Lauer, meanwhile, is the patch-job the Dodgers grabbed because their rotation is held together with athletic tape. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are both on the 60-day IL, Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone aren't close, and Lauer's job is to eat innings and not torch the bullpen. His last start was 4.2 of 2-run ball in Arizona — fine, not good. Against a Pirates lineup that may be without Oneil Cruz (hand cut from Saturday), fine might be enough.
- Day-To-DayWill Smith (C) — Smith (neck) is not in the Dodgers' starting lineup against the Angels on Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.06/07
- 10-Day-ILTeoscar Hernandez (LF) — Hernandez (hamstring) said Saturday that he expects to return from the injured list in about a month, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.05/30
- 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez (1B) — Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks after sustaining a "significant tear" of his left oblique during Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.05/28
- 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart (RP) — Stewart (foot) threw to live hitters Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.06/07
- OutKendall George (CF) — George is slashing .295/.409/.370 with three home runs, 100 steals, a 16.3 percent walk rate and a 15.2 percent strikeout rate in 111 games for High-A Great Lakes.05/28
- 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow (SP) — The Dodgers transferred Glasnow (back) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.06/06
- 60-Day-ILBlake Snell (SP) — Snell (elbow) began playing catch Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.06/06
- 60-Day-ILEvan Phillips (RP) — Phillips (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, yielding one hit and one walk over two-thirds of a scoreless frame.06/05
- 60-Day-ILBobby Miller (SP) — Miller (shoulder/back) will resume throwing off the mound this week, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILGavin Stone (SP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Tuesday that Stone has been unable to ramp up his throwing without feeling soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILBrusdar Graterol (RP) — Graterol (shoulder) underwent surgery recently for a back injury he suffered while on a rehab assignment, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILTommy Edman (2B) — Through three rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Edman (ankle) has gone 4-for-9 with two runs and a 1:3 BB:K.05/31
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Diaz (RP) — Diaz (elbow) is expected to start a throwing progression Tuesday or Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.05/25
- 60-Day-ILBen Casparius (RP) — Casparius (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/19
- 60-Day-ILLandon Knack (SP) — The Dodgers transferred Knack (chest) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJake Cousins (RP) — The Dodgers transferred Cousins (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayOneil Cruz (CF) — Cruz suffered a cut on his hand during Saturday's game against Atlanta and is being considered day-to-day, Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan reports.06/09
- Day-To-DayBrandon Lowe (2B) — Lowe (knee) isn't starting for the Pirates against Atlanta on Sunday.06/07
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo (SP) — Solometo is sidelined at Double-A Altoona with recurring left shoulder discomfort, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayOddanier Mosqueda (RP) — Mosqueda will not throw for a couple weeks due to left forearm inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayMike Clevinger (RP) — Clevinger is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan (SP) — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILKonnor Griffin (SS) — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington relayed Sunday that Griffin is looking at a "more relaxed timeline" in his recovery from a flexor strain in his right elbow, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.06/07
- 10-Day-ILJoey Bart (C) — Bart (foot) has been cleared to resume weight room activity and play light catch, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILChris Devenski (RP) — Devenski (illness) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.06/07
The Pirates come in cold — losers of 4 of 5 with the Braves taking 3 straight by a combined 5 runs. They keep losing close games, which is its own kind of frustrating. The Dodgers are 42-24 but just got run off the field 13-5 by the Angels on Sunday, so don't pretend the road team is humming either. Will Smith (neck) was out of the lineup Sunday and his status is worth watching.
The total sits at 7.5 with the over juiced to -125, which tells you the books think Skenes won't carry into the 7th and Lauer is Lauer. If Cruz can't go, Pittsburgh's lineup gets a lot easier to navigate even for a guy with a 5.74 ERA. Give me Skenes to look like Skenes for 6 innings and the Pirates to lose anyway 4-3 — that's just how this stretch has gone.