Dodgers Nation: Blue Heaven Podcast

Dodgers v Giants NLDS Game 4 Preview: The Season is On the Back of Buehler, Lux in, Pollock Out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NLDS Game 3 Pregame: Pujols in, Bellinger Out, Scherzer v Woody, Predictions and More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NLDS Game 2 Pregame, Waking Up the Bats, Julio Saves LA, Predictions and More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NLDS Game 1 Pregame: Dodgers vs Giants! Roster Reactions, Lineups, Predictions, and More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wild Card Pregame: Win or Go Home Time, Roster Reactions and More, Beaty Truthers Rise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers tried valiantly to come from behind to win a 9th straight division crown but unfortunately came up a bit short. Even more unfortunate, it ended up costing the club a whole lot after losing Clayton Kershaw and Max Muncy to injury. After a quick second to exhale following the marathon season, we take a moment to look back at some frustrating instances and questionable lineups that ultimately cost LA the division. Moving into looking more at the upcoming winner take all Wild Card game, we dig further into the losses of Kershaw and Muncy and share our thoughts on whether Max will play again this season. Plus, with Muncy out, the Dodgers need a first baseman for the Wild Card game on Wednesday. Will Dave Roberts go with the smart play (Matt Beaty), the obvious Doc play (Cody Bellinger), or the wrong play (Albert Pujols)? Finally, we look at all the reasons fans should feel positive for this Wild Card game between St. Louis and the red hot Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're in the nitty-gritty of the home stretch now for the Dodgers. With 6 games each left for LA and the division leading Giants, there's a whole lot left on the line. However, as it stands the Dodgers are heading for their second Wild Card berth in franchise history. With that, we look at the valiant effort put forth by the boys in blue in the second half and call out the soft efforts out of the inter-division rivals in San Diego and Colorado. Next, how have teams fared in the past as Wild Card teams in the postseason?  Looking ahead, we touch on the do-or-die Wild Card matchup with the Cardinals and set our own winning roster for the postseason. Plus, is there still a window cracked for the Dodgers to sneak their way to division title number 9 in a row? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers take 2 of 3 in Cincinnati while learning that Cody Bellinger has a rib injury. Surprisingly, that isn't enough to put him on the bench or injured list. We discuss if the "let Cody play per his pain tolerance" idea is a smart play. Plus, a deep dive into the centerfield numbers of a returning AJ Pollock tells us that he's more than ready to be the starter in October. Next, Clayton Kershaw proves he's the best number 4 starting pitcher in baseball and Mookie Betts proves the Dodgers did right by paying him for 12+ seasons. Dave Roberts finally changes up the lineup moving a struggling Max Muncy out of the two hole and putting Corey Seager back where he belongs. In the most important news of the day and week, LA remains in the hunt for NL West crown number 9 in a row. However, the division leading Giants head down south to play the Mad Diego Padres in a series that could cost the Friar manager his job if SF sweeps. In case you missed it, Padre star infielders Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis got into a shouting match over the weekend begging the question, has SD manager Jayce Tingler lost this clubhouse? The sputtering Padres also make us appreciate Dave Roberts in LA that much more. Finally, we preview the Dodgers' series in Colorado where the game plan and message is simple... focus on what you can control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers get some help from the team down south and suddenly find themselves chasing the Giants in the NL West by only 1 game. Another LA sweep has the final weeks of the division race tighter than ever and has some looking ahead to a potential game 163 showdown between the Dodgers and the Giants. We chat with LA Times sports editor Houston Mitchell who shares his thoughts on the boys in blue and his hunch that the two best teams in the National League could be speeding toward a bonus game early in October. Plus, is this the worst 100+ win team ever? Next, we have one of our favorite segments, "Excuse the Interruption" this week sponsored by vintagebrand.com. 5 topics, all with one minute to deliver the hottest take on each. This week we discuss Gavin Lux, who's been an absolute difference maker, Billy McKinney's postseason fate, will Cody Bellinger start in October and more. As always, it's a great time. All that and a preview of the series with the Reds in Cincy plus predictions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers sweep the San Diego Pobres and we have a great time with it. Meanwhile, Padres fans have gone into hiding. Still, we introduce a new segment just to highlight those great Slam Diego fans. With all that said, the Dodgers don't gain any ground on the apparently unstoppable Giants. With San Francisco now set to welcome the Padres to the bay for 4 games, LA fans awkwardly become San Diego fans for a week. Next we discuss whether Max Scherzer is the best trade deadline acquisition ever by the Dodgers and welcome back Clayton Kershaw. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things go off the rails early for Clint, Brook, and Doug. After another Dodgers loss in St. Louis, everyone quickly turned to questioning the lineup decisions of Dave Roberts after seeing the manager turn in a lineup card featuring Cody Bellinger, Steven Souza, Billy McKinney, and (the slugger of the group) Austin Barnes. Belli's season-plus-long slump continued with another 0-4 game and we discuss whether continuing to put him in the lineup like this could have long-lasting effects on his mental state and career. Plus, we're back on the #freemattbeaty talk which has suddenly become a lot louder amongst fans. Now sitting 2.5 games behind the Giants, the Dodgers are flat out running out of time to capture that 9th straight NL West crown. No longer being in control of their own destiny, is it time for the team and all of us to keep one eye out on the Wild Card game? With that the guys make their choice for who starts the one-and-done Wild Card game at Dodger Stadium. Somewhat staying on the Wild Card topic, the Padres come to town this weekend and Brook gets one of his wishes answered. San Diego starter Chris Paddack is finally starting against LA. We make our predictions for the NL West showdown. Plus we read fan thoughts on what's wrong with Cody Bellinger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a wild week for the Dodgers. A sweep of the Padres was followed by a lackluster showing against the Rockies in LA. And all throughout the Rockies series, Dave Roberts kept piling up the interesting, head scratcher, or outright terrible moves.  The big focus is, of course, Justin Turner pitching in a 5-0 game, but you can't overlook the fact that the game on Sunday started with Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, and Will Smith all on the bench. Dave's comments after the game only made it worse. Still, all of this means nothing to the Blue Heaven boys because, shockingly, the Dodgers sent down major league hitter and friend of the show Matt Beaty and we have some words about this. Plus a double series preview and some thoughts on Javy Baez thumbing down the home fans in New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers get the job done during a 6-1 homestand that not only pulled them closer to the top in the division race, but also helped answer some potential postseason questions, particularly in the bullpen. Mainly, it proved that Alex Vesia has mostly transitioned himself from a J.A.G. to a dude in the backend of the 'pen. Trea Turner has been an absolute difference maker for LA, proving that this team really does need that true catalyst at the top of lineup. Plus love for Corey Seager, Brusdar Graterol, AJ Pollock, and even Kenley Jansen along with a bit of worry with Max Muncy, Justin Turner, and Will Smith. Getting into Padres talk, the guys first ponder the question, which wild card team would we prefer to face if the path to October came down to that? San Diego or the Cincinnati Reds? Diving into the show Pads, we enjoy a chuckle over their misfortune since sweeping the Dodgers back in June. Also, will the Dodgers do that thing they do where they play poorly against the Padres? We discuss. We also share our thoughts about the city connect uniforms, talk about Dodgers Nation's annual staff game at the Stadium (featuring drunk Brook), and deliver the weekly softball team update. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers go 5-1 on the road trip but unearth some question marks... Should we start planning on life without Mookie Betts in 2021? What is Dave Robert's obsession with Billy McKinney? Will the defense fail at the worst possible time this season? Along the way, we discuss some of our theories involving Doc's relationship with Matt Beaty and wonder why it seriously seems like he's perpetually in the doghouse. Next, with 44 games left (as of pre-game on Monday), are the Dodgers running out of time to catch the very real Giants for that 9th straight NL West crown? Clint and Brook argue over the final outcome of this season and whether it's time to accept that a Wild Card berth is ok. Plus looking ahead to the series with the Pirates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers begin a massive stretch of games by heading to Philly to face the red hot Phillies. But first, the is a whole bunch of roster housekeeping to account for. First, the revolving door of relievers brought two new pitchers into the fold for LA while injures clipped three. Plus, we witness the start of the Trea Turner era and absolutely love his ability as a game changer. Jimmy Nelson is out for the year after blowing out his elbow and that immediately got us worried about the ace, Clayton Kershaw. Kersh is sidelined with elbow/forearm discomfort and his placement on the 60-day IL got Dodger fans rattled. We discuss Clayton's status and hear from the GOAT himself. Cody Bellinger is bouncing back since we threatened him with our all-powerful "let him play or AAA" game and Alex Vesia is showing that he's a whole new man since his stint in the minors. We also talk biggest concerns for the stretch run and look ahead at the Phillies series that truly will be a big test for the Dodgers. All this and more on another jampacked episode of Blue Heaven! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices