Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz started a rehab assignment on Sunday with Oklahoma City, and pitched a scoreless inning, though it wasn’t clean. He walked a batter and threw only seven strikes among his 16 pitches, and did not induce a swinging strike, though did get a called strikeout.
“I’m sure Edwin is going to want to get back here as soon as possible,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “But I’m probably more of the ‘get another one, and then get back with us.'”
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I would posit there are more than those two options, but Díaz is getting closer to a potential return. Sunday was the first step.
Player of the day
Zach Ehrhard reached base four times and drove in all three runs to finish an Oklahoma City six-game sweep. Ehrhard had a two-run single in the seventh inning to open the scoring and adding an RBI single for some insurance in the ninth.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Christian Romero and friends took the offense provided by Ehrhard to beat the Round Rock Express (Rangers). Romero pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering three singles, with two strikeouts.
Hyeseong Kim had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Noah Miller walked twice and scored the other two runs.
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Kris Bubic pitched a scoreless eighth, his third scoreless inning in three tries on his rehab assignment.
Oklahoma City is tied with Sugar Land in the second half at 39-24 with 12 games left in the regular season. Those two teams play each other next week for six games in Oklahoma City, which will go a long way in determining who faces Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast league championship.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers allowed a run in the ninth to force extra innings, then gave up six runs in the 10th in a loss to the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins).
Josue De Paula had two hits, walked, and stole his 30th base of the season, two swipes shy of his career high set last year.
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After a series of shortened starts and two injured list stints, Luke Fox had a nice clean outing on Sunday, with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. The left-hander retired all six batters he faced.
Right-hander Jacob Kmatz, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the August 3 Hunter Feduccia/Jack Suwinski trade, struck out four in two scoreless innings on Sunday, stranding a pair of singles. Since joining Tulsa, Kmatz has a 1.72 ERA in 11 games, with 21 strikeouts against only two walks in 15 2/3 innings and a 30.6-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate.
High-A Great Lakes
There was no celebration hangover for the Loons, who closed out the regular season with a win over the Lake County Captains (Guardians). Third baseman Eduardo Guerrero had a pair of run-scoring singles.
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With a playoff spot clinched and the postseason starting in two days, it was a group pitching effort on Sunday for Great Lakes, with six pitchers used to cover nine innings. Jacob Frost had the longest outing of the bunch with three scoreless innings, the 2025 draft pick ending his first professional season on a high note.
Second baseman Nico Perez was the designated hitter on Sunday, walked twice, and stole two bases, giving him 35 steals in 41 attempts in 83 games with the Loons this year. Last year Perez was hurt in July, ending his season, and stole 35 bases in 41 tries in only 61 games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Perez, who turns 22 this season, hit .270/.380/.450 with Great Lakes, including a 118 wRC+ entering Sunday.
Edgardo Quintero did not play on Sunday, but the top-100 prospect ended the regular season leading the Midwest League in runs scored (107), batting average (.309), and on-base percentage (.445), and was second in OPS (.940) and hits (123). Teammate Charles Davalan led the league in hits (128), extra-base hits (56), and total bases (235).
Class-A Ontario
Tower Buzzers relievers allowed five runs in the final three innings, turning a close game into a lopsided loss to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels).
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Easton Shelton one day after hitting a billion-foot grand slam (roughly) was walked three times and had a sacrifice fly. The cornerman ends the regular season leading the California League in home runs (37), RBI (112), total bases (262), extra-base hits (65), OPS (1.047), and slugging percentage (.644), and was second in on-base percentage (.403) and fourth in batting average (.297) and runs scored (89).
With 111 RBI in 109 games, Shelton joins Emil Morales as the first Dodgers minor leaguers since Greg Brock in 1982 with at least 100 RBI and more runs batted in than games played.
Transactions
Triple-A: Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was called up the Dodgers with Dalton Rushing on the injured list. Nelson Quiroz was promoted to Oklahoma City for catching depth, though he didn’t play Sunday.
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Double-A: One day after being active without pitching, Angel Cruz was sent back to the Arizona Complex League roster. Alex Walsh joined Tulsa from the ACL roster instead.
High-A: Closer Davis Chastain was placed on the injured list retroactive to Saturday. That puts him out for the divisional playoffs. Hyun-Seok Jang was activated after four weeks on the injured list to start, but retired only three of his eight batters faced and was pulled with no outs in the second inning after allowing two runs, one earned.
Class-A: Right-hander Jesus Tillero was activated after seven weeks on the injured list. He allowed three runs in his two innings of work.
Sunday scores
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The week ahead
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Midwest League East Division playoffs, best of 3: Great Lakes vs. Dayton (Reds)
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Cal League South Division playoffs, best of 3: Ontario vs. Lake Elsinore (Padres)
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Oklahoma City vs. Sugar Land (Astros)
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Tulsa at Northwest Arkansas (Royals)
Great Lakes as the second-half winner hosts Game 1 on Tuesday, with Games 2 and 3 at Dayton on Thursday and Friday. Ontario as the second-half winner hosts Game 1 on Tuesday, with Games 2 and 3 at Lake Elsinore on Thursday and Friday.
In both Class-A and High-A, the best-of-3 league championship series start on Sunday, with Games 2-3 on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15-16.
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