MINNEAPOLIS — The Dodgers’ recent offensive scuffing fell down the list of their most pressing issues Monday in their 2-1 win against the Minnesota Twins.

In the first three innings, the Dodgers had two key players leave the game. Right fielder Kyle Tucker exited in the top of the second because of lower back spasms, and catcher Dalton Rushing in the bottom of the third to evaluate for a possible concussion, the team said.

Tucker drew a walk in the second inning, advanced to second on Tommy Edman’s single and was replaced by pinch-runner Alex Call soon after.

Tucker jogged off the field into the dugout, his hand on his right side as he talked to hitting coach Aaron Bates.

Tucker, in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a four-year deal worth $240 million this winter, entered Monday with a .705 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, on pace for his worst offensive year by that measure since his 2018 rookie season with the Houston Astros.

Tucker recently went nine games with a .303 batting average. But then he went hitless in the Dodgers’ two losses to the Batlimore Orioles last weekend.

“If we can get him back to being who he is, then we’ll bet on the results,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game, noting Tucker’s reputation for controlling the strike zone. “It’s not something that we might see tonight. But I think going here forward, that’s something that I think we’re going to see.”

Rushing was replaced behind the plate by Chuckie Robinson in the third inning. When the Dodgers announced the reason for Rushing’s exit, they did not point to a particular incident. But Rushing did take a foul tip off his mask on Will Klein’s first pitch of the game.

Rushing took a moment to compose himself, putting his glove in the dirt for stability. But he remained in the game for two innings.

The Dodgers already were down one catcher. Rushing took over as the primary backstop the last two weeks with Will Smith sidelined by a neck injury. Smith did not travel with the team to Minnesota.

Lauer follows opener

Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer voiced his distaste for pitching behind an opener while with the Toronto Blue Jays. But he clarified those comments when he joined the Dodgers.

“If you ask most starters in the league, they would probably have the same response, that they don’t like it,” Lauer said last month. “But it doesn’t mean that I’m not willing to do it. It doesn’t mean that I’m not a team player.”

On Monday, the Dodgers asked him to enter the game in the second inning after Klein gave up a run and two hits in the first. Lauer followed with six hitless innings.

“We’ve been very forthright,” Roberts said before the game. “I know he’s appreciated that. For me, just telling him the thought behind it and the why and still giving him confidence to know that we expect him to take down the most outs in the game. He’s all in. He’s all in on winning. I do think that just getting ahead of it [is key], being honest with him.”

Roberts said he told Lauer the plan after Sunday’s game, explaining that he thought having Klein face the power-hitting right-handers near the top of the Twins lineup would give Lauer the best chance to go deeper into the game.

Klein surrendering a tying home run to right-handed hitting Byron Buxton wasn’t exactly part of that plan. But Lauer kept the Twins hitless for six scoreless innings. The three walks he issued accounted for the only baserunners against him.

The Dodgers scored their runs on solo homers from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

It’s not only the boot that’s prone to turning gold.

The Golden Glove is the award given to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup. The winner often comes down to impact, with clutch saves in knockout stage matches and standout performances in the tournament’s crunch-time moments.

In four of the last five World Cups, the winner of this award has come from the champion nation. 

Let’s dive into the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 22.

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Golden Glove Winner 2026

Emiliano Martínez: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)
Unai Simón: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)
Mike Maignan: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Alisson Becker: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Jordan Pickford: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Manuel Neuer: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Ederson: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Diogo Costa: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
David Raya: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)

In Argentina’s first match against Algeria, Martinez exited with a clean sheet, but the Algerians did not register a shot on goal. He had no saves. 

Going back in time, Martínez played a pivotal role in Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup title, starting all seven matches and playing every single minute. He conceded only eight total goals and kept three clean sheets. 

Martínez also took home the Golden Glove at Copa América in 2024 as he had five clean sheets and only allowed one goal in the entire tournament.

Simon was an influential piece in Spain’s 2024 European Championship run, allowing only three goals and putting together two clean sheets in six matches. 

This is Simón’s second career World Cup appearance after playing every minute of the team’s four matches during the 2022 tournament. Through two games, he has two saves.

Ty Simpson listens to himself in the evening before he falls asleep. And also when he gets up in the morning and heads to work at the Rams’ practice facility.

The rookie quarterback hears his own voice on audio recordings as he recites the team’s play calls.

“I want to make sure it’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed,” he said recently, “and the first thing that I wake up to.”

The Rams ended their offseason program last week. But Simpson, a Tennessee native, said he would remain in Southern California and continue to study in preparation for training camp at Loyola Marymount in late July.

Simpson began the practice of recording himself at Alabama, where he was the starter in the last of his four seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Now he is the heir apparent to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL most valuable player.

The Rams surprised many when they used the 13th pick in the draft to select Simpson, who started only 15 games. But Simpson is doing everything he can to fit into a position group that includes Stafford, 38, fourth-year signal-caller Stetson Bennett and undrafted free agent Matthew Caldwell.

“Feel like I’m a freshman again — drinking from a fire hydrant,” he said, adding that he knows and is comfortable with high expectations. “The quarterback runs the show here, just how I like it.”

Stafford, entering his 18th season, has said that Simpson has not been shy about asking questions.

“I hope I’m not annoying him,” Simpson said, “but I really appreciate the big brother kind of role he’s playing in my development.”

Stafford is “the MVP for a reason,” Simpson said. “Everything he does, he’s so just aware of everything, aware of how everything works. … I really appreciate him and Stetson taking me in and answering all the questions I have.”

Bennett got limited reps during the offseason program. But his opportunities are expected to increase during training camp as the Rams manage Stafford’s workload.

When asked about Bennett, coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase seemingly have gone out of their way to speak generally about rookies.

“They’re way behind in terms of just the overall teaching progression but they’re learning,” McVay said. “Ty, like the rest of the rookies, are doing a really nice job.”

Scheelhaase, who went through several head coach interviews during the offseason, is in his first season as the Rams’ coordinator.

“I’ve been encouraged with all of our rookies, including Ty,” Scheelhaase said. “First things first, you want to see, do they come in? Are they coachable? Are they willing to work? And you’ve seen that from Ty from Day 1.”

Simpson said that, so far, the jump from college to the NFL has not been daunting. Quarterback coach Dave Ragone and teammates have helped ease the transition.

“The biggest thing is just how detail-oriented everybody is,” Simpson said, adding, “It’s really, really cool because, coming from Alabama in the SEC, that’s how pro-ready I felt.”

With Stafford under contract through the 2027 season, Simpson might not play for a few years. But if Stafford were to suffer an injury, his time could come sooner.

Simpson is expected to play extensively during preseason games later this summer.

To make sure he’s prepared, Simpson recites and listens to his play calls.

“So when I get in the game and hear a play call, I can just imagine it and see it,” he said. “That’s a big thing, just knowing the terminology and being detail-oriented just like Matthew and Stetson.”