MidValleySports.Com

By Those Deferred BenchWarmers

The 8-0 start seems like a completely different season as the Dodgers have dropped six of nine over the past week and a half. They still sit at a respectable 11-6 (the fourth best record in baseball), but are in 3rd place in the NL West and have a run differential of 0.

The Weekend in Review
Headline for the Weekend: Dodgers Again Lose 2 of 3

Results: The Dodgers won the first game behind dominant pitching and Tommy Edman, but tied for the worst home shutout loss in franchise history in a 16-0 defeat on Saturday night (made worse by the fact that one of TBW’s sister was there celebrating her birthday). Sunday was PCA day as Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two homeruns and a triple to lead the Cubs to a 4-2 victory.

Pitching Analysis: Yoshinobu Yamamoto was fantastic on Friday night, striking out 9 and only allowing two hits and a walk in six shutout innings. The three-headed monster of Kirby Yates, Blake Treinan, and Tanner Scott shut down the Cubs the final three innings, allowing 0 baserunners to clost the game out. The recipe for strong success was evident.

Saturday, Roki Sasaki again looked the part, throwing five solid innings of one-run ball (assisted by the unlikely defensive hero of Andy Pages, see below). It all went downhill after that, as Ben Casparius was rocked for six runs, Luis Garcia for four and Miguel Rojas for five. Rojas definitely looked the part, showing great wind-up imitations of Clayton Kershaw, Yamamoto, and Sasaki… but the results in the 9th were less than stellar.

Tyler Glasnow also looked strong in his six innings, allowing 3 hits (2 homers), and striking out 7. He was left with a no-decision. Treinen and Alex Vesia each allowed runs following Glasnow. Jack Dreyer was a bright-spot, surviving a lead off triple by striking out 2 and retiring the side after.

As a group, the Dodgers were facing the best offense in the NL, and removing the 16-0 aberration, the starters and bullpen each gave up two runs in the other two games. Had the bats performed more to standards, the Dodgers easily could have won the series with the way the Dodgers pitched.

Hitting Analysis:
Aside from Tommy Edman, there were not many positives the first two games of the series. In fact, aside from Edman’s 3 run Homerun in game 1, the Dodgers played 17 scoreless innings of baseball at home heading into game three. They scored twice on Sunday, but did not look strong at the plate throughout the series.

The Dodgers have not gotten the timely hits they go during the first weeks of the season, stranding 20 runners on base. They also averaged only 2 walks a game against the Cubs, a credit to the Cubs pitching as much as it is a potential sign of the batters’ pressing at the plate. The Cubs bullpen, an obvious weak spot, was able to keep the Dodgers in check.

The one excuse note goes to Freddie Freeman, who was back in the line-up after his IL stint. He’s still working on his timing and getting back into the swing of things.

Defense/Base Running Analysis: How about Andy Pages! He made a fantastic run-saving catch in the 3rd inning of game 2. Of course, it didn’t matter in the big picture of the game, but at least it invokes a bit of confidence that balls hit to CF can be caught!

Takeaway for the Weekend: The Dodgers are out of sync at the plate, but the level of concern is still low. Andrew Friedman stated in a recent interview that they generally will do deeper evaluations of the team ⅓ of the way through the season. The Dodgers have played 17 games… just over a 10th of the season. We’ll see how the next 37 games play out before we make any drastic (over)reactions.

Burning Question (And Attempted Answer):
How long will it take Freddie Freeman to round into true form?
Freeman came back to the line-up this series with a 1 for 7 performance, including 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter. He struck out three times, and was naturally pulled in game 2 and given a rest day on Sunday. Obviously it’s going to take some time to get back to hitting MLB pitching, especially without a rehab stint in the minors. Freeman will be fine, and we expect a nice bounce back to conclude the homestand.

Around the MLB:
Jose Quintana of the Brewers got the W vs Diamondbacks on Friday night throwing 7 shutout innings. With this W he has now beaten all 30 MLB teams in his career.
Red Sox starter Garret Crochet lost his no-hit bid with one out in the 8th inning when White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth singled. Crochet left the game after the hit (he threw 96 pitches). Meidroth came around to score to cut the Red Sox lead to 2-1, but Boston tacked on an insurance run in the 9th and won 3-1.
The Padres swept the Rockies, shutting them out three times in a row. The series was capped off by Michael King’s complete game gem. King gave up only two hits, walked one, and struck out 8. The series propelled them to first in the West as they currently own the best record in baseball and are the last team undefeated at home.

Next Series’ Preview
Matchups: The Dodgers Homestand continues when the aforementioned anemic and last-place Rockies come to town for a three game set starting on Monday.

Analysis: There is a case to be made that the Rockies are the worst team in baseball, as they have the least amount of wins and runs scored, the worst run differential, and are tied for the most runs given up. If ever there was a get-right series for the Dodgers, this would be it (although we thought something similar against the Cub bullpen). Only one Rockies’ starter has a victory, Chase Dollander, but he will not make a start in LA. The Rockies have a team ERA close to five on the road, and a .292 batting average against away from home.

What to Look For: Pitching wise: Dusty May his third start looking to continue his strong start to his return. Landon Knack will take the hill in game 2, hoping for a better stint as opener than against the Nationals. Hitting wise: Freddie Freeman’s continued progression is important to monitor, as is the general performance of the lineup, from top to bottom.