The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching crisis reached a breaking point on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, as minor league call-up Matt Sauer endured an 11-1 rout by the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The 26-year-old right-hander threw 111 pitches over 4⅔ innings, surrendering 13 hits and nine earned runs, as manager Dave Roberts prioritized preserving his overtaxed bullpen amid a roster nightmare.
With 14 pitchers, including stars like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki, on the injured list—representing over $100 million in salaries—the defending World Series champions are in dire straits. Sauer, in his fourth MLB call-up of 2025, struggled with command against the Padres’ potent lineup. “All you have to do is see what our bullpen situation is, and enjoy what we have the next couple of days,” Roberts said, defending his decision to let Sauer absorb the damage. “I thought it was simply not smart to chase and red-line guys.”
Down 3-0 by the third, Roberts conceded the game to focus on the series’ remaining matchups. The situation grew so dire that utility player Kiké Hernández pitched the final 2⅓ innings, tossing 36 pitches—none faster than 57 mph—while allowing one earned run. Monday’s 8-7 extra-inning win had already burned four high-leverage relievers, leaving opener Lou Trivino’s one scoreless inning as Tuesday’s lone bright spot before the collapse.
Only Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, and Dustin May remain as reliable starters, while Shohei Ohtani eases back into pitching post-elbow surgery. The Dodgers’ injury list reads like an All-Star roster, forcing extreme measures like Sauer’s sacrifice.
The Dodgers face the Padres in the series finale on Wednesday at 7:10 PM PT on Fox Sports West, with Justin Wrobleski aiming to salvage a win. Can L.A. navigate this unprecedented pitching crisis to defend their title, or will the Padres exploit their vulnerabilities further? Follow the drama as the Dodgers fight to keep their 2025 season alive!