The Dodgers’ 9 game road trip ends with three games against the Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. This marks the Dodgers’ first games at Globe Life Field since winning the World Series in 2020 at the ballpark. The last time the Dodgers were at Globe Life Field was October 27, 2020, when they posed for the following:
For that series , Corey Seager was crowned WS MVP. Now he is donning this uni:
I do not know how the Dodgers would have justified a $325MM 10 year contract for Seager, but they sure would not be worried who was playing SS. He was home grown and should have remained a LAD. Seager was my favorite Dodger, and he remains a favorite even though he is playing for Texas.
However, as is par for the course, Seager has missed time due to an injury. He missed six weeks this year already due to a hamstring strain.
LAD last played Texas in 2021, however that was in LA. The last time they played each other in the regular season in Texas was 2020. The Dodgers are 20-13 all-time against the Rangers, including 11-7 in Texas.
At the beginning of the year, I thought that Texas would be a Wild Card Playoff team. Instead they have arrived a year early and are one of the AL favorites for the WS. They have the 3rd best winning percentage in the AL, and 4th in MLB.
Texas is an offensive juggernaut. As a team, they are slashing .274/.342/.462/.804. That is the best batting average and OBP in MLB and second in SLG and OPS to Atlanta.
OTOH, the Dodgers are not too shabby with their own offensive plaudits. They have a slash line of .244/.332/.450/.782. The Dodgers rank #19, #6, #3, #3 respectively.
Texas is the #1 team WRISP (BA/SLG/OPS) and #2 (OBP). Again, the Dodgers are highly ranked in this split as well. #9, #1, #6, and #2 respectively.
Texas has an overall team ERA of 3.92 (#11), with the Dodgers at 4.40 (#20). For starters, Texas has the 2nd best ERA in MLB with 3.63. The Dodgers’ starters ERA is 4.54 (#17). It behooves the Dodgers to get to the Rangers’ bullpen. The reliever ERA for Texas is 4.42 (#24), while the Dodgers is 4.21 (#19). Texas recognizes that their bullpen is their biggest weakness, and they have already worked on shoring it up with the Aroldis Chapman trade with KC. They have indicated they are not done.
Texas had 6 All Stars, including 5 starters:
- C – Jonah Heim (Voted as starter)
- 2B – Marcus Semien (Voted as starter)
- 3B – Josh Jung (Voted as starter)
- SS – Corey Seager (Voted as starter)
- RF – Adolis Garcia (Not voted as a starter, but chosen my manager)
- SP – Nathan Eovaldi
Starting Lineup:
- Jonah Heim – C – .287/.341/.494/.835, 14 HR, 66 RBI
- Nathaniel Lowe – 1B – .280/.367/.435/.802, 10 HR, 48 RBI
- Marcus Semien – 2B – .275/.344/.448/.792, 13 HR, 59 RBI
- Josh Jung – 3B – .272/.323/.485/.808, 19 HR, 58 RBI
- Corey Seager – SS – .346/.408/.615/1.023, 14 HR, 57 RBI
- Travis Jankowski – LF – .331/.424/.426/.850, 1 HR, 20 RBI
- Leody Taveras – CF – .288/.334/.468/.802, 11 HR, 43 RBI
- Adolis Garcia – RF – .259/.330/.511/.841, 24 HR, 80 RBI
- Ezequiel Duran – DH – .297/.335/.517/.852, 13 HR, 37 RBI
- Nathan Eovaldi – 123.2 IP, 2.69 ERA, 1.01 WHIP
- Jon Gray – 103.1 IP, 3.31 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
- Andrew Heaney – 91.1 IP, 4.43 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
- Martín Pérez – 96.2 IP, 4.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
- Dane Dunning – 99.0 IP, 2.82 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
These starters (position and pitcher) were acquired via:
- Signed as amateurs (2) – Jung (Draft) and Taveras (IFA)
- Trade (5) – Heim (Oakland), Lowe (Tampa Bay), Garcia (St. Louis), Dunning (CWS), Duran (NYY)
- FA (7) – Semien, Seager, Jankowski, Eovaldi, Gray, Heaney, Pérez
Friday, 5:05 p.m. PT – Tony Gonsolin vs. Andrew Heaney (L)
Saturday, 1:05 p.m. PT – Bobby Miller vs. Dane Dunning
Sunday, 11:35 a.m. PT – Emmet Sheehan vs. Martín Pérez (L)
The Dodgers will get an opportunity to see how they will fare against LHP from a contending team. At least they are fortunate to not have to face CY contender, Nathan Eovaldi.
This is a series, I have been waiting on for quite a while. Let the series begin.
07-20-2023 – MiLB Game Summary Report
El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 12 – OKC 6
El Paso’s Brandon Dixon hit a 3-run HR in the 3rd off OKC starter Ryan Pepiot for a 4-1 lead. The Chihuahuas scored 6 unearned runs in the 5th to break it open.
Pepiot is still a ways off from rejoining the LAD rotation. 2.2 IP, 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR.
Key Performers:
- Drew Avans – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (11)
- Ryan Ward – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (11)
Tulsa Drillers 8 – NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) 2
Nick Nastrini started and complete 5.1 innings. He threw 89 pitches (60 strikes). His pitching line was – 5.1 IP, 2 runs, 8 hits, 2 BB, 8 K. Four Drillers relievers completed the final 3.2 scoreless and hitless innings. They allowed 2 BB and 8 K.
Key Performers:
- Jorbit Vivas – 2-5, 2 runs, double (20)
- Eddys Leonard – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (11)
- Diego Cartaya – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8), HR (12)
- Yusniel Diaz – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, double (9)
Great Lakes Loons 3 – Lansing Lugnuts (A’s) 1
Four Loons pitchers combined for the 3-1 victory. Chris Newell supplied two SF for 2 runs.
Key Performers:
- Ronan Kopp – 3.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 BB, 4 K
- Jerming Rosario – 4.0 IP, 0 runs, 6 hits, 2 BB, 4 K
- Benony Robles – 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K, save (9)
- Taylor Young – 2-5
- Kenneth Betancourt – 2-4
- Doubles – Max Hewitt (3), Damon Keith (18)
Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 18 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0
Let’s just leave it at that.
Nathan Eovaldi came up through the Dodgers farm system and played w LA. I know you can’t keep every player but it hurts a little to see “one that got away” having such a good career.
And he was arguably the MVP when Boston beat us in 2018.
Back in the stadium where they won their last title. Good Vibrations.
Let’s get on a roll and quiet some of the trade talk.
Bullpen can start locking down, bats can wake up lower in the lineup.
We still need a RH OF no two ways about it and probably a veteran SP too.
Would rather get two good guys in those spots than make a lot of marginal upgrades.
Isn’t the team on a roll?
I dont know. All I read us people complaining about Barnes & Rojas & Muncy & the starting pitchers & the bullpen.
I understand what you are saying. BUT after you stated “quiet some of the trade talk”, you went on to say:
“We still need a RH OF no two ways about it and probably a veteran SP too.”
“Would rather get two good guys in those spots than make a lot of marginal upgrades.”
Isn’t that trade talk? 🤔
You got me.
I guess I was subconsciously referring to the OC Register article I read that centered around Miller/Sheehan/Grove and how they could be moved.
I think I’d like the best SP/RHB/RP we could get without dipping into our top 15 guys.
Depends on your definition of “two good guys”. They may not be available. Outside of Ohtani, there really is a ton of risk with every projected trade name. Especially RH OF bats.
2024
C Smith
1B. Freeman
2B Betts
3B. ?
SS Lux
LF ?
CF Outman
RF ?
DH. ?
Bench
Vargas, Busch, Barnes, DeLuca
Rotation
Miller, Sheehan, Stone, Grove, Pepiot, Gonsolin
Why wouldn’t Vargas be starting at 2B with Betts in right? Ohtani is your missing piece then. I guess with Busch as DH maybe with Muncy?
Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?
Well done
Oops. Yes, and Buehler.
I was 100% wrong last season thinking we wouldn’t nontender Bellinger.
I’m not as sure about Muncy but I think we’ll have him back. His club option is $10m plus incentives.
I guess we can let his postseason performance settle the matter.
Max’s BABIP is around .180. That’s record-setting terrible and the stat is basically considered to have a lot of luck involved in the number.
His hard hit rate and barrels percentage this year are higher than he’s ever had before.
Yes, he’s letting too many right-down-the-middle pitches go without offering at them, but he’s absolutely due for a hot streak.
I promise you we’ll be glad we have him come the next couple of months and the post season. And if I’m wrong, I’ll pay for your subscription to LA Dodger Chronicles.
Deal
A few Dodgers talking about the ‘20 Championship. Their take: It was strange, with no real celebration.
Sheehan, Grove and Miller won’t make it to October without some down time. We will likely need everyone to get to post season, but once there we can go with 4 starters. Who those 4 will be? Stand by.
Muncy will likely be back. I still believe he has a few more hot streaks in him.
I’m neither happy for or nostalgic about Bellinger. He got injured on a careless celebration and suffered two horrible years afterward. He’s another former Dodger (they are all over the league) that I figured would land with Yankees anyway.
The team is 8-2. I think that’s a roll. This series will be a challenge. Texas is good, they are 7-3 and 33-18 at home.
I firmly believe that Bellinger had to go somewhere else to find himself again.
That said, I think his injury/celebration was far more Kike’s fault than his. All he did was raise his arm. Kike really clobbered him. Enrique may be feeling better about Belli’s revival than Belli himself. Guilt can be very berdensome.
Betts – RF
Freeman – 1B
Smith – C
JDM – DH
CT3 – LF
Muncy – 3B
DeLuca – CF
Rojas – SS
Yonny Hernandez – 2B
At least Muncy is batting 6th.
Not exactly strong up the middle here [Smith notwithstanding]. Texas 7-3.
Love this!
Reverse jinx worked!!@
In the meantime, Bellinger is up to .317/.371/.542
Wow….
I wanted to tender him.
Oh well.
You weren’t the only one.
I would’ve said “Belly’s back!!” if he was hitting .265.
.317 is insane! Good for him though; hopefully he got his head straight
I wanted him back too. But STB’s point is valid. He had to leave to find himself. The Dodgers hitting instructors weren’t helping him. Or, it took two years to heal. Whatever. he’s gone and he ain’t coming back. He’s also not helping the Cubs to be relevant so he’s probably gone again.
They’ll get something nice for him. Should be at least 6-8 teams bidding on him, none of whom will be the Dodgers.
And if they want to (and they should), the Cubs should be in on him in free agency.
Yankees. It’s a fit.
JD, please, you don’t slide worth a sh*t. Don’t force yourself to have to do it. Base to base Sluggo.
Update at OKC – Noah Syndergaard – 3.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, 2 KK, 43 pitches/32 strikes. My guess is that he will be one of the two SP needed at the break.
Noah + ? for Giolito?
Syndergaard got through 4.0 scoreless innings. In the 5th, he gave up a single, and his big problem with his inability to hold runners on hurt him. He gave up a stolen base, a ground ball out moved the runner to 3rd and a Sac Fly brought him home. He went out for the 6th but had nothing left in the tank. After 7 pitches, double, three singles, and two SB nets 3 runs without registering an out. He threw 77 pitches in total. When Syndergaard loses it, he loses it.
Don’t get what they see in him. He’s clearly cooked.
Asking trade simulator: Muncy, Barnes and Grove to the Yankees for ???
I’d ask for Aaron Judge
Good game for the Dodgers so far.
The bats are on fire. All around good baseball on this trip. On another note, I see Patch is still a pathetic troll. He just can’t resist being a coward. Talking smack on my site, yet doesn’t have the balls to start his own site. I’m still banned from Mark’s site so can’t defend myself. He needs to get a life and get bent.
Feel bad for seager, hope he’s not out too long. Go Dodgers.
Nice win. But, our pitchers are still walking too many.
Jeff, FYI, you know I respect your opinions and this site. However I dont take any joy criticizing any Dodger. I only do it when they deserve it and last I checked Barnes is hitting .099. That makes Mario mendoza look like a hall of famer. But honestly I don’t feel sorry for Barnes. I want him to succeed because he’s a Dodger and I root for the Dodgers. But im sure these players can take some criticism. If they can’t then they should choose a different line of work. To be honest nobody should feel sorry for any of them when they are making millions of dollars per year and other people are sleeping on the streets.
I only make snyde comments to people that put me down like Patch and Mark. Those guys are bullies and I’m merely defending myself. Should I turn the other cheek? Or should I defend myself? At least Mark has the guts to write and uses his real name, unlike Patch who hides behind his screen moniker and has no site of his own last I checked.
We’re all Dosger fans here and shouldn’t be bullying anyone for disagreeing about baseball strategies.
Your criticism of Barnes never reaches Barnes. That’s a stupid point.
You gotta turn the other cheek Scott.
Not using your team name online is VERY VERY smart.
I know it doesn’t reach him, that’s not the point. The point is about other posters getting upset about criticizing Dodgers, yet have no problem criticizing, bullying and putting down other posters.
If you’re going to bully other people on the internet that root for the same team that you do, then don’t be a coward, use your real name. Otherwise you are just a troll, like Patch. And no I’ll never turn the other cheek, and will always fight bullies. Bullies deserve nothing but the misery they inflict onto other people.