Dodgers Aim to Secure NL West Title Amid Rivalry Challenges
WHO:
MLB.com - Shohei Ohtani, Dalton Rushing, Dave Roberts, Eric Lauer, Mookie Betts, Justin Wrobleski, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, Freddie Freeman, Mike Lupica.
NY Post - Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres.
WHAT:
MLB.com - The Dodgers won against the Minnesota Twins with a score of 12-3, maintaining their nine-game lead over the Padres in the NL West.
MLB.com - Shohei Ohtani's fastball averaged a career-high 100 mph during his recent outing against the Twins.
MLB.com - Ohtani has hit 17 home runs and has 45 RBIs this season.
MLB.com - Max Muncy has 16 home runs, Andy Pages has 15, and Freddie Freeman has 13 home runs this season.
MLB.com - Eric Lauer expressed his displeasure about being used behind an opener, stating, "If you ask most starters in the league [about the opener], they would have the same response, that they don’t like it."
MLB.com - Dalton Rushing admitted, "I thought Shohei did a good job. I didn't do a great job, start to finish. It was pretty embarrassing."
MLB.com - The Dodgers won against the Minnesota Twins, completing a sweep with a score of 4-3.
MLB.com - Ohtani pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned), with eight strikeouts.
MLB.com - The Dodgers' lead over the Padres in the NL West was nine games after their victory against the Twins.
MLB.com - Ohtani has a record of 7-2 with a 1.47 earned run average.
MLB.com - Justin Wrobleski has a record of 9-2 with an earned run average of 2.71.
MLB.com - Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a record of 7-5 with a 2.65 earned run average.
MLB.com - Mookie Betts is hitting .218.
MLB.com - Eric Lauer pitched six no-hit innings against the Twins after coming out of the bullpen.
MLB.com - The Dodgers have finished in first place 12 times in the last 13 seasons.
WHERE:
MLB.com - Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MLB.com - Los Angeles, California (Dodgers' home).
WHEN:
MLB.com - Phase 1 of All-Star voting concluded at noon ET on a Thursday, with results being announced at 6 p.m. ET that same day. Phase 2 voting begins at noon ET on Monday, June 29, and ends at noon on Thursday, July 2.
MLB.com - The Dodgers are scheduled to play a weekend series against the Padres in San Diego.
WHY:
MLB.com - The Dodgers aim to secure the NL West title amid challenges from rival teams.
MLB.com - Ohtani took over pitch-calling duties to regain control during a challenging game situation.
HOW:
MLB.com - Ohtani took control of pitch-calling duties during his outing against the Twins after miscommunication with catcher Dalton Rushing.
MLB.com - Ohtani adjusted his pitch-calling strategy after miscommunication with catcher Dalton Rushing, leading to a successful outing.
MLB.com - Roberts supported Rushing during the game to help him manage his performance.
(UPDATED June 26, 2026 15:47 UTC)
The Dodgers secured a decisive victory over the Minnesota Twins, winning the game 12 to 3 and maintaining their nine-game lead over the Padres in the NL West. In an impressive performance, Shohei Ohtani's fastball averaged a career-high 100 mph, and he has now hit 17 home runs with 45 RBIs this season. Meanwhile, Phase 1 of All-Star voting wrapped up recently, with Phase 2 voting set to begin at noon ET on Monday, June 29, and concluding at noon on Thursday, July 2.
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(UPDATED June 26, 2026 13:41 UTC)
The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a sweep against the Minnesota Twins with a close score of 4-3, extending their lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West to nine games. Shohei Ohtani had an impressive outing, pitching six innings with eight strikeouts, while Eric Lauer contributed by throwing six no-hit innings after coming out of the bullpen. Looking ahead, the Dodgers are set to face the Padres in a weekend series in San Diego as they aim to secure the NL West title.