One of the most talented and expensive rosters in baseball history likely will get a jolt of energy on Thursday night from a rookie making the major league minimum.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Athletics in the final contest of a three-game series, 24-year-old catcher Dalton Rushing is expected to make his major league debut. The Dodgers’ top prospect was called up for the first time Wednesday while veteran catcher Austin Barnes was designated for assignment.
Rushing’s first tour of the major leagues will be a balancing act for the Dodgers, who are still trying to develop their second-round draft pick from 2022 but are not planning to make him an everyday player yet.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said Rushing will catch about two games a week and get select pinch-hitting opportunities, all while trying to reach his ceiling. Will Smith will remain the team’s No. 1 catcher but will give back a few more games than has been typical in recent seasons.
Rushing was batting .308 with a .938 OPS in 31 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, with five home runs and 17 RBIs.
“It’s a boost in confidence, for sure,” Rushing said about being called up. “It shows you that they believe in your skill. And I think that’s pretty special coming from an organization having a guy like Will behind the plate every day.”
Making the partnership easier is the fact that both Dodgers catchers are Louisville, Ky., products.
“(Smith is) gonna make my job easy, but also, there’s a helping hand that I can give to make his job easy as well,” Rushing said.
The Dodgers expect to go with a bullpen game Thursday after right-hander Roki Sasaki (shoulder impingement) went on the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Right-hander Matt Sauer (1-0, 1.54 ERA) will open on the mound. He is 0-0 with a 22.50 ERA in two career relief appearances against the Athletics.
The A’s will counter with right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-3, 4.75), who is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two lifetime starts against Los Angeles.
After Jeffrey Springs held the Dodgers’ loaded lineup to one run in seven innings of an 11-1 win on Tuesday, Gunnar Hoglund gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 9-3 loss on Wednesday.
Out of their cozy temporary ballpark in West Sacramento, Calif., the A’s looked comfortable in the massive cathedral that is Dodger Stadium, until Los Angeles scored five runs in the eighth inning Wednesday.
The A’s hit five home runs Tuesday, then received one homer Wednesday, from Tyler Soderstrom. They even led 3-2 in the fifth inning before the Dodgers’ offense turned it loose, with Mookie Betts flexing toward the A’s dugout after a two-run double in the eighth that came after Shohei Ohtani was walked intentionally.
“I wouldn’t want to pitch to Shohei either,” Betts said. “I understand. It’s just all in the game being a competitor and just let some emotion go.”
After he hit two home runs with four hits Tuesday, A’s rookie leadoff hitter Jacob Wilson went 0-for-4 a day later.
Playing a solid brand of baseball in road games is nothing new for the A’s, who are 14-8 away from home this season.
“Really, really impressive right now,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of the team’s road play. “Obviously, it’s still very early in the season, but to get off to a good start on the road, that obviously helps.”
–Field Level Media
