MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ star-studded rotation is missing a couple of key pitchers, with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the injured list.
Los Angeles’ bullpen has picked up the slack by producing a record run of effectiveness even while dealing with its own injury issues.
Dodgers relievers have thrown 36 straight shutout innings. That represents the longest such streak for any bullpen in the franchise’s storied history since at least 1901. According to Sportradar, the last time any major league bullpen had this long a streak was in September 2017, when Cleveland relievers threw 39 straight scoreless innings.
“They’re on a heater,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Los Angeles relievers threw four more shutout innings in an 11-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. “It’s one of those things: When it doesn’t go well, they get the blame. And when it does go well, they don’t get a lot of the credit. But they are getting the credit now, and it’s earned.”
This bullpen is dominating even without Edwin Díaz, the three-time All-Star closer who joined the Dodgers in December on a three-year, $69 million contract. Díaz hasn’t pitched since undergoing elbow surgery in late April, and he isn’t expected to return until after the All-Star break.
His absence hasn’t mattered lately.
Los Angeles’ bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in its last 10 games. The last time anyone scored against a Dodgers reliever was in a 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on May 12.
Before this stretch, the longest streak of consecutive scoreless innings by Dodgers relievers in baseball's modern era was a 33-inning run in April 1998.
“We’ve got really good arms and anyone can pitch in any situation,” said Tanner Scott, whose four saves match Díaz for the team lead. “That’s huge.”
The ability of these relievers to thrive in different roles was evident Saturday as Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Scott and Jonathan Hernández allowed only one hit and three walks over the last four innings.
Scott worked the eighth rather than the ninth to face the middle of Milwaukee’s batting order, and he responded with three strikeouts. Vesia entered earlier than usual and recorded consecutive strikeouts of Gary Sánchez and Jake Bauers in the sixth.
Roberts said the relievers’ willingness to adapt results from the culture instilled by bullpen coach Josh Bard and assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness, among others.
“I don’t like excuses,” Roberts said. “When your number’s called, you’ve got to be ready.”
That attitude carries over from the tested veterans to the younger pitchers in Los Angeles’ bullpen.
For instance, Hurt had only four games of major league experience before this season. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed a run in his season debut April 15 but has thrown 14 straight scoreless innings since.
“I just feel extremely confident out there right now,” Hurt said. “That’s kind of all I can lean on. We’re all big leaguers. We’re all here for a reason. I’m just trusting myself.”
This bullpen has the Dodgers’ trust as the NL West leaders chase a third straight World Series title.
“The biggest thing is they’re attacking the hitters,” said outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who had a homer and six RBIs on Saturday. “They’re pounding the strike zone. When they need a pitch for a double play, they execute it really well.
“In ’24, they helped us a lot, ’25, too. This year’s not going to be different. They’re built for this and they’re ready for it.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kyle Hurt gives a thumbs up to his bench in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia reacts during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia attacked Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight Sunday in an intense assault that shook buildings across the center of the Ukrainian capital, including near government offices, residential buildings and schools.
The combined attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed and jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles. Around 19 missiles failed to reach targets, the Air Force said.
One medium-range ballistic missile was launched from Russia's Kasputin Yar, in the Astrakhan region, the usual launch site of the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was planning to use the missile, citing intelligence from the U.S. and Western partners.
The Air Force did not confirm the Oreshnik was used but earlier warned of its possible launch.
At least two people were killed and 56 people were injured, local authorities said, citing preliminary figures. Air raid sirens blared through the night as smoke billowed across the city from strikes. Associated Press reporters heard powerful explosions near the city center and close to government buildings.
The attack was ongoing at sunrise Sunday, with more missiles and drones expected to reach Kyiv.
Damage was recorded in 40 locations across several districts of the capital, including residential buildings, Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko said in a Telegram post.
“It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war," said Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, who has worked in the market that was damaged for 22 years.
“I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility," she added. “My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down.”
Yevhen Zosin, 74, a Kyiv resident who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard the explosion he rushed to grab his dog.
“Then there was another explosion and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,” he said.
In Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a five-story residential building was hit, which caused a fire, and one person was killed, Ukraine's state emergency service reported.
A school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. Local authorities reported supermarkets and warehouses across the city also were damaged.
Multiple communities recorded damage throughout the Kyiv region, according to Mykola Kalashnyk, the regional governor.
Russia first used the multiple-warhead Oreshnik on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. It was used a second time in January in the western Lviv region.
President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik, which means “hazelnut tree” in Russian, streaks at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10, and is capable of destroying underground bunkers “three, four or more floors down.”
The weapon travels “like a meteorite” and is immune to any missile defense system, Putin said, adding that several such missiles, even fitted with conventional warheads, could be as devastating as a nuclear strike.
Rescue workers put out a fire of residential building destroyed after a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
An injured woman is helped by A Red Cross volunteer inside a shelter after a Russian strike on residential neighbourhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A man carries a box from a burning trade center after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Red Cross volunteers carry an injured woman into an ambulance after a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Iryna and Ihor react as they look at their house destroyed after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a prayer house of a local Protestant community of Evangelical Christian Baptists burns following a Russian air attack in Balakliia, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire at a prayer house of a local Protestant community of Evangelical Christian Baptists following Russian air attack in Balakliia, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a prayer house of a local Protestant community of Evangelical Christian Baptists burns following a Russian air attack in Balakliia, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire at a prayer house of a local Protestant community of Evangelical Christian Baptists following Russian air attack in Balakliia, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
