Sports writer

Bill Plunkett

Bill Plunkett graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He has worked for daily newspapers as a sportswriter since 1983, in Southern California since 1987 and at the Orange County Register since 1999.

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Dodgers still can’t figure out Brewers’ pitchers

July 19, 2025 at 12:20 a.m.

The Dodgers are held to three hits in a 2-0 defeat and have scored a total of four runs in four losses to Milwaukee over the past 11 days, striking...

Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani will continue the slow buildup of his return to the mound. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is expected to throw three innings on Monday night, maybe increasing to four innings in his next two outings after that. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Dodgers will continue slow buildup for Shohei Ohtani as pitcher

July 18, 2025 at 7:01 p.m.

Ohtani will make his next start as pitcher on Monday night and is expected to go three innings again. This time, Dustin May will follow him.

Shohei Ohtani has been slowly upping his pitch counts as the Dodgers work him back into their starting rotation. It’s one of several reasons they’re optimistic that their best baseball is ahead of them coming out of the All-Star break. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Confident Dodgers acknowledge room for improvement

July 17, 2025 at 9:42 p.m.

They’re in first place at the All-Star break again, but several of their best hitters are slumping and an overworked bullpen could use help. On the bright side, their rotation...

The Dodgers find themselves leading the NL West at the All-Star break, as usual, but they need to get key hitters like Teoscar Hernandez, left, Mookie Betts, center, and Freddie Freeman going at the plate. (Photos by Getty Images and The Associated Press)

Dodgers midseason report: Roster health isn’t their only concern

July 17, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.

They still hope to have plenty of starting pitching options, a sturdy bullpen and a deep lineup by October, but that lineup has not been clicking on all cylinders for...

Arkansas pitcher Zach Root, shown pitching against Washington State in February in Fayetteville, Ark. was selected 40th overall by the Dodgers in the MLB draft on Sunday. “I couldn’t be happier. This was my favorite team growing up, and I’m happy to be a Dodger,” Root said. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

MLB draft: Dodgers select Arkansas lefty Zach Root, 13 other pitchers

July 14, 2025 at 5:42 p.m.

Root relies less on his fastball and more on a pitch assortment featuring a changeup, curveball and slider that produced 126 strikeouts in 99⅓ innings last season (fifth in NCAA...

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani remains one of the most feared hitters in the game while easing himself back into pitching this season. The three-time league MVP continues to amaze his teammates with his ability to do both things at an elite level. (Photos by The Associated Press)

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani ‘in his own league’ as he resumes two-way duty

July 14, 2025 at 8:57 p.m.

One of the most feared hitters in the game, the three-time league MVP is easing back into pitching while amazing his teammates with his preparation and ability to juggle both...

Dodgers’ Andy Pages, right, hits an RBI single in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, left, during the 11th inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dodgers rally in 11th inning to beat Giants before All‑Star break

July 14, 2025 at 12:38 a.m.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto allows just three hits over seven scoreless innings. After Tanner Scott gives up a two-run homer in the ninth, the Dodgers rally with three straight two-out RBI singles...

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Atlanta Braves on May 3 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki finally making progress in throwing program

July 14, 2025 at 1:03 a.m.

Out since early May, the Japanese rookie has started throwing off a mound this week and a return in late August can now be projected.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani follows through on his pitch to a San Francisco Giants batter during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers end losing streak with strong pitching from Shohei Ohtani, Emmet Sheehan

July 13, 2025 at 12:23 a.m.

Ohtani pitches three innings for the first time and Sheehan follows, as the Dodgers take a shutout into the eighth inning and hang on to beat the Giants, 2-1.

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman bats during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Dodgers’ Dave Roberts has faith Freddie Freeman will find his way out of slump

July 13, 2025 at 12:11 a.m.

Freeman has hit under .200 since the start of June with a higher strikeout rate than his career norm, but Roberts says Freeman is “too good of a hitter” not...

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