Angels Freeway Series Starts on Friday - ThinkCure! Weekend - Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Anaheim Angels. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand. Here are some important links:

• 2018 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

The 10th annual ThinkCure! Weekend will take place against the Angels -- July 14th and 15th. This effort will seek to raise funds to support innovative cancer research and breakthrough therapies, many of which were developed at City of Hope.

We'll be able to celebrate courageous cancer survivors and pay tribute to the physicians and researchers keeping them alive this weekend. Since its inception they have raised more than $2 million in research grants for City of Hope, a world-renowned independent cancer and treatment center, to develop therapies to treat conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, lung and brain cancer. Although people will not be able to donate in person at Dodger Stadium, they can donate at City of Hope’s ThinkCure! website, CityofHope.org/thinkcure. In addition to donations, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will host an auction where fans can bid on autographed Dodger memorabilia. The online auction will run from July 23 to Aug. 6 at Dodgers.com/auctions. Proceeds will go to ThinkCure!. LADF will also contribute $25,000 to ThinkCure!.

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2018 Topps Big League Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

Topps newest attempt to create an affordable Baseball card brand geared to towards young collectors is here. It is called 2018 Big League Baseball, and 19 Dodgers' are available in the 400 card base set. Go here to check out a complete checklist.

Notably, there are two base variations available -- Corey Seager and Kenley Jansen -- and they are featured wearing 2017 Players Weekend uniforms.

Below is a look at most of the Dodger cards found in packs.

Base

#15 Cody Bellinger                   #36 Yasiel Puig

2018 Topps Now - Home Run Derby - #HRD-6 - Max Muncy's First Standalone Dodger Card

At long last, Max Muncy has a Dodgers Baseball card to call his own.

Since being called up in mid-April Max Muncy has has done everything and more. Seemingly out of nowhere, he has dominated National League pitching to the tune of 20 home runs (4th best in the NL), an offensive WAR of 3.1 (9th best in the NL), a .614 slugging percentage (2nd best in the NL) and an on-base percentage of 1.030 (1st in the NL). Now, he will participate in his first Home Run Derby next week during All-Star festivities. Per Anthony Castrovince and Andrew Simon at MLB.com:

"It's going to be a heck of an experience," Muncy said. "Be the first time I'll be on a stage like that. Not sure what to expect, but I'm going to have fun with it. I'm sure once I get there, there will be a ton of nerves."

2018 Bowman Platinum - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a look at most of the Dodgers' inserts found in packs of the Walmart exclusive 2018 Bowman Platinum Baseball brand. Go here to check out the Dodgers base cards.

Top Prospects

#TOP-18 Keibert Ruiz            #TOP-22 Gavin Lux

Blog Kiosk: 7/12/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Maeda's changeup has been otherworldly. Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I've been able to use it effectively and I'm getting a lot of punchouts with it," said Maeda, who struck out nine for the fourth consecutive start, allowing only one first-inning run and limiting the Padres to four hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

With the help of Maeda, Dodger starting pitchers lead the NL in ERA and K/9. Maeda struck out eight of the first 14 batters he faced Wednesday, the majority of which went down against a change-up that continues to baffle hitters as it drops down below the zone. 

“It’s been a game-changer for Kenta,” manager Dave Roberts said of the change-up. “Everything just plays up off of that.”

Photo above via Campbell Dunn/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1949 the All-Star Game arrived at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn for the first and only time. Furthermore, this was also the first All-Star Game to inlcude black ballplayers -- Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe and Larry Doby of the Indians. In 1966 Dodger shortstop Maury Wills hit a walk-off single off of Pete Richert of the Senators in the tenth inning of the All-Star Game in St. Louis to help the National League defeat the American League, 2-1. Other Dodger participants include Jim Lefebvre (who went 0-for-2 as the starter at second base) and Sandy Koufax (who made his only career All-Star start, threw three innings, struck out one, gave up one hit and allowed a single run). Dodger hurler Phil Regan did not pitch. 
• This historical event has nothing to do with the Dodgers, but is worth mentioning. On this date in 1979 the Chicago White Sox hosted Disco Demolition Night. As you may know, Chicagoan's had turned on disco by this time and basically rioted on the filed at old Comisky Park. You can watch a little documentary on it here and here.
• Happy Birthday, Jim Pastorious, Ray Mowe, Artie Dede, Al Glossop, Ron Fairly, Mike Munoz, Kelly Wunsch & Howie Kendrick!