Brock Stewart struggles in L.A. return as Dodgers

Brock Stewart slumped in entrance of a principally empty locker in the center of the Dodgers clubhouse Monday afternoon, a stall that used to belong to pitcher Dustin May, as clubhouse attendants rushed over with bins of model new measurement 13 cleats.

Every week in the past Stewart was pitching for the Minnesota Twins, who put on pink cleats. The Dodgers don’t, so Stewart needed a makeover.

“I got blue gloves coming too,” he mentioned.

Getting dressed correctly isn’t the only factor gamers have to fear about when they change groups in the center of the season. Stewart had a home and household in Minnesota to pack up and transfer when he realized Thursday that he had been traded from a crew with a shedding file to one chasing a second straight World Series title.

By late Monday evening, Stewart discovered himself in the center of that pennant race when he took the mound in the ninth inning of a tie sport. It didn’t finish properly, with Stewart (2-2) surrendering a run on three hits while getting just two outs in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

It was a impolite homecoming for the right-hander, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 but waived 5 years later after pitching 36 occasions over components of 4 seasons. After he remade himself during a six-year sojourn in which dropped down to impartial ball, Stewart was introduced back to Los Angeles to stabilize an overworked, injury-plagued bullpen that has struggled.

In his first look at Dodger Stadium in the home uniform since 2019, he added to those struggles, giving up hits to the first two batters he confronted, then falling behind 2-0 to pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo, who flared a single over the infield to drive in the go-ahead run.

For supervisor Dave Roberts, one dangerous outing gained’t change Stewart’s function.

“That’s baseball,” he mentioned.

“He’s a high-leverage guy,” Roberts added. “He was certainly needed for our ballclub and I will use him as such.”

Stewart definitely wasn’t the only reliever who struggled, with both bullpens losing wonderful efforts by starters Tyler Glasnow and Sonny Gray.

Glasnow gave the Dodgers (65-48) seven sturdy innings for the second time in three begins, conceding a run on three hits — none after the second inning — while hanging out seven. Gray was even higher in his seven innings, giving up just a fourth-inning solo home run to Freddie Freeman and a second-inning stroll to Max Muncy before leaving with the rating tied 1-1.

Anthony Banda was the first man out of a Dodger bullpen that has pitched more innings than any in baseball. Three batters later the Cardinals (57-57) went forward on Iván Herrera’s home run to middle.

Dodgers beginning pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers during a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday evening.

(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien gave the run proper back in the underside of the inning on a double to Teoscar Hernández.

So with the rating even again, Roberts referred to as on Stewart, who has had a whirlwind week. Five days in the past he was on his approach to Cleveland with the Twins when he acquired a call to fly to Tampa, Fla., to be a part of the Dodgers as an alternative. That left his spouse Christina to pack up the couple’s home, their sons, 3-year-old Jett and 16-month-old Cal, and their hound-mix pet and transfer to Los Angeles.

“My wife is just wearing the brunt of it,” he mentioned. “That’s maybe what people don’t understand.”

Roberts, who performed in 5 cities in his profession, mentioned the problem of altering groups can transcend discovering the proper colour glove and cleats. But the transition was simpler for Stewart since he broke in with the Dodgers.

“He’s familiar with some of the players, most of the coaching staff, the city itself, the ballpark,” he mentioned. “Things like that are part of his past routine.”

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a solo home in the fourth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday.

(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Stewart, arguably the most important acquisition the Dodgers made at the commerce deadline, had been in Los Angeles much less than a day when he acquired to the ballpark Monday. He agreed he didn’t have a lot time to get acclimated, though he mentioned he could need some time to discover his approach around the clubhouse, which underwent a $100-million renovation final winter.

As for his job, he mentioned the Dodgers had made that clear.

“Andrew [Friedman] and [Brandon] Gomes just told me don’t try to change anything. Just do what you’ve been doing and that’ll be good enough,” he mentioned, referencing the crew’s president of baseball operations and common supervisor, respectively.

It wasn’t good enough Monday. But, Roberts mentioned afterward, there’s still a lot more video games to be performed.

“Brock,” he mentioned, “will get the baseball a lot.”

Sasaki set to throw

Right-hander Roki Sasaki is predicted to throw the equal of three innings to hitters Friday and if that goes properly, he might start a minor-league rehab project next week. He has not pitched in practically three months after going on the IL with a shoulder impingement.

Edman goes on injured record

Utilityman Hyeseong Kim, out since July 29 with a shoulder problem, is swinging a bat and taking grounders. Roberts is optimistic Kim can be in a position to return soon. But one other utility participant, Tommy Edman, went on the IL with an ankle damage. With Kim, Edman and Kiké Hernández, one other utility participant, all out with accidents, Roberts has not had the same old versatility he has loved in fielding a lineup.