Observations On The DH Victory Over the Guardians

8/24 – AKA Mamba Day – AKA Kiké Hernández’s Birthday – Kiké Hernández’s former number with LAD was 14.  The Dodgers have since retired his #14.  Okay it was retired for Gil Hodges.  I bet Kiké’s grandchildren will only hear about the Dodgers retiring his #14.  Instead Kiké selected #8 in honor of Kobe Bryant.

On his birthday, Kiké had a 3-5 game with 2 doubles and a HR.

Just like the Marlins beat LAD in their Game 1 with a lopsided score and LAD came back to beat them in a DH to take the series, the Dodgers come back and beat Cleveland in a DH after losing Game 1 badly to win yet another series.  That is 7 consecutive series.  They are 19-3 in the month of August.

The hottest MLB Player on the planet is Mookie Betts.  He has hit in 27 of his last 28 games, last 12 consecutively.  During the month of August, Mookie has been particularly otherworldly.

• 91 PA, 82 AB, .463/.516/.817/1.333, 8 doubles, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 24 runs, 3 SB, 1 CS.  He went 5-5 in Game 2 and 2-3 with a BB in Game 3.  He is a GG RF, and his playing GG level 2B.  I know he still has a mountain to climb to catch Ronald Acuña Jr. For MVP, but he is in the race.

The Dodgers got some bad luck with the game suspension as they lost a chance for Clayton Kershaw to get past 2.0 IP.  He was dealing pretty good before the tarp was placed on the field.  But they also caught a break.  Since this was considered a DH, the Dodgers got their 27^th man.  That pitcher was Ryan Pepiot.  That means they can send him down again without starting the recall clock. He should be back on the 26 man during the Arizona series at home next week.

Relief pitchers who commit the cardinal sin of walks are hard to swallow (for me).  Victor González gets two quick outs and then walks two.  Plus he doesn’t try to keep the runner close.  Both of José Ramírez’s SB were off VGon.  VGon was a longshot to make the playoff roster, but he is sealing his own fate.

Gus Varland is looking very much like a keeper, and should be in the consideration for a playoff spot.  His confidence seems to be growing.

Ryan Brasier was not a deadline pickup, but he his a huuuuuge addition to that bullpen.  IMO he deserves more high leverage situations. After Boston released him, he was signed on June 4, and after 2  relief appearances in OKC, was called up to LAD to pitch against LAA on June 21.  He has not looked back since.

• 25 games, 26.1 IP
• 03 ERA
• 76 WHIP
• 25K/7BB
• 2-0, 5 holds, 1 save, 1 save opportunity, 0 blown saves

He has been terrific but has not had a lot of high leverage opportunities.  He has entered the game in the 5^th (1 time), 6^th (7 times), 7^th (9 times), 8^th (2 times), 9^th (5 times – generally mop up), and 10^th (1 time).

Caleb Ferguson was the opener, but did not alleviate any discomfort as to where Ferguson is at this time.  He did pitch a scoreless opening inning, but he did hit a batter and did allow a single.

Ryan Yarbrough pitched 3.0 innings before Ryan Pepiot entered in the 5^th.  He was outstanding.  His change is getting better and better.  He threw 26 of them that generated 12 swings.  He got 6 swings and misses on those 12 swings.  He also got 6 whiffs on his four-seamer.

Pepiot should continue to be in the rotation, and his turn should come up in the Arizona series.

Michael Busch hit his 1^st career HR for LAD.  1^st pitch curveball that stayed pretty much center-center, and Busch hit it 99.1 MPH for 401’ dead center.

First career homer for Michael Busch! pic.twitter.com/AtAQ2OAu0d

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2023

As the Dodgers were beating his team twice Thursday, Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, apologized to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and GM Brandon Gomes for the performance of one part of the Guardians’ organization…the grounds crew. 

Twice in the series — Wednesday night and again Thursday afternoon — the grounds crew deployed the tarp well before any rain arrived, stopping play to the consternation of both dugouts.

The Dodgers now move on to Boston where Mookie will return for the first time since “The Trade”.  It is also going to be a homecoming for Ryan Brasier and to a lesser degree, Kiké Hernández.  JDM is on the IL so he will not be making his return to Fenway.

Lance Lynn and Julio Urías get the first two games.  The talk on the telecast was to push back the starts for Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw to the Arizona series, Sunday is currently expected to be another bullpen game and either Emmet Sheehan or Gavin Stone would be the bulk relievers.   BTW, I am apologizing now because I know that at some point I am going to call Lance Lynn, Fred Lynn.  Fred Lynn was such a long time favorite, that he is embedded in my brain.

I got the following Twitter notification, and it really hurt to watch the emotion of Washington Nationals OF Stone Garrett.  It reminded me of Gavin Lux.

https://twitter.com/OnePursuitTakes/status/1694535597115761006?s=20