Suffice to say, when the Dodgers announced their 2024 regular season schedule back on February 20, all eyes immediately went to the three-game inter-league series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 7-9, and understandably so. The last time baseball’s two most storied franchises met in the Bronx was back in 2016.

That time has finally come, but ‘there’s a little hitch in (the Dodgers) get along,’ as they say.

In Thursday’s 11-7 Dodgers win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Dodgers right-handed starting pitcher Walker Buehler lasted only three innings, having allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, with one walk and three strikeouts, needing 78 pitches, of which 47 were strikes. As a result, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had to use five relievers to cover the six remaining innings to bail Buehler out and secure that win.

“We’ll take the win, but it was certainly at a cost, you know, going into a big series,” Roberts said, following Thursday’s win over the Bucs.

On the bright side, Messrs. Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, and Alex Vesia tossed only one inning each, whereas right-hander Michael Grove (who was credited with the win), went two innings and needed 28 pitches (19 strikes) to do so, meaning that he most likely will not be available for Friday’s series opener against The Evil Empire.

As for those 11 Dodgers runs, the fifth and (then) go-ahead run came on a 390-foot solo home run to right center field by Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández in the top of the fifth inning. Hernández finished his day going 3-for-5, which also included a first inning double to center.

“Tao finally got some results, which was good for him,” Roberts said of his recently struggling outfielder.

Stay hot, Teo. The Dodgers, especially their bullpen, desperately need you over these next three games.

Play Ball!

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