Freeman went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two doubles Thursday in an 8-2 win over Oakland.
Freeman racked up three extra-base hits in the contest, though the only one that produced a run was his solo homer in the eighth inning. The veteran first baseman has been on an absolute tear of late, collecting multiple hits in four straight games and going an incredible 12-for-17 with six extra-base hits, three RBI and five runs over that stretch. Freeman may not be getting the same amount of MVP buzz as his former teammate Ronald Acuna, but he's arguably in the running for the award given his impressive production this season. Freeman leads the NL in OPS (1.016), SLG (.598) and doubles (40), ranks second in batting average (.341), hits (146) and runs (94), and has added 22 homers, 76 RBI and 14 stolen bases through 107 games.
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Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan: Picks up first career save
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Sheehan earned a save against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out three batters over four innings.
In Sheehan's first big-league appearance out of the bullpen, he piggybacked with starter Julio Urias, who was limited to five frames due to a recent fingernail issue. Sheehan gave up a pair of solo homers but kept Oakland at arm's length, tossing 56 pitches over the game's final four innings to record a save. The rookie right-hander worked as a starter for each of his first seven big-league appearances, but Thursday's outing may be a signal that he's no longer needed in that role with the Dodgers' recent acquisitions of Lance Lynn and Ryan Yarbrough and the looming return of Clayton Kershaw (shoulder).
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Dodgers' Julio Urias: Notches win Thursday
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Urias (8-6) earned the win over Oakland on Thursday, pitching five scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and one walk while striking out five batters.
Urias was originally slated to start Tuesday in the series opener, but the outing was pushed back due to a split nail on his pitching hand. Per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, manager Dave Roberts indicated prior to the contest that he didn't expect the left-handed hurler to go more than five frames, and that's exactly how things played out with Urias departing after five innings despite having thrown just 68 pitches. Though that kept him from notching a quality start, it didn't prevent Urias from picking up a victory to improve to 8-6. Assuming he emerges from the outing without a setback, Urias should be able to go deeper in his next outing, which tentatively lines up to come in Arizona early next week.
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Diagnosed with wrist contusion
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Muncy was diagnosed with a left wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch Thursday versus Oakland.
Muncy took a JP Sears fastball to the wrist in the bottom of the fifth inning and was lifted from the game in the bottom of the sixth, but X-rays turned up negative and there doesn't seem to be much concern. He finished the night with two walks, a run scored and the HBP across three plate appearances. Chris Taylor replaced him at third base and David Peralta entered in left field.
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Dodgers' Max Muncy: Exits after HBP to wrist
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Muncy departed Thursday's game against the Athletics after taking a pitch off his left forearm/wrist, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Muncy was struck by a 91.3 mph JP Sears fastball in the bottom of the fifth inning, though he ran for himself and played third base in the top of the sixth before David Peralta replaced him in the lineup during the Dodgers' four-run bottom of the sixth. There should be an update on Muncy's status after the game.
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Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Expected back Saturday
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Martinez (hamstring) is expected to return to the lineup Saturday versus the Padres, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Martinez has missed the Dodgers' entire three-game set against the Athletics due to left hamstring tightness and will also be held out of Friday's series opener in San Diego, but he took batting practice Thursday in Los Angeles and also did some on-field running without issue. When healthy this season, the veteran slugger has delivered an .872 OPS with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 85 games.
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Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Nearing rehab assignment
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Buehler (elbow) is "on the verge" of beginning a rehab assignment, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Buehler is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday in San Diego and could then head out next week to one of the Dodgers' minor-league affiliates as he prepares to return to live games. Roberts told reporters that they are expecting the 29-year-old back -- as a starting pitcher -- in the early part of September. He is closing in on the 12-month mark from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery.
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Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Likely back next week
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Kershaw (shoulder) is on track to return from the 15-day injured list next week, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Kershaw faced live hitters in another successful simulated game Thursday at Dodger Stadium as he continues to take positive steps forward in his recovery from a bout of left shoulder inflammation. The veteran southpaw hasn't pitched in a major-league game since June 27, but it sounds like he'll be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment. The final box to check is a weekend bullpen session.
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Dodgers' Jason Heyward: On bench versus lefty
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Heyward is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Athletics.
Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez and Mookie Betts will start across the outfield for the Dodgers as they face off against A's left-hander JP Sears. Heyward has enjoyed an excellent overall season for Los Angeles, but he is slashing .071/.188/.286 in very limited action versus southpaws.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Sitting versus lefty
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Outman is not in the lineup Thursday against Oakland.
Enrique Hernandez will start in center field and bat seventh in the Dodgers' series finale versus the Athletics and left-hander JP Sears. The left-handed-hitting Outman racked up three RBI over the first two games of the three-game set.
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Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Remains out Thursday
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Martinez (hamstring) is out of the lineup again Thursday versus the Athletics.
Martinez has been sidelined since Sunday due to lingering left hamstring tightness, but imaging scans taken this week showed no structural damage, and he is expected to avoid the injured list. Will Smith will take a turn as the Dodgers' designated hitter Thursday as Austin Barnes handles the catching duties.
Heyward went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.
Heyward didn't start Wednesday, but the Dodgers led 8-1 after three innings. Manager Dave Roberts elected to give Mookie Betts some extra rest, and Heyward played the rest of the game in right field. Heyward has gone 5-for-21 (.238) over his last eight games, but three of those hits have landed over the fence. The outfielder is slashing a decent .248/.342/.476 with 11 long balls, 27 RBI, 40 runs scored and two stolen bases through 240 plate appearances in a strong-side platoon role this season.
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Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Finally hits first homer of season
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Rojas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.
Rojas ended his season-long homer drought with a third-inning solo shot. He also snapped an 0-for-8 skid from his last three games. For now, the Dodgers' trade additions of Amed Rosario and Enrique Hernandez are not costing Rojas playing time at shortstop, but his spot can't be considered safe when his bat is cold. He's slashing just .217/.272/.273 with a homer, 13 RBI, 30 runs scored and seven stolen bases through 79 contests this season.
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Dodgers' Amed Rosario: Homers in blowout win
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Rosario went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.
Rosario has gone 5-for-13 (.385) over four games since he joined the Dodgers in a trade from Cleveland. He made his second straight start at second base in the contest, and his three starts as a Dodger have all come against southpaws. It appears the team prefers to keep Miguel Rojas at shortstop, leaving Rosario to compete with Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez for the leftover time at second base behind Mookie Betts. Rosario has a .269/.310/.379 slash line with four homers, 43 RBI, 53 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 98 contests this season.
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Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Goes yard again Wednesday
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Betts went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.
The Dodgers took control of the game quickly, and that allowed Betts some extra rest, as Jason Heyward took over in right field at the start of the fourth inning. Betts had missed time over the weekend with ankle soreness. He's on a nine-game hitting streak, going 11-for-35 (.314) in that span to raise his season slash line to .282/.385/.579. He's added 29 homers, 70 RBI, 85 runs scored, seven stolen bases and 28 doubles through 101 contests.
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Dodgers' Tony Gonsolin: Picks up sixth win
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Gonsolin (6-4) allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Athletics.
While it was a soft matchup, it was still a positive to see Gonsolin end a three-start winless stretch. His lone mistake was a Shea Langeliers solo home run in the third inning -- that was the sixth homer Gonsolin has allowed over his last five starts. The right-hander now has a 4.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 71:35 K:BB through 87.2 innings over 17 starts. He's projected for a road start in San Diego early next week.
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Dodgers' Tyson Miller: Kicked off 40-man
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The Dodgers designated Miller for assignment Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Miller gave up two runs over two innings during his lone appearance with the Dodgers. He's fared much better in Triple-A this season with a 3.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 28.2 frames, giving him a chance to be claimed off waivers by another club looking for bullpen depth.
