Dodgers Continue Pivoting in an Injury-Riddled Season,
In a hectic season, Ureña is on yet another difficult break. If he signs with another team, the 33-year-old would have been with four teams this season, including the Dodgers, the Blue Jays, and the Mets. Even though Ureña only allowed one run in three innings during his two Dodgers appearances, the team needed a new pitcher, and once more, he was the odd man out.
The move is less about performance and more about circumstance. With the Dodgers dealing with injuries across the board and a taxed bullpen, they needed someone who could eat innings. That someone, at least for now, is Sauer.
Sauer, who’s been on the rollercoaster between Triple-A and the majors all season, got the call to start Tuesday night’s game in San Diego. It was a forgettable outing. He was hit early and often, giving up nine earned runs on 13 hits in 4.2 innings during an 11-1 loss. But the right-hander didn’t duck the cameras or the moment afterward.
“I just got to be better with locating the ball,” Sauer said postgame. “I know my role is to eat up innings. I feel like I got the frame and repertoire to do that and go out there and compete every time.”
“I just got to be better at locating the ball.”
Matt Sauer (L (1-1), 4.2 IP, 13 H, 9 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 111 P) talks to the media after the #Dodgers drop Game 2 to the Padres, losing 11-1. pic.twitter.com/dDCr3NE8HN
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 11, 2025
The Dodgers continue to use the RHP because of his willingness, grit, and grounded attitude. Sauer was called up for the fourth time this season, and since MLB only allows five options each season, this might be his final trip back to Triple-A. The time has come for him to demonstrate his ability to carry the load if he wishes to stay.
Next Man Up For LA
This season has tested Los Angeles’s depth and resiliency. Even though July hasn’t arrived, 30 pitchers have already donned Dodger blue in 2024. There appears to be a new face and a new obstacle every week. But despite everything, the crew continues to work, believing that the correct pieces will eventually stick somewhere in the never-ending shuffle.
Sauer may not have had the start he hoped for, and Ureña may be on the move again, but both are part of a larger story, one about a team trying to stay afloat while chasing October in a season that refuses to play by their book.