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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Kathryn Xu

Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate as they run past relief pitcher Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Phillies Go Down Swinging And Missing, And Throwing And Missing

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos #8 slides into Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts #50 on third base.

Never Bunt

Lauren Theisen

Emmanuel Rivera #26 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after walking off the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 06, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland

[Affecting A Maryland Accent] “Whoa! Go O’s!”

Tom Ley

Heckler Achieves Impossible Task Of Making Shohei Ohtani Even Cooler Than He Already Was

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out

The First-Place Dodgers Are In Relative Trouble

Bill Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during the 2025 MLB All-Star player photo shoot

Bills Week

How Did Will “Bill” Smith Do At The MLB All-Star Game?

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

A protester holds a backwards American flag outside of Dodger Stadium during a protest against the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and ICE immigration raids on June 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

The Dodgers Are Disappointing The People Who Want To Love Them The Most

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is hit by a pitch from Robert Suarez #75 of the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning.

Every Hit-By-Pitch In The Dodgers–Padres Series, Ranked

Barry Petchesky

A small group of demonstrators protests outside the entrance of Dodger Stadium on the night of the team's June 19 game.

Policing

The Dodgers Can’t Sit This Moment Out

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning.

Shohei Ohtani Is Getting Back To Abnormal

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
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Lucy Bloom

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the field before the game

Dodgers Innovate Watchable June Bullpen Game

Patrick Redford

A baseball game being projected onto the side of a French bulldog.

This Is So Stupid

Let’s Figure Out What Dodgers Game They Watched On The Bulldog

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the dugout.

Dodgers So Desperate For Starting Pitching They Turn To DH

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a walk-off hit in the bottom of the tenth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Cubs Love To Get Crooked 

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the field during player introductions prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome.

Baseball’s Sort Of Back

Hell Yeah: Shohei Ohtani Throws Baseball 14 Times

David Roth

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki wearing #11 which was Miguel Rojas number is introduced as the newest Dodger during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Podcasts

Bop It In The Go Bag, With Justin Halpern

itcher Roki Sasaki puts on his jersey during a Los Angeles Dodgers press conference.

Maybe The Dodgers’ Competitors Could Show Some Self-Respect

Ray Ratto

Blake Snell of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Miami Marlins on August 30, 2024 in San Francisco. EDITORS NOTE: This image was created with the free lens technique)

The Dodgers Should Cut To The Chase

Shohei Ohtani Reverse Tungsten-Arms His Way Into A World Series Ring

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts #50 during the eighth inning of Game Five of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Humble Sac Fly Wins Championships

Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodges runs in from the bullpen at Dodger Stadium during Game 2 of the 2024 World Series.

There Was No Relief From, Or For, The Dodgers Bullpen In This World Series

Teammates celebrate with "Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21), left, after winning the World Series. Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees at Yankees Stadium in New York City Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

The Dodgers Did It The Weird Way

Gleyber Torres of the Yankees celebrates his eighth-inning homer in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series while rounding the baes at Yankee Stadium.

A World Series Of Unexpected Heroes Just Minted A Few More

Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees at home plate.