A Corey Seager / Trayce Thompson 2016 Topps Now Card

For the first time this season a pair of Dodger players are the focus of a 2016 Topps Now Baseball card. It features rookie phenoms Corey Seager and Trayce Thompson and it celebrates a rare accomplishment at the plate.  For only the fourth time in history rookie teammates hit at least thirteen home runs before the All-Star Game.  Go here to check it out and to order.  This is the sixteenth Dodger card available in the set.  Below is what is written on the reverse.

Trayce Thompson scored the first run of the game for the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks to a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning, his 13th of the season.  The home run was somewhat historic, as Thompson and Seager, who's hit 17 home runs thus far, are the fourth rookie teammates in MLB history to each have 13 or more home runs prior to the MLB All-Star Game break, and the first to accomplish the feat since 1982.

UPDATE:  The final print run for this card is 749 copies.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/4/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Ethier and Brandon McCarthy

Brandon McCarthy sure did pick a heck of a time to throw his best game as a Dodger.  Having just concluded his rehab from Tommy John Surgery performed in late April last year, McCarthy returned to the mound to blank the Colorado Rockies for five innings at Dodger Stadium.  He struck out eight batters, gave up two hits and walked only one.  Per Ken Gurnick and Thomas Harding at MLB.com:

"It was surprisingly normal," said McCarthy. "I wasn't really expecting it to feel like I'd just get in the swing of things, but it felt normal. I didn't feel too nervous. There wasn't anything going on that I wasn't expecting. Just settled in normally."

Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“It was great; this was as good as I’ve seen him in years past,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “The fastball had late life; he threw the breaking ball when he needed to, mixed in a couple changeups. Eight punchouts in five innings; he just kind of continued what our starters have done this entire series. We’re really excited for him. He drove in a run too. It was good to see.”

The Dodgers outshined the Rockies, 4-1, to win their fourth straight and last six out of seven games.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon and Jill Weisleder from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1980 Hall of Famer Don Sutton fired the 52nd and final shutout of his career in a 4-0 victory over the Giants at Dodger Stadium.  In 2006 Nomar Garciaparra ties a Major League record for being hit by a pitch three times in a game.