What a difference a pair of games against the hated ones can do.  The starting pitching continues to excel, but for the last two games, the Dodgers scored 23 runs on 35 hits and 12 BB.  And they did this against the Giants best two pitchers, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.  The Dodgers also faced 8 relievers in the last two games, and scored off 7 of them.  Only RHP Tristan Beck kept the Dodgers scoreless.

The Giants are a top 10 pitching staff considering ERA, and top two for relievers.

What the Dodgers did offensively is more of what was expected from them throughout the season.  Teoscar Hernández was the hitting star going 7-11 with 2 doubles, and 3 RBI.  But he was not the only one seemingly breaking out of a slump.  Will it last?  The other LAD hitters:

• Shohei Ohtani – 4-11, 1 RBI, HR
• Mookie Betts – 5-7, 1 RBI
• Freddie Freeman – 6-12, 3 RBI, double
• Michael Conforto – 4-6, 4 RBI
• Miggy Rojas – 2-8, 4 RBI, double
• Ben Rortvedt – 3-8, 2 RBI, double
• Andy Pages – 2-5
• Tommy Edman – 2-5, 2 RBI
• Kiké Hernández – 0-6, 1 RBI
• Hyeseong Kim – 0-1
• Max Muncy – 0-2
• Alex Call – 0-1

Michael Conforto has reached .200.  He has now surpassed Kiké Hernández and Dalton Rushing in Batting Average with LAD.

Since becoming a LAD, Ben Rortvedt has not only excelled behind the dish, but he has surpassed all odds with the bat:  .320/.414/.400/.814.  I guess he is even quieting his critics.

What is encouraging is that the Dodgers scored 23 runs but had 1 solo HR.  Over the last 2 games, LAD was 13-37 wRISP (.351).  What did Freddie say about the quality ABs?

“It’s quality at-bats, quality outs, moving guys over, getting sac flies, bringing defenses in if you move them over. It creates more traffic, more things that are able to happen on the baseball field. Just think the quality of at-bats have been really good over the last week.”

The Dodgers have 6 quality starters.  Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow are separating themselves, but I still have confidence in Blake Snell.  If I had a vote, I would start Ohtani and piggyback him with Clayton Kershaw.  I am sure there is a plan, but I do not know how you warm up Ohtani for relief in the middle of the game while he is still DH.  Emmet Sheehan would move into the bullpen.  He is capable of multi-inning and high leverage situations.

I do not believe we have learned anything on Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, Tanner Scott, and Michael Kopech.  I expect at least two to improve.  I feel least confident in Yates.  Three OKC pitchers seem to be gearing up for a bullpen spot on the playoff roster:  Andrew Heaney (L), Roki Sasaki (R), and Ben Casparius (R).  Heaney had 3.0 more scoreless innings (1 hit, 1 BB, 1K). Ben Casparius had a perfect 1.0 inning with 2 Ks.  Roki’s velo is up, and he has 1-3 good innings in him.

Edgardo Henriquez continues to prove he belongs on the playoff roster.  Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski continue to show they are legit high leverage relievers.

The Dodgers will face Philadelphia for the next three games at Dodger Stadium.  The SP matchups are scheduled:

• Ranger Suárez vs Emmet Sheehan
• Cristopher Sánchez vs Shohei Ohtani
• Jesús Luzardo vs Blake Snell

The Dodgers are scheduled to face Logan Webb and Robbie Ray next weekend, but not Justin Verlander.  Verlander is scheduled to pitch against Arizona, one of the teams they are trying to stay in front of in their chase of NYM and the final wild card spot.

I think there is little chance that the Dodgers catch Philadelphia or Milwaukee for the bye.  But will we see any sustained offense over the final 13 games as they go into the Wild Card round?

OKC Comets 12 – Sacramento River Cats (Giants) 2

OKC has the 2^nd best overall record in the PCL, but are not going to be in the playoffs.  Las Vegas (A’s) won the 1^st half and Tacoma (Seattle) is 5 games better than Round Rock (Texas) with 7 games to play.  Andrew Heaney threw 3.0 scoreless innings, and Ben Casparius pitched a perfect inning for the win.

• Dalton Rushing (DH) – 3-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (7)
• Luken Baker – 2-5, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 RBI (6)
• Alex Freeland – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (14)
• Ryan Ward – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (34)
• José Ramos – HR (6)
• Esteury Ruiz – double (22)

Box Score

Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) 7 – Tulsa Drillers 1

Tulsa got the news they made the playoffs before they took the field.  Patrick Copen made the start but only went 1.0 IP.

Zyhir Hope had a 2 hit night.  Hope is 20 years old in AA.  In his 6 games, Hope was 6-19 with 2 doubles, 5 RBI, hitting .316/.350/.421/.771, 1 BB, 4 K.  Josue De Paula was not as successful.  In 19 PA, De Paula reached base once on a BB.  He was 0-18.

Zach Ehrhard hit a solo HR (5) for the only Tulsa run.

Tulsa will play Springfield Cardinals in Playoff game 1 on Tuesday in Springfield.  Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be played Thursday and Friday in Tulsa.

Box Score