ANAHEIM — The Dodgers announced Tuesday that they have accepted an invitation to the White House when they visit the Washington Nationals during their opening road trip of the season.
“In keeping with long-standing baseball tradition, President Trump has invited the 2024 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House when they play in Washington D.C. on April 7,” the Dodgers said in a statement. “The Dodgers look forward to visiting the White House and celebrating our title.”
It will be a return visit for the Dodgers under Manager Dave Roberts after the team visited following their 2020 title. President Biden hosted the club on that occasion.
Roberts seemed to have no hesitation about the team accepting the invite. That did not seem to be the case following the 2018 World Series when Roberts indicated in a 2019 Los Angeles Times story that he likely would have not visited the White House had the Dodgers been able to get past the Boston Red Sox.
Roberts was criticized by the President on social media following Game 4 of the 2018 World Series when his decision to remove pitcher Rich Hill in the late innings backfired and the Red Sox won the game.
Roberts gave a half-smile when reminded that he said he was not inclined to visit. “Did I?” he said.
He will be attending in two weeks, saying, “I’m going.”
“It wasn’t a formal conversation we had as a ballclub,” Roberts said. “It certainly is a huge honor to get the invitation to the White House. It allows us to celebrate our 2024 championship. To my understanding, every World Series champion gets that honor. It’s a great honor for all of us.”
According to the club, members of the Dodgers’ traveling party also will visit Capitol Hill on April 8.
ONE LAST TUNEUP
Right-hander Dustin May made his final appearance before the start of the season when he faced the Angels. After not pitching in a major league game since May of 2023, May was back in a big league ballpark on Tuesday.
“I think in one sense, he senses the finish line,” Roberts said. “He’s had a really good spring. He’s earned the fifth spot (of the rotation).”
May’s regular-season debut is scheduled for next Tuesday at home against the Atlanta Braves.
“I think the main thing I have seen from Dustin is that he’s managing his emotions better,” Roberts said. “Also, I think that when he does start to lose command, he has shown the ability to get back into counts … as opposed to letting it spiral out of his hands.”
May was 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine starts when his season came to an end in 2023. In 46 appearances (34 starts) over four seasons, the former third-round draft pick in 2016 is 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA and has 174 strikeouts in 191⅔ innings.
The Dodgers’ rotation in front of May will consist of left-hander Blake Snell and right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow, in that order.
HONORING JACKIE
With Jackie Robinson Day approaching throughout baseball on April 15, Roberts was asked his thoughts on the Department of Defense earlier this month removing a page on its website that honored the civil rights trailblazer and former Brooklyn Dodger for his military service.
“Well, I think I’m happy that the page went back up,” Roberts said. “I can’t go too much into this. I have my strong opinions on DEI and all that stuff, but that’s another (media) scrum.”
All players, managers, coaches and umpires in MLB have worn Robinson’s No. 42 in games played on April 15 since 2009.
UP NEXT
Tigers (LHP Tarik Skubal, 18-4, 2.39) at Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 5-3, 3.12 ERA in 2024), Thursday, 4:10 p.m., ESPN, 570 AM