As of yesterday, the Dodgers have played 84 games. They are 52-32 six games ahead of the second place Padres and tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best record in the league. The first half has seen the team storm out of the gate to an 8-0 record and go 44-32 since. Injuries have played their part. A couple of players not meeting expectations have played their part too.
Let us start with the pitching. For a Dodger team, the pitching has usually been its strength. For this year’s team, it has often been its Achille’s heel. Much of this is because of the injuries suffered by key pitchers. Last year LA used 40 different pitchers. We are at the half-way mark and they have already used 34. Both the starting staff and the bullpen have been affected. LA right now has 11 pitchers on the IL. Three, Evan Phillips, Gavin Stone and Michael Grove will not be back until 2026. Ryan, Hurt, Graterol are not expected back before August. Most likely it will be September.
Glasnow and Henriquez are probably the closest to returning. Snell is throwing some, and Treinen had a bullpen yesterday. Sasaki if at all, will not be until after the All-Star break and most likely not before August. Right now, the bullpen has guys like Trevino and Davis who most likely would not be here at all if Treinen and Graterol were healthy. It is not the pen the Dodgers expected, but for now, it will have to do.
The most effective bullpen arm has been Vesia. He has pitched in 40 games and is the only high leverage reliever with a sub 3 ERA. Of the Dodgers 53 wins as of this writing, the starters have 24 of them. All the rest belong to the pen. The Dodgers have 28 saves, 18 of them by Scott. The other 10 are divided amongst 6 different pitchers. Ben Casparius, and Jack Dreyer have brought some youth to the pen. And both have pitched well. Casparius’ ERA has taken a hit because he took one for the team the other day and had one other forgetful outing. He was supposed to be part of the starting rotation but instead has piggybacked Ohtani’s starts.
May has been erratic. Brilliant at times, but then he seems to lose concentration and location, leading to a lot of walks before teams get a big hit off of him. Kershaw has returned and been very good. He has given up some homers but hasn’t really had one of those blow-up innings. He is on the cusp of getting his 3000th strikeout and would become the first pitcher in Dodger history to record all of those as a Dodger. I remember how fired up we all were in 2021 when Scherzer got his 3000th in a September game against the Padres.
The atmosphere at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday is going to be electric. On the other hand, Gonsolin’s return lasted all of 7 games before he went back on the IL. In the first half, the pitching staff as a whole has a 4.22 ERA. Only Arizona, Miami, Colorado and Washinton have higher ERAs. They are third in the league in home runs allowed with 106. With a patchwork pitching staff, this is to be expected. Especially with some of your best on the IL.
So how have they managed to build a 6-game lead in the division and have the best record in the majors? Simple, the offense, despite some hiccups, has been the best in the league. As a team, they are hitting .263. They have the highest OBP, Slug and OPS in the majors. They lead the majors in homers, runs, and hits, RBIs. They now have 7 players with double digit homers. Betts with 9 and Kike with 8 are within striking distance.
As mentioned by the announcing team, they are doing all of this while not really hitting on all cylinders. Conforto is way below his career numbers, Mookie is having his worst offensive season so far. Freddie was hot in May and ice cold in June, very un-Freddie like. Pages started the season looking like he was headed back to AAA, then turned his whole game around. Muncy was even worse than Pages. Fans were calling for his head. They felt confident enough in Kim and young Dalton Rushing, to DFA and release two long time players, Barnes and Taylor and replace them with the kids.
Kim has been pretty amazing. He is learning to be a center fielder, but his best spot is second base. He is passable as a SS. Rushing had some early success, but he is still learning how not to be an everyday player. Playing the game every day is hard enough, but when you are playing maybe two games a week, it has to be very hard. Especially hitting. His catching skills at this point though are pretty good.
Rojas is still a defensive whiz, and as of yesterday, his offense was picking up. Hopefully his jammed finger does not set him back too much. Every one of the big seven, Ohtani, Betts, Smith, Muncy, Teo, Edman and Pages, have battled through slumps. Ohtani might have 29 homers, but his K rate is high at this point in the season. Teo has been a little more inconsistent than he was last year. After starting the season as an RBI machine, he cooled off. He is hitting under the Mendoza line in June. An injury in May might have affected him more than we might have thought.
Edman has also been playing hurt. His ankle is not at 100% yet. That is why he was not playing CF much. The two most consistent hitters have been Smith and Freeman. Both are over .300 and are 1-2 in the batting title race. Pages is 10th and Ohtani, 14th. Only 4 hitters in the NL are over .300. The Dodgers have 7 players with 40 or more RBIs. Four players have more than 50, with Muncy and Pages tied for the team lead with 55. Most fans would have scoffed if you told them that on June 30th, Muncy would have more homers and RBIs and a better batting average than Mookie. But he does.
Overall, the team has performed at a lower level than what was expected of this so called, powerhouse. Injuries have played their part in that. But they are still on pace to win 100 games again. As the walking wounded return, the pitching staff should get much better. What additions AF and Gomes might be leaning towards will be revealed soon. It is exactly one month until the trade deadline. Biggest questions are how long they will keep running Conforto out there, and what will the pitching staff look like come August 1st.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 10 – OKC Comets 3
The Las Vegas Aviators scored eight runs in the first three innings and cruised the rest of the way during a 10-3 win over the Oklahoma City Comets. The Aviators scored one run in the first inning and two runs in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead.
The Comets pulled back within one run in the third inning when Ryan Ward roped a two-run single. The positive momentum didn’t last for long, as Las Vegas responded with five runs in the bottom of the third inning, including the final three runs with two outs.
Esteury Ruiz homered in the top of the sixth inning, but again the OKC pitching staff could not prevent the Aviators from scoring in the bottom of the inning, as Las Vegas plated two runs to extend the lead to 10-3.
Emmet Sheehan could not follow up his last outing with another elite performance. This one was tough. He lasted 2.1 IP, throwing 59 pitches (39 for strikes). Las Vegas is not the easiest stadium to pitch in, but it is probably better than Sacramento. The Aviators are a better offensive club than Sacramento.
Sheehan allowed 4 runs, including an inherited run that scored off Ryan Sublette. He gave up six hits and 1 BB, while registering 2 K.
Esteury Ruiz went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double and has now hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 14-for-34 (.412) with 10 RBI and 10 runs scored…Ruiz has hit four home runs in his last 12 games after hitting three home runs in his first 55 games of the season.
Ryan Ward went 2-for-4 with two RBI. His 65 RBI this season rank third in the PCL.
James Outman went 1-for-5 with a single, ending his seven-game streak with an extra-base hit and 12-game streak with a run scored – the longest by any player in the PCL this season…However, Outman is now on an eight-game hitting streak, going 15-for-35 (,429) during the stretch.
Kody Hoese went 1-for-4 and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, going 21-for-55 (.382) with 10 RBI and 11 runs scored.
- Ryan Ward – 2-4, 2 RBI
- Esteury Ruiz – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, Double (16), HR (7)
- Nick Senzel – 2-3, Double (5)
- Alex Freeland – Double (24)
Wichita Wind Surge (Twins) 7 – Tulsa Drillers 1
After a successful road trip in Frisco, Texas, the Tulsa Drillers returned home with a four-game winning streak, which matched their longest of the season. Unfortunately for the Drillers, the streak was snapped by the Wichita Wind Surge on Tuesday night. The Drillers were held to only four hits, and two costly errors led to four unearned runs in a 7-1 loss to the Wind Surge.
Tuesday’s series opener started positively for the Drillers as starting pitcher Brandon Neeck held Wichita scoreless in the top of the first, and Tulsa took the lead in the bottom of the inning. With one out, a walk, and a single put runners at first and third base. Damon Keith followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Noah Miller and gave the Drillers a 1-0 lead.
Tulsa’s lead did not last long as the Wind Surge responded with four runs in the second. The inning began with two singles against Neeck. A rundown between first and second base allowed Kyler Fedko to slide home safely on the back of a double steal, tying the game at 1-1. Two walks, a single, and Kendall Simmons’ fielding error produced three more runs to give the Wind Surge a 4-1 lead.
A fifth run scored for Wichita in the fourth inning when Jorel Ortega hit a solo home run over the right-field fence.
In the seventh inning, an error and a walk put two runners on base for the Wind Surge. Both runners stole a base to reach scoring position, and Ricardo Olivar drove in both with his single to left for the final runs of the game.
The series opener was a bullpen game for Tulsa, with five pitchers appearing. Neeck was credited with the loss after pitching the first 1.2 innings and being charged with four runs, but just two were earned.
Roque Gutierrez rejoined the Drillers on Tuesday and was impressive in his return. The Mexico native allowed only one earned run in 4.2 innings with six strikeouts in his second game at the Double-A level.
Kelvin Bautista and Livan Reinoso combined to hold the Wind Surge scoreless over the final 2.1 innings.
The Drillers will continue their brief three-game home series on Wednesday night. The Drillers will face Mike Paredes, one of the top AA pitchers this year. He is 8-0 with a 2.15 ERA. The Drillers will counter with Peter Heubeck.
Taylor Young had the only XBH with a double (11).
Great Lakes Loons 14 – West Michigan White Caps (Detroit) 9
The Great Lakes Loons and West Michigan Whitecaps provided a heavyweight battle tonight, with the Loons nine-run sixth inning propelling them to a 14-9 series opening win.
After being limited to one hit through the first five innings, Great Lakes scored nine runs off six hits in the top of the sixth inning. Zyhir Hope had the big hit, a two-run double that one-hopped to the right field fence.
Frank Rodriguez had two singles in the inning. The first started a stretch of eight straight to reach and then an RBI knock that made it 8-4 later in the frame.
West Michigan made two errors. A costly one came with Kyle Nevin on third base following his game-tying RBI double and Logan Wagner at first base. Wagner on a delay steal went to second, which caused Whitecaps catcher Josue Briceno to pump a throw, but the ball slipped and bounced into foul territory on the third base side, which allowed Nevin to score.
A wild pitch by Hayden Erbe brought across the go-ahead run. Josue De Paula added an RBI single for the inning’s first tally, and Mike Sirota walked with the bases loaded to make it 9-4.
The Loons followed the sixth up with a three-run seventh. Logan Wagner added his tenth home run of the season on a solo shot to right field off West Michigan’s Freddy Pacheco. Frank Rodriguez added another RBI single, and he was scored by a Kendall George triple.
The Whitecaps scored the game’s first four runs and final three. Max Clark crushed a solo homer in the third. West Michigan rallied for four consecutive one-out hits in the ninth. Seth Stephenson’s two-run double pulled the deficit to five. Evan Shaw entered for Great Lakes and secured the final two outs.
- Frank Rodriguez – 3-4, 1 HBP, 4 runs, 2 RBI
- Kendall George – 2-5, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, Triple (4)
- Josue De Paula – 1-4, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Mike Sirota – 1-3, 3 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Zyhir Hope – 2-5, 1 Sac Fly, 1 run 3 RBI, 2 Doubles (20)
- Logan Wagner – 2-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (10)
- Kyle Nevin – Double (4)
- Jake Gelof – Double (10)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 2
Eduardo Quintero led off the bottom of the 1st inning with his league leading 13th HR.
Sterling Patick allowed a pair of singles, a HBP, and a Sac Fly to tie the score in the 3rd.
For the Quakes in the 3rd, Victor Rodrigues reached on an error and scored on a Jaron Elkins double. Elkins scored on a 2-out single by Cameron Decker.
In the 4th, Elijah Hainline (back from OKC) doubled and came around to score on a fly ball and ground out.
In the 5th, Patick gave up a HR, a double, and a walk before he was relieved by Shawndrick Oduber. Oduber allowed a single to load the bases, but got the next two outs to get out of the inning.
Michael Vilchez and Jhonny Jimenez pitched the final three scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Quakes had 6 hits on the night. Cameron Decker had the only multi-hit game with 2 singles. Jaron Elkins (18) and Elijah Hainline (14) had doubles, and Quintero had the only HR (13).
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Bobby Miller pitched in relief at OKC yesterday. 2.2 IP, gave up a HR, 2 K, 1BB, 1R. Apparently the Dodgers have decided to turn him into a RP.
With Kopech going on the IL maybe Miller can take his spot as a hardthrowing RHP out of the pen.
Emil Morales continues to rake at ACL. 2-2 with 2 BBs, now batting .309.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miller is way to inconsistent. He has a confidence problem. I watched him pitch last night. He did not look all that good.
I came away with a different observation on Bobby Miller. He threw 100+ with 64.4% strikes from his 45 pitches. His strikeouts of Brett Harris and Daniel Susac in his 1st inning were outstanding. He did give up a HR, but that is not hard in Las Vegas. Brett Harris is the Las Vegas hitter who hit the HR, and he is having an exceptional year in AAA. 2 hits and 1 BB in 2.2 in Las Vegas? His walk also came in his 1st inning, and he got the next batter out by throwing strikes. A single and BB usually has a negative impact on him, but he was not flustered this time. A 1-2-3 inning in his 2nd inning and he got two outs in his 3rd inning sandwiching the HR. Harris hit the HR but it was a fly ball. It was hit 384 feet at 95.8 MPH and 32 degree launch angle. That is a F9 in Dodger Stadium.
I do not know if the move to the bullpen in this game is a precursor for things to come, but if so, I would like to see more of it. He has the potential to be a late inning high leverage reliever. Success breeds success. Let him pitch in one inning high leverage situations and see what he has. I liked the move with Kyle Hurt and Ben Casparius.
I stand corrected sir.
Sure hope Miller figures it out. He was so impressive as a rookie…
Sirota’s stat line was quietly excellent: 1 for 3, but also 3 BBs…. So he got on base four times in six plate appearances.
One walk came with the bases loaded. Nice discipline. Another batter might have been tempted to swing for the fences…
While the Dodgers are rolling, my dreams for an October Freeway Series has new inspiration with the Angels reaching .500–and just 1.5 games out of the Wild Card. Our old friends Tyler Anderson and Kenley Jansen just helped the Angels blank the Braves 4-0.
Just noticed that MLB.com’s new top prospects list for the Dodgers ranks Sirota as only sixth best among outfielder, behind De Paula, Hope, Quintero, George and Ko. And Sirota is just ahead of Elkins.
But Sirota, at 22, may reach the majors sooner.
At any rate, that’s a lot of potential trade capital if the brass wants to make a move.
They are wrong.
Sirota on par with the other top three
I do not consider them wrong. De Paula and Hope are 2 years younger than Sirota. That is a big consideration. So the ceiling is a bit higher for them. I think Quintero is ridiculously talented, and may be undervalued by them. He basically owns the California League at 19. Quintero was a highly rated catcher when he signed, and was converted to CF in the DSL.
That being said, I do think Sirota is undervalued. If De Paula, Hope, and Quintero are 55 prospects, Sirota should be a 50 and not a 45. IMO, Kendall George is not a better prospect than Sirota. If Ko had more of a power projection, he would be a 55. Sirota is considered a + defensive player, but an average offensive player with 15-20 HR projection. IMO, he has more of a power tool than is being projected, but he needs to show what he can do at AA. It is Sirota’s age and power projection that drop his FV. IMO, he is a 50 and not a 45.
Jose Ramos went on the IL, but they brought up 22 year old RHP, Roque Gutierrez to replace him.
Regardless, the Dodgers have some extremely talented OF prospects, something they did not have a couple of years ago.
All of the sudden, we are 8 games ahead of SD and 9 ahead of SF. That happened rather quickly!
Bear, curious what you’re basing your defensive evaluation of Kim on.
Watching him play. He has not played center much, just 15 games. He doesn’t run very good routes and has started late or in the wrong direction a few times. He has only played 7 games at SS. He has made the plays, but he looks much more comfortable when he plays second.
Fair, thank you
BA Top 100 (Midseason Update)
21) Dalton Rushing
22) Josue De Paula
26) Zyhir Hope
37) Roki Sasaki
46) Mike Sirota
56) Alex Freeland
62) Eduardo Quintero
Amazing!
Bear, the big 7 is really the big 8 with Freddie. There will be some OF spots opening up the next few years. Hopefully we get a star or two out of this group.
Overall, this season has been way too successful and now with this lead and a lot of injured pitching coming back, what are we gonna complain about? Very frustrating!
Right now, it depends on who is in the starting lineup. Their best lineup has 8 solid bats. But Doc does not always play those 8 guys together. Conforto, Kike, Rushing and Rojas are all below MLB average when they play. Expected of the bench guys, but Conforto is the weak link. He needs to really pick up his production. After a good first at bat last night, he looked bad the last three times up. And sorry, despite his homer, Ohtani is swinging and missing way too much.
Does anyone remember that famous 2020 trade that the genius Arte Moreno vetoed?
Dodgers get Luis Rengifo. Anaheim gets Joc, Stripling, and a young minor leaguer named Andy Pages.
pretty sure there was more to the trade than that.
LA was also supposed to receive one of the Angels prospects, believed to be Jo Adell, but was unnamed at the time. Worked out well for LA.
Well, sometimes the best trades are the trades you don´t make. In this case: Thanx Arte.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!
You mean the same owner who signed Anthony Rendon, Josh Hamilton, CJ Wilson and a broken down Albert Puljos? The only franchise that wishes the McCourts had bought their franchise.
Braves Designate Alex Verdugo For Assignment
Padres?????
Perfect place for him.
He will most likely catch on somewhere, but I think the Padres are looking more at trading for a more consistent bat. Verdugo has cooled off a lot after a hot start.
Alex Verdugo DFAd by the Braves. Jurickson Profar set to be re-instated from the suspended list. Trevor Bauer was released by his Japanese team after a run-in with his pitching coach.
Dodgers won’t have to face Alvarez or Pena this weekend when the Stros get here, both on the IL. Kevin Pillar announced that he is retiring from baseball.
Mets are reeling. Cubs’ GM talks about signing Tucker. Giants can’t score runs. Seattle way behind in AL West. Yankees scuffling.
Add all that to “We didn’t start the fire”
Friedman shot the sheriff
Are there any fans here?
3000 and crickets! Wow!
Congrats Kersh. Thanks for all the memories
I had to watch the game at a bar in Indiana. I’m on vacation. I checked in here during the game and saw nothing. Mentioned it to my wife, I thought it was strange. The Muncy injury dampened the excitement a bit for me.
Just got back from the game. I left as Kersh left (however, onlyvone of us got a standing O)
If Muncy is seriously injured and out an extended period, does Alex Freeland get a shot? The #42 prospect in the game?
Yes