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Dodgers Roundup: LA Demotes Veteran, Pitcher ‘Surprised’ to Be Traded, Dave Roberts Sends Message

Catch up on all the latest Dodgers news and notes.
Gabe Smallson|
Aug 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) in the dugout before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Aug 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) in the dugout before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Kansas City Royals in walk-off 5-4 fashion on Tuesday evening to improve to 72-48 on the year.

Two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell made his long-awaited return to the rotation and threw off a major league mound for the first time since May 9, his only other start of 2026. He went six innings, striking out 10 and allowing just one earned run in a dominant display.

Offensively, Mookie Betts had a three-hit game that included his 14th home run of the season. It was Max Muncy who was the hero, though, hitting a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning after right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen pitched a scoreless top of the 10th in his Dodgers debut.

Ahead of Tuesday's contest, the Dodgers demoted a veteran pitcher to make room for Snell on the roster. A fellow southpaw was optioned back to Triple-A, but in another piece of this move, right-hander Blake Treinen was moved to the 60-day injured list.

In other news, a new Dodgers pitcher (not named Tarik Skubal) admitted his surprise at being dealt ahead of the trade deadline as his new team continues a series with his old employer.

“I kind of know where I’m at in my career, the rental status and all that,"the new Dodger said to reporters. “But obviously I hadn’t pitched in a couple months, a little over two months when the deadline came."

Finally, manager Dave Roberts minced no words when sending a message to the two-time defending champions who are under .500 since the All-Star break. Ahead of Monday's game — which was certainly in must-win territory amid a 1-8 stretch — Roberts told reporters that his team needed to step things up.

“We’re a wild-card team right now,” Roberts said. “We have to get going and play with urgency. We have to make sure we don’t get ahead of the playoff situation, and talk about winning now, winning today, winning tomorrow.”

It is unclear if Roberts' comments were directly in response to the seemingly nonchalant nature of superstar Freddie Freeman's comments about the Dodgers' lack of concern on Sunday, following the eighth loss of their last nine.

Here’s all the latest Dodgers news and stories (click the headline for the full article):

Dodgers Demote Pitcher, Officially Activate Blake Snell After 3-Month Absence

Dodgers Pitcher Admits He Was 'Surprised' to Be Traded at Deadline

Dave Roberts Sends Blunt Message to Dodgers Amid Struggles

Dodgers Considering Major Changes for Top Outfield Prospects to Revamp Farm System

Dodgers Lineup vs Royals: Teoscar Hernandez Out, Alex Call Starting

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Gabe Smallson
GABE SMALLSON

Gabe Smallson is a sportswriter based in Los Angeles with a focus in sports and entertainment content. Gabe has previously worked at Newsweek and Dodgers Nation. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 2020 and received his Masters of Science at the University of Southern California in 2025.

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