Sports
After brutal week, Dodgers remind everyone why they're still World Series dreaming
Despite all the injuries to their pitching staff and questions about their roster depth, the Dodgers still believe.
That they can finish off a division title in the National League West.
That they can mount a deep, albeit unconventional, October run.
That, as manager Dave Roberts declared, “the talent we have, the character we have, is plenty to win the World Series.”
If so, they’ll need more performances like Sunday’s 9-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.
After entering the night with losses in six of their previous nine games, and an NL West lead that had been trimmed to three games by the surging San Diego Padres, the Dodgers put all the pieces together in a much-needed win at Truist Park.
Walker Buehler battled through early command issues to pitch six strong innings in one of his best performances of the season.
The lineup erased an early two-run deficit, showing the kind of fight that has been missing at times in recent weeks.
Then, with the score tied 2-2 in the ninth, their superstar bats erupted for a seven-run rally — one that started with an RBI single from Mookie Betts, then included three-straight home runs from Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman and Max Muncy.
It was a sigh of relief, a flurry of exaltation and a potential postseason statement, wrapped up into one potentially momentum-turning victory.
The Dodgers’ seven-run ninth was initially sparked by one of their coldest hitters, with Will Smith hitting a deep fly ball that bounced off the top of the tall brick wall in right-center for a leadoff triple.
Two batters later, the Braves faced a decision: Let right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias pitch to Shohei Ohtani? Or intentionally walk the left-handed hitting, most valuable player front-runner to face Betts instead.
Braves manager Brian Snitker chose the latter.
And, just as Betts did in a similar situation against the Angels earlier this month, he immediately made Atlanta pay.
On the third pitch of his at-bat, Betts hammered a center-cut fastball through the infield for an RBI single, giving the Dodgers their first lead of this weekend’s series.
Former Braves star Freddie Freeman quickly added some insurance, lining a single to left that scored two runs after Jarred Kelenic misplayed the ball.
From there, the Dodgers (88-61) took out their frustrations from the last couple days — including Saturday’s news that ace pitcher Tyler Glasnow will likely miss the rest of the season with a sprained elbow — in explosive fashion.
Hernández hammered his 29th home run of the season to left. Muncy and Edman followed with solo blasts that gave the Dodgers their third set of back-to-back-to-back home runs this month.
If not for Buehler’s effort earlier in the night, it all might not have happened.
Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler delivers during the first inning Sunday against the Braves.
(Jason Allen / Associated Press)
Buehler almost came unraveled in a 31-pitch, two-run third inning — one in which the Dodgers’ recently sloppy defense gave him little help.
The Braves loaded the bases with one out, sandwiching a couple walks around a catcher’s interference call on Austin Barnes (who later left the game with a contusion to the same left big toe he broke last month).
Another walk to Matt Olson, after Buehler had been ahead 0-and-2 in the count, plated the night’s first run.
In the next at-bat, Buehler induced a slow grounder from Travis d’Arnaud. But on what would have been a tricky double play, the Dodgers failed to record any outs, with Gavin Lux bobbling the ball at second base to let in a run, making it 2-0.
After that, however, Buehler settled down.
He retired the next two batters to limit the third-inning damage.
He then navigated three more innings with much-needed efficiency, giving up only an infield single the rest of the way in a six-inning, two-run (one earned) outing.
The Braves (81-68) allowed the Dodgers to get back into the game with their own sloppy execution.
After Ohtani trimmed the deficit in half with a RBI double in the fifth, he got another chance with runners on base in the seventh thanks in small part to Braves left-hander Dylan Lee.
With two outs in the inning, Lee had Smith in a full count, but then committed a pitch clock violation (his second of the inning) that led to an automatic walk. After pinch-hitter Andy Pages followed with a single, Ohtani came back to the plate and doubled again, dropping a line drive down the right field line.
That knotted the score at 2-2. Two innings later, the Dodgers burst in front for good.
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If the Super Bowl marks the end of the NFL season, WrestleMania is when WWE’s year is over.
There is no offseason in WWE, and when waves of departures hit the company, it hits harder than a Gunther knife-edge chop.
Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross appear during SmackDown at First Horizon Center in Savannah, Ga., on May 23, 2025. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Fightful and BodySlam both reported several superstars who left WWE on Friday ahead of “Friday Night SmackDown.” Some wrestlers confirmed their departures on social media.
Those who left included: Alba Fyre, Aleister Black, Alex Shelley, Andre Chase, Apollo Crews, Bo Dallas, Chris Island, Chris Sabin, Dante Chen, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Kairi Sane, Luca Crusifino, Malik Blade, Nikki Cross, Santos Escobar, Sirena Linton, Trill London, Tyra Mae Steele, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson Dupont, Zelina Vegas and Zoey Stark.
The WWE roster is loaded as it is with several NXT stars getting called up this week.
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Sol Ruca made her presence felt on Raw on Monday when she challenged women’s champion Liv Morgan. The Fatal Influence faction of Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley took aim at the women’s tag team division on SmackDown on Friday. Ricky Saints and Blake Monroe also had vignettes for their upcoming appearances.
Meanwhile, former NXT champion Oba Femi has been on main WWE programming for the last few weeks and beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
Kairi Sane enters the ring during Monday Night RAW at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on April 13, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Aleister Black and Zelina Vega make their way to the ring during SmackDown at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
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It’s not the end of the road for any of the recent departures. Several former WWE stars have made waves elsewhere. Some have even returned over the course of time.
Pitching coach Gus Rico was having dinner on Thursday when head coach Matt Mowry of Birmingham High complimented him on closer Aidan Martinez recording all seven of his outs on strikeouts.
“I had no idea,” Rico said. “Everything is a blur when I’m calling pitches.”
Martinez is throwing some blurs these days after returning this season following Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He touched 92 mph with his fastball and has been improving each week, getting better command and walking fewer batters. He has 28 strikeouts in 15 innings and three saves.
Birmingham is one game behind El Camino Real in the West Valley League standings going into showdown week, playing El Camino Real on Wednesday at on the road and Friday at home. The Patriots need a sweep to have a chance at their first league title under Mowry, who prefers winning City titles.
With Martinez throwing so well, it would be a good strategy for opposing teams to make sure they are leading going into the last two innings.
“He’s got a bright future,” Rico said.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season.
Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)
After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
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But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.
Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.
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