Dodgers Briefing: Kershaw, Lux two perspectives on playing in Arizona

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes to the field in the first inning in game two of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes to the field in the first inning in game two of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 26: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

3. Dave Roberts a little less hopeful about playing in 2020

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been keeping busy by helping out hospital workers on the frontlines in the battle against the coronavirus. His wife learned that doctors and nurses in a hospital near their home in San Diego were being forced to eat out of vending machines while serving patients, so the Dodgers First Couple arranged for a local restaurant to provide food deliveries to keep them well-fed.

In an interview about his charitable work, Roberts gave an update on whether he thinks the 2020 season will be played.

“I do. I’m very hopeful, probably not as hopeful as I was a month ago, or two weeks ago.”

Cautiously optimistic, as, I suppose, the rest of us should be.

MLB NEWS

1. Rob Manfred will allow teams to furlough employees

Major League Baseball will inform teams on Monday that commissioner Rob Manfred plans to suspend Uniform Employee Contracts, effective May 1, allowing teams to furlough or reduce the pay of their workers, according to Ken Rosenthal.

This doesn’t mean teams have to stop or reduce the pay of their employees, but now they have the legal framework from the league to do so.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, it was reported the Los Angeles Angels will make a lump-sum payment of $1.2 million to support stadium workers impacted by the work stoppage.

2. Nationals won’t raise their 2019 banner without fans

The Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said in an interview on MLB Network Radio that the team will not raise their championship banner or hand out rings until fans are able to return to the stadium. Washington beat the cheating Astros in the 2019 World Series.

3. Joey Gallo continues to dominate MLB The Show League

Texas Rangers first baseman Joey Gallo is proving nearly unbeatable in the MLB The Show League. Gallo won four match-ups over the weekend, improving his record to 15-1 in the round-robin tournament.

The Dodgers representative Gavin Lux is 9-3 so far in the tournament. The best eight teams will advance to a playoff round at the end of the month.

That does it for today. Please bookmark Dodgers Way for your latest news and analysis on the Dodgers and Major League Baseball.

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