Joe Kelly has been among the most outspoken players to publicly criticize the Houston Astros for their 2017 World Series cheating scandal, and it’s earned him plenty of disdain whenever the Los Angeles Dodgers play at Minute Maid Park.
Kelly was not part of the 2017 Dodgers team but firmly planted himself into the proverbial rivalry in 2020 when he brushed back Alex Bregman and made a pouting face at Carlos Correa after striking out the shortstop.
The matchup was the first between the Dodgers and Astros since the tainted World Series.
The right-hander didn’t pitch in the weekend series until Sunday, but made his presence felt prior to that point by shouting an expletive at Astros starter Ronel Blanco after he hit Gavin Lux with a pitch on Saturday.
Once Kelly was available to pitch out of the Dodgers bullpen, he entered to loud boos from Astros fans. Following the Dodgers’ win that prevented a sweep, Kelly claimed to not have heard the jeers and further prodded Astros fans, per David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports:
#Dodgers Joe Kelly said he didn’t hear the boos from #Astros fans today:
“They weren’t loud enough honestly.”
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 28, 2024
Kelly entered the game in the eighth inning and with the Dodgers holding a 6-2 lead. He allowed a one-out double to Jose Altuve but retired the next two batters faced to pitch a scoreless inning. Kelly got through the frame without incident or lack of control.
The 36-year-old did at times adjust the timing of his delivery and reached 100 mph on his fastballs.
Joe Kelly’s history with Astros
Kelly was suspended eight games for his role in the benches clearing between the Dodgers and Astros in 2020, which he appealed down to five. He continued to speak critically of not only the Astros but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred as well, and enjoyed the process of representing himself during the appeals process.
In 2022, Kelly said he believed a majority of fans were rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series because of the Astros cheating against the Dodgers.
Last year, it became public knowledge in “A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America’s Pastime” that Kelly planned to confront the Astros at the MLB bubble hotel if they advanced to the 2020 World Series to play the Dodgers.
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