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 2nd best overall record in the PCL, but are not going to be in the playoffs. Las Vegas (A’s) won the 1st 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
Fully agree with your analysis of the potential playoff roster. I’m hoping Sasaki is healthy enough, and tested enough, to get into the mix.
Just read a report suggesting that the Dodgers should be the favorites to sign Kyle Tucker. The Dodgers will always be mentioned, of course, and it certainly seems that AF prefers to use the checkbook rather than prospects to acquire talent.
Still think the Dodgers may regret missing out on Mason Miller when they had a chance.
Conforto has finally reached .200! Time to bat him cleanup!
so why has it taken the whole year to find out that you don’t ALWAYs have to hit home runs?
Maybe the players said “enough of this hit it to the moon” b.s., I’m going to do what got me here.
Second shot in the eye today. So, it is an early morning for me. Have to be there by 7.10. Last two games have been fun to watch. Next three with Philly, all against LHP, so Call will most likely be in left.
Better than a kick in the shins
Don’t say stuff like that until you have to do it yourself.
Raliegh tied the record for the most HRs in a season by a switch hitter with his 54th yesterday. Schwarber has 52 to lead the NL. Ohtani extended his on base streak with a blooper that should have been caught, Betts extended his with his 3 hit day. Betts, Teo, Freeman and Conforto, who did not even start the game, all had 3 hits or more. With his 2 K Day yesterday, Ohtani has now struck out 169 times. 7 more than last year. His BA is down 19 points, his OPS and SLG are lower too. I would like to see more contact and less miss. He still swings at pitches he could not hit with a 10-foot pole.
How good would Ohtani be if he was an outfielder? 11 WAR?
With his speed and arm he could be an All Star right or even center fielder for the next 5 years. But, he wants to pitch. After his second TJ surgery he’s got a 3.75 ERA in 36 innings. Is it gearing up for this that has his oWAR well below last year’s? Or did he peak at age 29?
I don’t mean to sound unappreciative. The Dodgers, in so many ways ($$$) are lucky to have him. But at this point in the season I’d rather see him focus on hitting and put off pitching until age 31.
Tanner Scott
Big series win against a good team and pitching staff. Been out of the loop recently as I have been moving.
Welcome back
Thanks. Moving sucks.
Am I the only one? I hear the term Big Dumper and I visualize a guy that needs to carry a plunger with him everywhere he goes. What a weird nickname.
Perhaps he should be sponsored by Metamucil.
Then again, shouldn’t we all
Robbie Ray is hard to watch and Glasnow wasn’t much better. 8 walks between them and 206 pitches in 10.2 innings. Close to 20 pitchers per inning for each.
I hate walks. What a change from watching Verlander and Yamamoto last week.
I know the conditions in San Fran are rough on outfielders but Call certainly takes some shaky and interesting late routes in left.
I continue to like Ben Rortvedt more and more. He finds a way. I also like his target he sets for pitchers. And what I like best is something I see in his eyes. It’s “TRY”. He gives a shit and gives his best effort. You can see that in how he blocks balls and doesn’t OLE dirt balls. He has a passion.
Based on this weekend, there is no lead big enough to run Yates out there comfortably. There is room for him on the playoff roster for all of our 13 pitchers but I’d rather see anybody else. Well maybe no Saskai. He needs a fresh start in the Spring.
Treinen and Kopech aren’t far behind Yates in the corner of the doghouse.
Orel was at the top of his bloviation-game, yesterday. He must have rambled for 2 straight innings. My favorite was his new phrase was “application of emotion” not the “application of skill” I think that means “trying-hard” you know playing with some passion, like Rortvedt.
I applied my emotion by hitting the mute button repeatedly. Orel just can’t stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room.
I’m really looking forward to the Phillies match up. I think the Phillies and Brewers are the best teams in the league, even without Wheeler for the Phil’s. Their LHP will test out hitting.
The game was blacked out in Northern California, and I refuse to listen to Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper. Even with the Dodgers trouncing SF, I could not turn it on just in case not to jinx them. Although, I would only have to listen to Bye-Bye Birdie once during the weekend. And probably not then as the TV would have been off as soon as Bailey hit his HR on Friday. To be fair and honest, Kruk and Kuip are two of the best opposing team announcers. They are not unfair to the Dodgers, but at times they are over the top for the Giants, which they should be, but I find it hard to listen to.
Rortvedt – That is why you do not look at the back of baseball cards to determine who your backup catcher should be. The Dodgers would have won the trade of Rortvedt for Feduccia straight up. But they also go 21 year old 6’5” LHSP Adam Serwinowski and big RHRP Paul Gervase. I think we hear from Gervase next year.
I do not know what it is about LAD starting pitching that makes it difficult to find their command/control until well into the game. Yama, Kersh, Glasnow, Snell…After Glasnow walked the 2nd of his 2 batters in the 3rd, Glasnow went on to retire the next 11 straight batters before a 6th inning single. Neither Glasnow’s sinker nor 4-seamer were anywhere near the strike zone. Rortvedt then called for more of Tyler’s curve and slider, and just showcased both fastballs. This is the second game Rortvedt has guided Glasnow through his poor command of his 4-seamer in the early innings. What made it a bit more difficult was that in his prior game, Glasnow could rely on his sinker, but he seemed to lose that as well on Sunday. But just like last game, at the end of the 3rd inning and the start of the 4th, he was in command.
Glasnow went 7.0 innings in his two previous starts and 6.2 in this one. If he could garner that command in his first 3 innings, he should be able to get to 8. For all pitchers with 80 or more IP, Tyler has the best Batting Average Against in MLB (.163). Yama is #3 (.185). Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers is between the two LAD starting pitchers.
On the other hand, the Rockies announcers are the worst in the league. When LA plays Colorado, I have had to watch the games on Rockies TV. I turn the sound off.
Yeah, our starting pitching seems to struggle in the first inning. I’d look at how they warm up. But the defense has let down as well in the 1st.
The good part now, they find it and settle in and the bats overcome the early deficits.
You are so right Jeff about Rortvedt’s knack for recognizing and using the pitcher’s best weapon from inning to inning. He stays with what’s working but doesn’t completely scrap a pitch to early if it isn’t working early.
What’s Rushings trade value this off season since he hasn’t hit?
So i count 14 pitchers currently on the 28 man roster. Plus Ohtani as a freebee. That’s pretty easy call of who goes when the roster goes to 13 pitchers:
Starters – Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell, Sheehan, Kershaw
Freebee – Ohtani
Relievers: Banda (L), Dreyer (L), Vesia (L)
Worbs (L), Treinen (R), Kopech (R), Henriquez (R) Scott (R)
And Yates can’t get a new Zip Code fast enough.
Our LHP looks formidable. Not so much for the RHRP. Treinen and Kopech are all over the place as is Scott. I really like Henriquez and think he could be a difference maker in the playoffs. And Scott needs to step up and earn his money.
I like Kruk and Knipe. I find them very fair and informative. And paid by the Giants. I think they are one of the best pairs in the booth in MLB along with the Mets, Yankees now the Mariners with Sims gone. I really like Ben McDonald with the O’s. Joe Girardi is terrific but he isn’t on the YES Network enough. Catchers are the best in the booth. Former pitchers are the worst, headlined with Smoltz and Orel. They first and second guess pitch selections and locations way too much. I don’t care what Orel would throw in the situation. He just overanalyzes the shit out of pitching. And I’m an exception usually because I’m extremely interested and curious about pitching. And those guys try my patience. I figure most casual listeners just tune the out. I can’t. They drive me nuts.
I’ll take Nomar and am lukewarm warm to the rest, especially Stephen Nelson. Joe Davis offers up some of the most useless stats on a too regular basis and he too stretched with MLB games with Smoltz and the NFL.
Second eye injection this morning, stung just a little, but doc told me that the condition has actually improved after just one shot. Dodgers need to play their best baseball of the season the rest of the way. Stay healthy, no injuries to major players. Three lefties for the Phillies this series. Dodgers hitting .252 against LH starting pitchers and .256 against lefties overall.
Glad your shots are leading to improvement Bear. I’ve had 10 now and am holding my own.
She showed me the photo’s they took before I had the first one, and the ones they took this morning. Big difference. Blood is almost completely gone, and the swelling was cut by 2/3rds.
Assuming Smith is ok, he should catch all of the playoff games. But given Rodtvedt’s handling of Yamamoto and Glasnow, I wonder if he should see some action as well.
I doubt that Rortvedt catches both Yama and Glasnow, but it sure seems like Glasnow has a very good rapport with Rortvedt. But I do not disagree that Smith’s bat and his ability to throw out would be base stealers, puts him in a position to catch all playoff games.
Well neither goes tonight. Tonight Chucky Robinson makes the start.
Let’s see how his game calling skills are!
Wonder what’s up with Sheehan. He was listed as the probable now it’s Banda
Hope it’s just doing a opener and he’s not hurt
Probably just having a lefty face Schwarber and Harper in the first inning
That is exactly the reason.
Well that worked out well!!
Is this for a potential NLDS with them? Sheehan won’t be starting in Oct anyway, and you’re not gona use an opener for Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, or Ohtani
The inability of the Dodgers’ bullpen to hold onto close leads late in games will be their undoing in the playoffs.
Well if anything Scott and Treinen did not fail yesterday