COVID-19 outbreak means remote broadcasts on road
A COVID-19 outbreak in the booth will cause the Dodgers to broadcast remotely while the team begins an East Coast road trip on Friday in Philadelphia.
Charley Steiner and Jaime Jarrín were absent from the Dodgers’ English and Spanish-language radio broadcasts, respectively, during Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rick Monday shifted to play-by-play duties with Jose Mota serving as the analyst during the English-language broadcast on 570 AM. Mota switched from the Spanish booth to the English booth between games of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Diamondbacks.
On Wednesday, Pepe Yniguez and Fernando Valenzuela called the entirety of the game on KTNQ. Jarrín, 86, is the longest-tenured active broadcaster in Major League Baseball. He previously announced he would retire after this season.
“Due to a few members of the Dodgers’ broadcast team having recently tested positive for COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, the Dodgers have decided not to travel their broadcasters to the upcoming games in Philadelphia and Washington,” a team statement read. “Similar to the 2020 and 2021 MLB seasons, the games will be broadcast from Los Angeles.”
Price is right
David Price struck out three of the four batters he faced in a scoreless appearance Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. It was his first game since April 22, when he was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
“I wasn’t able to do a whole lot for the first 10 days” after going on IL, Price said. “I was in a hotel room here in L.A. The first five days weren’t bad. The last five, that was pretty tough being stuck in a hotel room, not being outside. I tried to get out as much as I could, just drive around to be outside. Going to Arizona after the Chicago trip, throwing some bullpens and live BPs felt good.”
A starter for most of his 14-year career, Price said he is more effective the more often he pitches. His fastball reached 92.3 mph on Wednesday, in line with his velocity prior to going on
IL. In six appearances this season, the veteran lefthander has a 1.50 ERA.
Price, 36, was eager to get back on the mound.
“I didn’t know it was a two-run game when I came in,” he said. “Not wanting to give up one of your penmates’ runs kind of helps lock you in.”
Also
Clayton Kershaw’s first bullpen session is on hold while the left-hander deals with pain and discomfort in the wake of a cortisone shot in his right SI joint. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is not expected to be activated from the 15-day DL when he is eligible on May 28 . ... Andrew Heaney’s first bullpen session since going on IL went well, the pitcher said. He threw both fastballs and sliders and could be facing hitters “in the short future,” pitching coach Mark Prior told SportsNet LA. Heaney, who experienced shoulder discomfort after his second start of the season, said he is “weeks” away from pitching in a game . ... Julio Urías is scheduled to start Friday in Philadelphia, while Tony Gonsolin will start Sunday. Saturday’s game is expected to be a bullpen game.