Nelson Espinal

Staff Writer for @Dodgersnation and @lasportsreport | 🇸🇻 |@UCSDGuardian alum|

[Dodgers Nation @DodgersNation]

CALL IT NOW: Will Shohei Ohtani win the NL Cy Young award this season?

✍️: @nelson__espinal

https://t.co/1ItUnAAlZM

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Shohei Ohtani has now passed the .300 mark for the first time since Opening Day!

He has a .941 OPS on top of a newly minted 0.74 ERA.

Ohtani will get a well-deserved day off tomorrow, but the SHO continues on Friday.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Some notes on Shohei Ohtani's start thus far:
*Less sweeper, more curveball than his past few starts.
*He trusts his fastball's location and command more.
*The D-Backs are guessing on his pitches, and his sequence is good: 20 called strikes.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Kyle Tucker is 3-for-3 with a home run and two singles on Wednesday.

His batting average has gone past .240, and hopefully his swing gets going.

Tucker has been a league-average hitter, but there is plenty of time for him to change the narrative.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

@verdanthound @DodgersNation 50 percent in the zone already, higher than his past few outings. Some pitches have sailed, but it looks better than his last few outings

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Shohei Ohtani is absolutely shoving again.

Just one hard hit, no hits, and three strikeouts for Ohtani on a night where his command looks a lot better.

His velocity is down on the heater, but he is locating so well that he has 10 called strikes.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Kyle Tucker has not met expectations thus far as a Dodger.

His average dropped below .240 recently.

Hopefully, a two-run blast against Zac Gallen can get him going and his approach in a good spot.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Shohei Ohtani continues to hit the ball better and better.

He already has a triple and double, good for five bases on the night and the second inning is not even over yet.

Even an off-kilter swing is delivering results.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Freddie Freeman has been locked in at the plate.

The veteran is hitting .292/.413/.688 with five home runs and 15 RBIs over his last 15 games.

He has 12 walks and just 18 strikeouts.

These results have been coming for Freddie.

[Dodgers Nation @DodgersNation]

The Dodgers are giving Max Muncy some rest, and a familiar face will step into his spot 👀👀👀

LA is hoping to take the series at home in a playoff atmosphere 💪💪

https://t.co/FQjusthJbj

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Fernando Tatis Jr. finally hit a home run, taking 57 games to do so.

During that time, 14 Dodgers players hit one, including:

*Kike Hernandez, who has only played 2 games.
*Santiago Espinal in 41 at-bats
*Rotation players Hyeseong Kim, Miguel Rojas, and Alex Freeland.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

@JohnMeyer63 Good point, have not really noticed that too much, but that would make sense. Pitchers alway say velo comes from the ground and legs

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

The Wrobleski truthers are eating great today.

7 IP
1 H
1 ER
9 K

He got 34 called strikes and whiffs in just 88 pitches! The fastball velocity was up 1.2 MPH as well.

His curveball had an extra 4 inches of drop (with Kershaw in the house 😉)

[Dodgers Nation @DodgersNation]

Justin Wrobleski is no longer the plucky underdog — he is a big-game hunter now 🔥🔥🔥

https://t.co/Vhu4BSy9Oh

✍️: @nelson__espinal

[Dodgers Nation @DodgersNation]

The Dodgers are slowly starting to get healthy, and they will be getting back a reliever at the start of June 💪💪💪

https://t.co/j5VCANSDaK

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Shohei Ohtani the hitter: .364/.478/.709 over his last 15 games.

Ohtani the pitcher: 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP.

He is having the best season of his career, and everything is clicking.

If he keeps things up, this will be a magical two-way season.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Wrobo has a no-hitter rolling through five innings.

He would be perfect if not for a rare outfield error. The southpaw has eight Ks and has the Phillies totally guessing at the plate.

Wrobleski is doing it in front of his idol, Clayton Kershaw.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Justin Wrobleski is dealing through four innings.

He has not allowed a hit and has five strikeouts already.

His velocity has been high all game long, while the slider is keeping hitters on their toes.

His stuff looks the best it has all season.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Shohei Ohtani just took Zach Wheeler deep, his second home run in as many games.

Ohtani's swing looks much tighter, and his approach is much calmer.

Great sign for the Dodgers. It was only a matter of time.

[Nelson Espinal @nelson__espinal]

Justin Wrobleski is looking electric early on.

His fastball has touched 97 mph a few times, and he struck out the side with his slider biting well.

He is doing it against one of the hotter teams in the NL.

Rising up to the occasion.