Dodgers Reliever Joe Kelly Is MLB's Premier Instigator

In today's Hot Clicks: Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly isn't making many friends, Lou Williams made an ill-advised stop in Atlanta and more.

Joe Kelly can't stop hitting people

There was certain to be some bad blood brewing when the Astros hosted the Dodgers this week, but Los Angeles reliever Joe Kelly rose tensions to a whole other level on Tuesday night.

Kelly nearly hit Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the head in the sixth inning on Tuesday, and the true fireworks came after Kelly struck out Correa. Both benches emptied to a degree after Kelly fanned—and subsequently taunted—Correa, leading to as close to a fight as you’ll see in the social distancing era. Perhaps we’ll see more bad blood on Wednesday.

ICYMI:

Joe Kelly vs. the Astros last night. pic.twitter.com/704pdz5USr

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2020

Joe Kelly 😂 pic.twitter.com/3ABJoD1FiB

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) July 29, 2020

Tuesday night didn’t mark Kelly’s first moment of controversy. The righthander incited a brawl between the Yankees and Red Sox in 2018 after he hit New York DH Tyler Austin. Kelly’s reputation as the game’s biggest pest is no secret.

The ethics of throwing at players is murky, and Kelly was certainly out of line for brining his pitch against Bregman up near the helmet. But it’s hard to see Kelly having  significant remorse over Tuesday night’s incident. The reliever is now public enemy No. 1 in Houston, a role he’ll likely embrace in 2020. Kelly is far from being one of baseball’s best pitchers. But he’s unmatched as an instigator. 

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Nice gesture from the Twins

One Team. One Territory. United for Change. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/AvVj7Vxgsc

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 29, 2020

Look out, Luka

The rail cam almost took out @luka7doncic 😅 pic.twitter.com/2wjB4tSzfL

— ESPN (@espn) July 29, 2020

Tom Brady is fired up

“I don’t give a s—- if you’re a first round pick. I was 199. But listen, If you get a chance to be on the field, don’t mess it up, because you may never get a second one.”

Tom Brady shares the moment he came in for Drew Bledsoe on Peyton's Places on E+ ➡️ https://t.co/LUFl8d6DzG pic.twitter.com/02ro7bjG7g

— ESPN (@espn) July 29, 2020

Anthony Rendon gets comfortable

Anthony Rendon went deep for first hit as an Angel #GoAngelspic.twitter.com/AA8JEVPn3l

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 29, 2020

Good luck, Austin Rivers

Tacko Fall and Austin Rivers battling in the post is good content pic.twitter.com/vSHo2we9cF

— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) July 29, 2020

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A good song

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