Game 146: Latest Dodgers-Dbacks feud amounts to a whole hill of beans.

Rich Hill

Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt follows pitcher Rich Hill off the field after a benches-clearing incident in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 7-3 win. (Getty Images)

Rich Hill avoided serious injury, but not a loss, as both benches emptied in the Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The box score is here.

Now that Andre Ethier and Alex Wood are healthy, they’re in the running for playoff roster spots.

Why Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood wasn’t on the team flight to Miami today.

Pitcher Alex Wood said after last night’s game that he planned to stay back in Los Angeles today and throw a second bullpen session. Wood also threw a short bullpen Monday, his first since undergoing surgery on his elbow in July.

If today’s bullpen session goes well, Wood said the plan calls for him to fly to Arizona and face live hitters at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Since the Dodgers play in Phoenix next Thursday, Wood will simply wait there until his teammates fly in, then rejoin the active roster if and when he’s ready.

Wood is on the 60-day disabled list, so the Dodgers would need to make a corresponding move to get him on their active roster. The same is true for tomorrow’s starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw.

Alex Wood will be a situational left-hander when he returns to the Dodgers.

Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood threw a short bullpen session today of approximately 20 pitches. It was his first time throwing from a mound since undergoing a debridement procedure in July.

Wood is expected to throw another bullpen, plus two sessions against live hitters (simulated games or instructional league games in Arizona) before he returns to the Dodgers.
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What’s next for Clayton Kershaw after Tuesday’s sim game at Dodger Stadium?

Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw will throw to Single-A hitters Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. (Getty Images)

DENVER — The only things missing from Dodger Stadium on Tuesday will be the simulated fans, simulated tickets, simulated pregame pomp and circumstance with the volume turned to 11, and the simulated rush of traffic entering and exiting the park.

Otherwise, there will be simulated baseball games for Clayton Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson. Single-A Rancho Cucamonga will supply the simulated hitters.

For Kershaw, the sim game follows a 60-pitch bullpen session Friday at Dodger Stadium. It’s the first time he has faced live hitters since re-starting his throwing program as he tries to come back from a mild disc herniation in his lower back. Kershaw was 11-2 with a 1.79 earned-run average when he pitched his last game for the Dodgers in June.

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Bullpen notes: Chris Hatcher, Alex Wood, Frankie Montas.

Chris Hatcher

Dodgers pitcher Chris Hatcher is eligible for arbitration after the 2016 season. He might not pitch in the meantime. (Getty Images)


Chris Hatcher might not pitch again this season because of a Grade 3 strain of his left oblique muscle.

“It seems unlikely for his return,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Continue reading “Bullpen notes: Chris Hatcher, Alex Wood, Frankie Montas.” »