Review: Disneyland delivers the Marvel musical you didn’t know you wanted or needed

• June 30, 2023

If you’re a fan of musical theater and Marvel superheroes, then you’re going to absolutely fall in love with the new “Rogers: The Musical” coming to the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure.

If you love one but not the other, then you’ll still be thrilled at the audacity and absurdity of smashing the two strange bedfellows together. If you don’t like either, then you should probably go ride the Incredicoaster — because “Rogers: The Musical” caters to two very big niche audiences, but probably won’t appeal to Broadway or Marvel novices.

Disneyland hosted a media preview of “Rogers: The Musical” on Thursday, June 29 in the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure. The new 30-minute one-act stage show based on the life story of Captain America and starring Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Ant-Man and Hawkeye begins a limited run on Friday, June 30.

SEE ALSO: What to expect when Avengers musical opens at Disneyland resort

“Rogers: The Musical” is at times fun, funny, silly, poignant, determined and romantic with plenty of heart and energy. It’s utterly ridiculous to see Captain America sing a love song on a Broadway stage surrounded by sequined USO singers, star spangled dancers, Thor and Iron Man — but somehow it works. In short: This is the Marvel musical you didn’t know you were waiting for and won’t be able to stop talking about. The breezy and brisk theme park show expertly walks a fine line, taking itself seriously, but not too seriously.

At several points, the characters literally ask “What’s with all the singing and dancing?” As if they can’t believe it themselves. Avengers founder Nick Fury summarizes the out-of-body experience perfectly during his own musical number: “It’s a lot to take in.”

SEE ALSO: Will Disneyland’s new Marvel musical be campy, cheesy and silly?

“If you love the Avengers, if you love musical theater or if you just want some fun entertainment, I think there’s something for everybody,” Disney Live Entertainment Choreographer Sarah Kobayashi said during a press conference.

Turning a single song in a Disney+ TV show from an inside joke meant for die-hard Marvel fans into a Broadway-style musical at Disney California Adventure presented as many challenges as it did opportunities for Disneyland’s creative team.

The Disney Live Entertainment creative team used the “Save the City” song in the “Hawkeye” TV series on the Disney+ streaming service as a jumping off point for “Rogers: The Musical.”

“We all saw that number in the ‘Hawkeye’ series on Disney+ and looked at each other and said, ‘We’ve got to do that,’” Disney Live Entertainment Executive Creative Director Dan Fields said. “It turns out all of the fans of this franchise were also doing the same thing online. They were practically demanding it.”

No matter how bizarre the notion, a Marvel musical seems like a perfect fit for Disneyland — especially with the Hyperion Theater sitting vacant a few steps away from the entrance to Avengers Campus.

“We’re live entertainment,” Fields said during an online video interview. “We have singers. We have dancers. We have superheroes right next door in our Avengers Campus. We’re already living in this world.”

Basing an entire musical on the “Save the City” musical number in the “Hawkeye” series raised as many questions as it answered.

“What would the rest of this Steve Rogers story be? How far back would it go? How do you tell his story and his arc? How do you reveal the true depth of the character over many decades as it turns out?” Fields said. “It was a really fun set of rhetorical conversations. There are so many ways we can tell this story.”

One key challenge for the Disney Live Entertainment team was translating comic book superhero action into Broadway-style song and dance numbers.

“The dance numbers kind of directed us. We start the show with Steve Rogers’ origin story in the 1940s,” Fields said. “You’ll find both some historic dance and choreography tropes there, but also some time-travel elements as well. We’re not locked hard and fast into a period.”

SEE ALSO: Is Disneyland’s Marvel musical part of the MCU?

The backstory of the new Marvel musical at DCA follows the journey of Steve Rogers from his service in World War II to becoming Earth’s first known superhero to the birth of the Avengers.

Marvel fans were introduced to the fictional “Rogers: The Musical” in the first episode of the Disney+ series “Hawkeye.” In the show, Hawkeye attends a performance of the Broadway musical about the life of Rogers, the first Captain America.

“In the show, all the Avengers are invited to New York for the premiere of the brand new, showstopping musical but only Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, shows up,” according to Marvel.com. “The MIA Avengers don’t know what they’re missing, though, as viewers are treated to a musical number based on The Battle of New York … though a few creative liberties have been taken here and there.”

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Disney cryptically teased the upcoming run of “Rogers: The Musical” at the Hyperion during a live performance at the D23 Expo in September at the Anaheim Convention Center. D23 attendees watched a surprise live performance of “Save the City” from the musical during the Marvel Studios panel.

The new “Rogers” musical in DCA’s Hyperion will feature “Save the City,” “Star Spangled Man” from the 2011 film “Captain America: The First Avenger” and five new original songs written for the show.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland announces virtual queue for Avengers musical — What you need to know

The new show was written by Tony-nominee Hunter Bell with music by Grammy-winner Christopher Lennertz. Bell wrote the book for “Villains Tonight” on the Disney Cruise Line, according to Broadway World. Lennertz served as music director on Disneyland’s new “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show.

​ Orange County Register 

Flight cancellations, busy roads add travel chaos to July 4 itinerary

• June 30, 2023

Andrea Jacob spent five hours Thursday afternoon trying to figure out if she’d make her Newark to John Wayne Airport flight, destined for a family trip this holiday weekend to Yosemite.

Long story short, she didn’t make it.

Instead, the 25-year-old New York resident gave up her seat so another woman could get home to her children.

Jacob, whose family lives in Irvine, is one of thousands of frustrated travelers stuck at U.S. airports bogged down by overbookings and weather delays in the Northeast. For her troubles, she got a $1,500 voucher and hotel money from United Airlines, which rebooked her on a July 2 flight.

SEE MORE: Headed to the beach for July Fourth? Here are some valuable tips before you go

The long holiday weekend looks a lot sunnier for the millions of Southern California residents who will venture out by car.

Industry experts say it will be the region’s second-busiest Independence Day weekend ever.

The Auto Club of Southern California expects more than 3.4 million Southern Californians will travel over the July 4 holiday weekend. That includes 517,000 who will be flying, 2.7 million who will be driving and 253,000 who will travel by buses, trains and cruise ships.

“Travel demand has been steadily increasing since 2020, and this summer is poised to be one for the record books,” said Heather Felix, the Auto Club’s vice president of travel products and services.

RELATED: These 10 restaurants offer views for watching Fourth of July fireworks

Lower gas prices are easing the trip a little bit. Southern California prices are about $1.50 lower per gallon than a year ago, but they’re still at the second-highest level ever for this time of year, the Auto Club reported.

Stevenson Ranch resident Tabitha Phillips stopped at a local Arco station Thursday ahead of her weekend trip to Las Vegas. The fill-up, at $4.89 a gallon, wasn’t cheap, but the 34-year-old said she’s resigned to higher fuel prices.

“This is what it is,” she said. It’s “still cheaper than flying.”

Dan Hernandez, who filled up at a nearby Union 76, paid $5.08 a gallon. He and his wife and two sons were returning from a Universal Studios visit before heading back to their home in Los Robles.

“I’m old enough to remember when gas was 75 cents a gallon,” Hernandez said. “That was a little before I started driving, but back then there’d be sticker shock if it broke $1 a gallon.”

Hernandez is equally resigned to high prices at the pump.

“It’s been like this for so long … the frustrating phase is over,” he said. “No one likes these kinds of prices for gas — or for anything. But with a wife and two kids, I need to go where I have to go.”

The top five destinations for Southern California travelers, according to a recent Auto Club travel survey, are Las Vegas, San Diego, the Central Coast, Mexico and the Grand Canyon.

An influx of holiday travelers

Meanwhile, millions of people are expected to pass through LAX from June 28 to July 10.

“We expect passenger volumes to reach the highest levels we have seen so far this year with an average of 228,000 daily passengers in the days before and after the Independence Day holiday,” said Justin Erbacci, CEO for Los Angeles World Airports, which includes LAX.

Before the pandemic in 2019, the airport logged an average daily passenger count of about 241,000 people.

For travelers who need to park ahead of a flight, Erbacci encourages them to use LAX’s smart parking system at parking.flylax.com to pre-book a space. Space already is filling fast, he said.

John Wayne Airport doesn’t like to predict July 4 holiday traffic, but airport spokeswoman AnnaSophia Servin said terminals were buzzing on Thursday.

“We anticipate higher passenger traffic throughout the weekend,” she said.

Scores of airlines have experienced delays and cancellations, with United and Southwest near the top of the list. United had 724 delays and 409 cancellations Thursday, and Southwest posted 1,038 delays and 23 canceled flights.

For Southwest travelers, the situation likely evokes memories of the airline’s meltdown last year when more than 16,700 holiday flights were canceled as the result of a faulty scheduling system and staffing issues. 

The Auto Club of Southern California predicts that 517,000 Southern Californians will be driving to their destinations over the July 4 holiday weekend. (File photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Angels’ Mike Trout again voted to All-Star Game, set to play for first time since 2019

• June 30, 2023

ANAHEIM — Four years later, Mike Trout is going to be back in a spot that he had locked down for years.

Trout was voted to start the All-Star Game on Thursday. It was his 11th selection, and 10th time being voted a starter, but he has not been able to play in the game since 2019.

The All-Star Game was canceled because of COVID-19 in 2020, and Trout was hurt in 2021 and 2022.

“It means a lot, being healthy,” Trout said. “That’s the main goal, getting to play.”

The three-time American League MVP will be in the AL starting lineup with Shohei Ohtani, who was selected by fans as the DH for the third straight year and could be added as a pitcher as well when the rest of the rosters are announced this weekend.

Trout, 31, is returning to the All-Star Game even though he is having his worst season. Trout is hitting .260 with an .858 OPS, which is significantly down from his career average of .300 or his OPS of .994. He has still hit 17 homers, just past the season’s midpoint.

Manager Phil Nevin said Trout is still worthy of the honor.

“I still think he’s one of the best players in the game, best players in the world,” Nevin said. “It’s not Mike Trout numbers, if you will, but I still think he’s a game-changing (player). We keep saying this as it’s not like Mike Trout numbers, but look at the board. It’s still in the mid-800’s in OPS. However many home runs he’s got. He’s a game-changer in a lot of different ways.”

In Thursday’s game, Trout robbed a home run. He also had three hits, including a double.

Trout said he has been feeling more like himself at the plate lately.

“It’s coming,” Trout said. “I feel a lot better than last week. Just being patient. Having good at-bats. Things will turn around.”

One thing that is going better for Trout is his health. He missed the All-Star Game with a thumb injury in 2017, a calf injury in 2021 and a back injury in 2022. The Angels have given him regular days off this season to keep him healthy. He has played 77 of the Angels’ 83 games, and the Angels are 6-1 in the games he’s missed. Nevin said he expects Trout to have fewer off days in the second half of the season because the schedule provides more breaks and also because they planned to save him for the stretch run.

“Me and Nev are on the same page,” Trout said. “If I was 22 or 23 again, I’d be fighting it. I know he’s got a plan and we both agreed on this during spring. Just to be out and try to play as many games as I can, give me time off when I need it. My body feels great right now.”

The rest of the All-Star rosters will be announced on Sunday. Angels infielder Brandon Drury and closer Carlos Estévez each have a chance to make the team.

Trout also said he’s already decided that he will not compete in the Home Run Derby. He has never done it, although he admitted that his 2-year-old son, Beckham, might eventually have a say in that.

“If he comes up to me and says ‘You better do it, I might have to think about it,’” Trout said. “He’s not there yet.”

DERBY FOR OHTANI?

Although Ohtani said after he pitched on Tuesday night that he hasn’t yet decided whether to compete in the Home Run Derby, Nevin hinted on Thursday that Ohtani had already made up his mind. Nevin also made his feelings clear on the event.

“I think he’s already said no to the Derby,” Nevin said. “I don’t know if he has or not. That would be one that I feel like takes a lot out of guys. … It’s fun to watch and all that, but I’ve just seen a lot of guys not bounce back from that very well. So whether he does or not, I mean, full support of him. I know he’s gonna be fine and take care of his body. It’s just those are some of the things that make me nervous. That’s all.”

Ohtani competed at the Derby in his first All-Star Game, in 2021 in Denver. After one round of high-intensity swings against a clock, Ohtani admitted he was exhausted. He declined to do it last year at Dodger Stadium.

In 2021, Ohtani also pitched in the game. Last year, he declined to pitch as well. It remains to be seen if he will even be selected as a pitcher this year.

NOTES

Third baseman Anthony Rendon (bruised wrist) did a workout on the field. He has been taking batting practice against the high-velocity pitching machine. Nevin said “we’re really close” to having Rendon play in a simulated game or a rehab assignment. …

Right-hander Sam Bachman had been exclusively a starter until he was called up earlier this month, so he still has not pitched on back-to-back days, but Nevin suggested the Angels are almost ready to try that. “Those days are coming,” he said.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks (LHP Tommy Henry, 4-1, 4.31 ERA) at Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 6-2, 3.99 ERA), Friday, 6:38 p.m., Apple TV+, 830 AM

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Two more victims identified in Long Beach crash that killed 5 people

• June 29, 2023

LONG BEACH — The final two people killed in the crash on the Long Beach (710) Freeway that left five dead were identified Wednesday by the medical examiner’s office.

The last two victims are Sebastian Peredia, presumed to be between 15-20 years old, and Eduardo Cruz, presumed to be about 19, the office said.

RELATED COVERAGE: At least 3 of 5 dead in 710 Freeway crash were Long Beach teenagers

The crash was reported at 4:12 a.m. Monday on the northbound freeway at the transition to the eastbound Artesia (91) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Five of the six people in the car died, and the survivor was hospitalized with major injuries, the CHP reported.

On Monday, the medical examiner’s office identified two of the people who died as George Dobbs and Ariahh Slemaker, both 15. On Tuesday, the countymedical examiner identified 18-year-old Angel Gabriel Sextos of Long Beach.

It was unclear what caused the driver to crash, or if speed played a factor. CHP officials asked anyone who may have witnessed the crash to callinvestigators at 424-551-4000 or 323-259-3200.

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Angel City FC defeats rival San Diego Wave FC for its first Challenge Cup victory

• June 29, 2023

LOS ANGELES — The Angel City Football Club got off to a quick start in Wednesday night’s UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match. Make that an extremely quick start.

Madison Hammond opened the scoring with a second-minute goal against San Diego Wave FC, and Clarisse Le Bihan added a goal in the 18th minute for a two-goal halftime lead on their way to a 2-1 win in front of 13,648 at BMO Stadium.

“We work a lot on set pieces. We have a saying scrappy equals happy and I thought back to the last game against them when Paige Nielsen scored and I thought what if it deflects,” Hammond said.

The win also extends Angel City’s unbeaten streak to three matches – across league and Challenge Cup competition – since the firing of former coach Freya Coombe. It is also the second consecutive win this season for Angel City against its regional rival.

With the win, Angel City now has four points in the West Division for the Challenge Cup. Angel City has two Challenge Cup matches remaining (July 29 at home against the Thorns and Aug. 5 at San Diego). The top team in each of the three four-team divisions, along with the highest-finishing (on points) second-place team will advance to the semifinals in September.

“Coming out early was something that we were looking to do,” interim coach Becki Tweed said. “We’ve talked a lot about building our momentum from game to game and not letting any moment drop. The first two minutes showed that we wanted to continued with that momentum.”

Seattle-based OL Reign is in control of the West, moving to 10 points with its 1-0 victory over Portland on Wednesday.

The night wasn’t all easy for Angel City. San Diego cut the deficit in half on Danielle Colaprico’s goal in the 64th minute. It came at a time when Angel City was beginning to lose control of the match.

“It was a tough night for us,” San Diego coach Casey Stoney said. “I take full responsibility for our poor performance in the first half. I don’t think I gave them the best chance to be successful.”

Angel City could have increased its lead heading into halftime, but a shot by Hammond in the 38th minute hit the crossbar. Moments earlier, San Diego defender Mia Gyau came up with a goal-line clearance of a shot by Le Bihan that had got behind goalkeeper Shae Yanez and was headed toward the open net.

In the second half, Angel City had another shot hit the crossbar – this time from Jasmyne Spencer in the 57th minute.

Defenders Kelsey Hill and Elizabeth Eddy were both announced as new signings under the National Team Replacement Players provision. Eddy, who attended Newport Harbor High and USC, came on as a second-half substitute in the 65th minute. Hill, a Pepperdine alumnus, entered in the 77th minute.

Angel City returns to league play on Sunday with a road match against NY/NJ Gotham FC.

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Jesús Ferreira makes history with hat trick in USMNT’s CONCACAF Gold Cup blowout

• June 29, 2023

ST. LOUIS — Jesús Ferreira scored his second international hat trick, Djordje Mihailovic had two goals and the 13th-ranked United States overwhelmed No. 139 St. Kitts and Nevis, 6-0, on Wednesday night in a CONCACAF Gold Cup group play match.

Mihailovic, Bryan Reynolds and Ferreira scored in a 3-minute, 50-second span to build a 3-0 lead by the 16th minute.

Ferreira has 11 goals in 20 appearances, becoming the fastest U.S. player to reach 10 international goals, accomplishing the feat in three games fewer than Clint Mathis.

On the heels of his four-goal game against No. 170 Grenada in Nations League play last year, Ferreira joins Clint Dempsey as the second player in USMNT history with multiple three-plus-goal games in competitive matches.

Ferreira became the fifth American with multiple hat tricks – Landon Donovan has three and Peter Millar, Jozy Altidore and Dempsey also have two each. Ferreira was the only American starter who played at last year’s World Cup, appearing in the first half of the second-round loss to the Netherlands.

Mihailovic also had two assists for the defending champion Americans, who matched their largest Gold Cup victory margin.

The win leaves the U.S. tied with Jamaica atop Group A with four points but ahead by three on goal differential. Jamaica beat Trinidad and Tobago, 4-1, prior to the U.S. win in St. Louis. Trinidad has three points and St. Kitts has none. The top two teams advance. The U.S. faces Trinidad on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

St. Kitts, a tiny Caribbean nation making its first appearance in the Gold Cup, became the Americans’ 100th international opponent.

Making his first start since June 2019, Mihailovic put the U.S. ahead in the 12th minute with a left-footed shot from the side of the penalty spot after a cut-back pass from Gianluca Busio.

Reynolds, playing on his 22nd birthday, beat Julani Archibald with a 20-yard volley in the 14th after Alejandro Zendejas’ corner kick bounced twice across the penalty area. He became the first American to score an international goal on his birthday since Earnie Stewart against Honduras in 2001.

Ferreira dribbled into the penalty area following a Busio pass, scoring on a 12-yard angled shot in the 16th, then got past an offside trap to score between the goalkeeper’s legs from a Mihailovic feed in the 25th.

Ferreira’s second goal gave the U.S. a commanding 4-0 halftime lead, but with the goal-differential tiebreaker surely on their minds, the team had more to play for.

Ferreira added his third goal from short range in the 50th and Mihailovic added his third international goal in the 79th.

U.S. interim coach B.J. Callaghan inserted seven new starters from last weekend’s opener, adding goalkeeper Sean Johnson, Reynolds at right back, central defender Jalen Neal and left back DeJuan Jones along with Busio and Mihailovic in midfielder and forward Cale Cowell. The holdovers were defender Matt Miazga and midfielder James Sands along with Ferreira and Alex Zendejas up front.

Johnson captained the U.S. for the first time.

Demarai Gray, playing on his 26th birthday, scored in the 14th and 30th minutes for his first two international goals as No. 63 Jamaica cruised past 104th-ranked Trinidad in the opener. Leon Bailey scored in the 18th and Dujuan Richards got a goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Andre Rampersad scored for the Soca Warriors in the 49th.

​ Orange County Register 

Domingo Germán throws 4th perfect game in Yankees history

• June 29, 2023

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN The Associated Press

OAKLAND — Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees pitched the 24th perfect game in major league history on Wednesday night, retiring every Oakland batter in an 11-0 victory over the Athletics.

It was the first perfect game since Seattle Mariners ace Félix Hernández threw one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. There were three that season – but none since until Germán finished the first no-hitter in the big leagues this year.

He joined Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998) and David Cone (1999) as Yankees pitchers to throw perfect games. Larsen’s gem came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“So exciting,” Germán said through a translator. “When you think about something very unique in baseball, not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game. To accomplish something like this in my career is something that I’m going to remember forever.”

Coming off a pair of terrible starts, Germán (5-5) struck out nine of 27 batters against the A’s, who have the worst record in the majors.

The 30-year-old right-hander, a seven-year veteran, had never thrown a complete game in the big leagues. He served a 10-game suspension in May after getting ejected from a game in Toronto for using an illegal sticky substance on the mound.

Winless in six previous outings against Oakland, Germán threw 72 of 99 pitches for strikes. He mixed 51 curveballs and 30 fastballs that averaged 92.5 mph with 17 changeups and one sinker.

With the crowd of 12,479 on its feet for the ninth inning, Germán finished what he started. He got Aledmys Díaz to ground out before Shea Lanegeliers hit a fly ball to short center field for the second out. When Esteury Ruiz grounded out to third baseman Josh Donaldson to end it, the Yankees’ dugout and bullpen emptied as Germán’s teammates raced out to the mound to celebrate.

“That last inning was very different – very different. I felt an amount of pressure that I’ve never felt before,” Germán said. “I’m trying to visualize what I want to execute there. At the same time, I don’t want to miss. So much pressure, but yet so rewarding.

“The key there was not to overthrow,” he added. “I was feeling the pressure in that inning but at the same time I wanted to not overthrow, keep that same focus from the first inning, understand the lanes of attack we were using during the game and keep executing.”

Six days after allowing a career-high 10 runs (eight earned) and four homers over 3⅓ innings in a loss to the Mariners at home, Germán got his 500th career strikeout and was the definition of perfection.

It was the 13th no-hitter in Yankees history, including Larsen’s perfect game in the World Series. Corey Kluber pitched their previous no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on May 19, 2021.

Seth Brown came the closest to reaching base for the A’s, hitting a sharp grounder in the fifth to first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who made a diving stop and tossed to Germán for the out.

Giancarlo Stanton homered for the first time in more than two weeks and drove in three runs, and Donaldson added three RBIs against his former team to help the Yankees to their 15th win in 21 games against the A’s since Aug. 31, 2019.

Stanton crushed a 422-foot homer on a first-pitch fastball from former Yankees pitcher JP Sears (1-6) in the fourth. The ball was hit so hard that Ruiz in center field and Brown in right didn’t move but just turned their heads and watched it sail out to left-center.

Stanton added a two-run single off Shintaro Fujinami in the fifth when the Yankees scored six runs and benefited from two errors by the A’s.

Kyle Higashioka had an RBI double, then scored when Anthony Volpe reached on an infield single and Sears flipped the ball wildly into foul territory. Volpe took second on the error, stole third then scored on DJ LeMahieu’s single. A’s first baseman Ryan Noda also had a fielding error that allowed to reach.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who walked leading off the inning and scored, capped the uprising with a two-out RBI single.

But the night belonged to Germán, who was loudly cheered as the game unfolded. Many fans in Oakland were decked out in Yankees colors or jerseys.

“Unfortunately, two days ago an uncle of mine passed away and I cried a lot yesterday in the clubhouse. So I had him with me throughout the whole game. I was thinking about him,” Germán said. “This game is a tribute to him. He would have been so happy. He was always someone that really brought a joy to our family and it happened for him to watch it this way, from up there.”

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Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw avoids injured list for now

• June 29, 2023

DENVER — A day after pulling himself from a one-hit shutout after six innings and only 79 pitches, Clayton Kershaw was still not ready to explain what physical issue is bothering him.

Kershaw was at Coors Field on Wednesday afternoon and went through a workout, running and lifting some weights. But he did not make himself available to the media, leaving Coors Field to be examined by doctors and then returning for the game.

After the game, he exited the clubhouse and walked past reporters, declining to answer questions. That left it for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to try and explain what is going on with his staff ace.

“I think probably Friday or Saturday he’s going to play catch and then we’ll see if he makes his next start,” Roberts said.

“Before the game, the plan was for Clayton to make his next start (next week against the Pittsburgh Pirates). I still stand by that, until something changes. … From the training staff, he checked out. He’s going to play catch on Friday, and if he continues to feel good, he’s going to pitch.”

Roberts would not speak in specifics though he did eliminate Kershaw’s oft-bothersome back as the source of concern and said Wednesday’s exam did not include an MRI.

“It’s not his back,” Roberts said.

The only member of the Dodgers’ season-opening rotation not to spend time on the injured list this season, Kershaw leads the staff in starts (16) and innings pitched (95⅓). But a trip to the IL now would afford him a two-week break (until after the All-Star break) while missing just one start (the Dodgers planned to give him extra time off between starts this week).

“You know what? For me, I wouldn’t be totally opposed to that given what he’s done for us this first half,” Roberts said before the game. “But having a conversation with him, that might be different – and with what he’s done, he has earned that right to be in the conversation.

“I think probably tomorrow we will talk and see how each passing day he feels. But obviously, if he feels good enough to make his next start like we talked about, then great.”

MR. 2000

After Freddie Freeman collected his 2,000th career hit Sunday, fellow veteran J.D. Martinez had a message for him.

“I told him, I said, ‘Hey, congrats. But you’ve got 1,000 more to go. Lock it in. Let’s go,’” Martinez said.

Martinez might have been just teasing Freeman. But reaching the 3,000-hit milestone is something Freeman admittedly is targeting.

“I’m hoping to get more than 2,000 hits in my career, so it’s not something I was really thinking about,” Freeman said Sunday. “If this was 3,000, I would tell you, ‘Yes (it was on my mind).’ Hopefully, we’ll be doing this again in six or seven years.”

Freeman (signed through 2027) has averaged 180 hits over a full season so far in his career. That pace would get him to 3,000 career hits in five years. Freeman has been remarkably healthy throughout his career, playing at least 158 games in six of the past nine full seasons. But the 33-year-old recognizes that maintaining that pace in the later years of his career will be difficult.

“Obviously, you get to 2,000, now you want to get to 3,000,” Freeman said. “That’s only in good health and if I can keep playing the way I want to play. Father Time … it’s going to come up at some point.

“Three thousand hits … if that were to happen, that would be great. But, my main goal is to stay healthy.  If I stay healthy and play 162 like I want to do, I feel like the numbers will be there. Father Time will catch up at some point. But yeah, might as well go for the next thousand since I got to 2,000.”

Only 33 players in baseball history have reached 3,000 hits. Only five active players have more hits than Freeman – Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (3,122), Cincinnati’s Joey Votto (2,098), the Padres’ Nelson Cruz (2,051), the Chicago White Sox’s Elvis Andrus (2,036) and Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen (2,012).

ALSO

Reliever Daniel Hudson did not make an appearance in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday or Wednesday as Roberts had said was planned. But Hudson is still expected to join the Dodgers in Kansas City this weekend to make his return from ACL surgery a year ago. …

Roberts said he believes right-hander Dustin May has begun playing catch. May injured the flexor pronator mass in his right forearm on May 17 and received a platelet-rich plasma injection. He was shut down from throwing for six weeks after that. There is no word on how May’s throwing program will progress from here.

UP  NEXT

Dodgers (RHP Emmet Sheehan, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) at Rockies (RHP Chase Anderson, 0-2, 5.79 ERA), Thursday, 5:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network, 570 AM

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