. Hernández especially excels at hitting left-handed pitching, to the tune of a 136 wRC+ in his career, including a 164 wRC+ against southpaws since the start of 2021 that ranks fifth in the majors. He fits the exact need stated by Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in an interview earlier Sunday on MLB Network Radio, giving the Dodgers another right-handed batter to go along with a lefty-heavy lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, James Outman, and Gavin Lux. We look at the impact of Teoscar Hernández on the roster, with essentially the 13 position players already set, and likely more time in the minors for Michael

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch react to Yoshinobu Yamamoto signing a record-setting $325 million contract with the Dodgers. Yamamoto hit the perfect storm in free agency, as a star who won the last three MVP awards and Eiji Sawamura awards (the latter for top starting pitcher) in Japan, and is only 25 years old, with all the big-market MLB teams interested in his services. The Dodgers won out, beating out the Mets and Yankees with a 12-year contract for Yamamoto, adding to a stunning December that saw them also add Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. What a way to have our last podcast episode of 2023.  The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch recap a monumental week for the Dodgers, in which they finalized a 10-year contract for Shohei Ohtani then traded for pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Everything last week pretty much revolved around Ohtani, the global superstar, in some way or another. First, his heavily-deferred contract broke some brains in how to properly interpret this deal, and how it can be worth $700 million or $461 million depending on your point of view. Ohtani was also heavily involved in the recruitment of star free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, his teammate on Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani even recorded a video to help woo Glasnow to reach a five-year, $136.5-million contract extension that finalized the Dodgers’ trade with the Rays. In addition to Glasnow, the Dodgers got outfielder Manuel Margot from Tampa Bay, in exchange for pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca.  The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Networ

The Three-Inning Save podcast covers the Los Angeles Dodgers, and this week we interview Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, who covered the newest Dodger, Shohei Ohtani, in his first six years in the major leagues with the Angels. Jeff wrote a book chronicling Ohtani entitled Sho-Time: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Played, which was written after the 2021 season and the paperback edition was updated after the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Jeff provides great insight to Ohtani's success as a player, what makes him tick, and what the Dodgers might expect going forward. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we are stunned at the enormity of Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. Ohtani’s deal shattered records for both total value and average annual salary in both baseball and North American Sports. His agreement with the Dodgers came after speculation that he might sign with the Blue Jays, plus flight tracking of a plane to Toronto that was actually carrying someone from Shark Tank. We recap the week that led up to Ohtani picking the Dodgers, including Dave Roberts daring to plainly state the obvious in an otherwise secretive situation. So now Ohtani joins an offense that includes Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, giving them a formidable trio atop the lineup. Those three also have a similar contract structure, it seems. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we take stock of the Dodgers ahead of the winter meetings. The first four weeks of the offseason have been mostly quiet. Jason Heyward is coming back to Los Angeles after a nice bounce-back year. Lance Lynn signed with the Cardinals. Yency Almonte avoided arbitration, and Ricky Vanasco found his way back to the 40-man roster. Shohei Ohtani is the big prize of the offseason, and the Dodgers will certainly be in the mix. But mystery surrounds him. Plus we look at potential pitching additions like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell at the top of the free agent market plus potential trade candidates Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we usher in the official start of the MLB offseason. On November 2, the day after the World Series, 12 Dodgers became free agents, headlined by shoulder-surgery-recoverer Clayton Kershaw and J.D. Martinez. We go over the Dodgers roster at the start of the offseason, plus Max Muncy’s new 2-year contract, various club option decisions and important dates upcoming. We also look at the volatile nature of postseason performance, personified by Corey Seager, who found the upswing again with another World Series MVP, this time with the Rangers, and Mookie Betts, who had two straight bad playoff performances. Plus, Betts comments on Trevor Bauer, Dodgers trivia, offseason questions, and more. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we lament the Dodgers getting swept in three games by the Diamondbacks in the NLDS. Game 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix went much like the first two games in Los Angeles. Arizona took an early lead with four solo home runs in the third inning against homer-prone Lance Lynn. Dodgers starting pitchers in the NLDS allowed 13 runs and recorded 14 outs in the series. Those four runs proved too much for an inept Dodgers offense, who scored only two runs in the seventh inning of Game 3, and scored exactly two runs in every game of the series, with a dismal .498 OPS. The Dodgers had their fourth-worst OPS in a single playoff series, but not quite as bad as the 1920 Brooklyn team in basically the end of the dead ball era. Now, the season is over, so we take a brief look at how the Dodgers will start the offseason, with many decisions ahead, including whether Clayton Kershaw will return. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we dissect the Dodgers implosion in the first two games of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw had the worst start of his career, allowing six runs while recording only one out in Game 1. Bobby Miller recorded only five outs in his postseason debut in Game 2. The Dodgers trailed by several runs before they batted in both games. The offense could not pick up the slack, scoring only twice each in the first two games, mostly shut down by D-backs starters Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen. The Dodgers aren’t giving themselves many chances with runners in scoring position (13 PA in two games), and they aren’t coming through when they do (two hits). Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have just one hit in 13 at-bats in the first two games, but they aren’t alone. The Dodgers scored a combined four runs on 10 hits in the first two games. Now, they have to win three straight games to keep their season alive, the first of which is Game 3 at Chas

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we preview the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card round, giving the Dodgers their fourth straight NLDS against a divisional opponent, and fifth in the last seven years dating back to 2017. We look at the matchup, including the Dodgers’ strong performances against D-backs starters Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt this season, plus how Dodgers pitchers have curbed stolen bases as the season wore on. Plus, we look at notes from three days of Dodgers scrimmages at Dodger Stadium, plus guessing the potential NLDS roster, and pitching plans beyond Clayton Kershaw and Bobby Miller starting the first two games. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers won 100 games for the fourth full season in a row, and will play either the Brewers or Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series. We briefly look back at the regular season, including amazing campaigns by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. And we also look ahead to Clayton Kershaw set to make his 12th career Game 1 start on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers have less than one week left to go in the regular season, with their October path now fairly clear. The Dodgers have clinched a bye past the wild card round and into the Division Series, which means they will have five days off between their regular season finale and Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, October 7. We know Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw will start the first two games, but the order remains to be seen. At least for the NLDS, there aren’t many roster battles at all, if any. The Dodgers are locked into the No. 2 seed in the National League, which means playing the winner of the series between the NL Central-winning Brewers and the third wild card team. We also look at some statistics in play in the last week of the regular season, including 60 doubles and 100 RBI for Freddie Freeman, 40 home runs for Mookie Betts, 100 RBI for J.D. Martinez, 100 wins for the Dodgers, and more. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network.

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we recap the Dodgers clinching their 10th division title in 11 years. Despite a starting pitching staff that was decimated, and growing pains for several rookies along the way, the Dodgers cruised to yet another division title. How they managed the pitching in the last two days in Seattle against the Mariners is a potential preview of how the team might deploy its pitchers this postseason. Over the weekend, hard-throwing right-handed rookies Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone followed left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Ryan Yarbrough, respectively, with great success. The playoffs will be a mix-and-match scenario for the pitchers, though Bobby Miller will figure prominently at or near the top of the Dodgers rotation. Manager Dave Roberts already said Miller would start one of the first two games in the National League Division Series. Also in this episode, Stone got a 10-out save, Mookie Betts ties leadoff home run and RBI records, Jason Heyward continued his incredi

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we recap a very eventful week for the Dodgers, the good, the bad, and the despicable. Julio Urías was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball. While not official yet, given the timing and his pending free agency, this effectively ends his time with the Dodgers in ignobility. Mookie Betts fouled a ball off his left foot and left the stadium in Miami and crutches, which made everyone panic and for good reason. But it turned out to be a bone bruise and he only missed two games. Freddie Freeman broke the Dodgers doubles record, Bobby Miller continued to pitch his way into a more prominent role in October, Ryan Pepiot flirted with a perfect game, and the Dodgers had three rain delays in three days in Washington D.C. Also, pitcher Ryan Yarbrough joined the new Dodgers dads club, after the birth of his daughter he's the seventh player on the team to go on paternity leave this season. Scott Miller in t

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we take stock of the good, bad, and the ugly of the Dodgers losing three out of four games to the Braves. Bobby Miller impressed on Sunday with seven strong innings, making a strong case to move up in the pecking order in the October postseason rotation.  We recorded this episode on Sunday night, before news of Julio Urías getting arrested in Los Angeles on felony domestic violence charges. Urías will not accompany the team on their road trip to Miami and Washington D.C., and an MLB investigation is pending. Also in this episode, the Dodgers bullpen needs more right-handers but none of the injured pitchers are particularly close to returning. Starter Walker Buehler did start a rehab assignment though, and his return nearly 13 months after Tommy John surgery suddenly looks more real and possible than before. Mookie Betts and James Outman won awards for August, the Dodgers optioned Ryan Pepiot for some reason, and we guess if and when Betts might break the recor

This week on the Three-Inning Save podcast, we preview the series at Dodger Stadium between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, the two best teams in the National League (and maybe even the major leagues). Kris Willis from Battery Power joins us for insight on Atlanta. This series has arguably the top four contenders for NL MVP in Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman, and Matt Olson, and the two teams will likely send the top four pitchers in their starting rotation to the mound in the four games in Los Angeles. This should be an exciting series, and potentially a preview of the National League Championship Series, which if it happens would be the third time in four years the Dodgers and Braves met in the NLCS. They also played each other in the 2018 NLDS, so there's lots of history between these two teams. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Three-Inning Save podcast, Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch look back at pitcher Pete Richert, who pitched for the Dodgers at the start (1962-64) and near the end (1972-73) of his career. The Three-Inning Save podcast is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The frustrating 2023 season of Tony Gonsolin officially comes to an end, with news that the Dodgers right-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery on Friday, September 1. Gonsolin started the season on the injured list with an ankle injury, and was pitching at a diminished capacity for the bulk of his 20 starts, though the team insists he didn't risk further injury while pitching. This surgery likely knocks Gonsolin out for 2024 as well, so we look at the Dodgers rotation for next year, with fellow surgery-recoverer Dustin May out until midseason himself, and free agency looming for Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw. Also, a look at how Gonsolin's contract structure gave him a perverse incentive to continue pitching while hurt this season. The Three-Inning Save podcast is hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch and produced by Brian Salvatore. We are part of the Fans First Sports Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, Mookie Betts continued one of the best hot streaks in Dodgers history, and returned to Boston for the first time since getting traded by the Red Sox. Betts is on such an incredible hot streak, dating back two months, that he might now be the favorite for National League MVP. There’s still five weeks left in the season to decide this award, and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves will have a lot to say about it. So will Freddie Freeman, who already broke the Los Angeles Dodgers record for doubles in a season with more than a month left to play. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we look back at another winning week for the Dodgers, led by a scalding-hot Mookie Betts and a resurgent Austin Barnes, among others. Also, Tony Gonsolin reached the end of his rope after pitching hurt for two-plus months, landing on the injured list with elbow/forearm inflammation and unlikely to pitch again this season. The Dodgers had a 23-year rainout streak snapped thanks to the first tropical storm in California in 84 years. J.D. Martinez reached on catcher’s interference twice in a game, the first Dodger to do so in 87 years, so it was a big week for rarities. We predict the 2023 playoff teams as well, so be sure to yell at us at our inevitable wrong answers. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices