MidValleySports.Com

Those Deferred BenchWarmers

Now, the sky is really falling (not really), as the Angels swept the Dodgers – AGAIN – and the Dodgers fell out of first place in the NL West. Oh no! Again, we are not that worried. The team has too much talent to get overly worked up about day-to-day performances. 

The Week in Review

Headline for the Week: Dodgers Get Swept Again

Results: The Angels have the Dodgers’ number as they swept them for the second time this season, jumping ahead in game 1 7-4, then squeezing out two one run victories in games 2 and 3. 

Pitching Analysis: Because the sky is falling, we are going to look at only the positives: Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless inning of relief as he continues his return from injury, and Anthony Banda, Jack Dreyer and Edgardo Henriquez all had multiple scoreless appearances. The bullpen will be the biggest question mark for the Dodgers moving forward, so the more stability those guys provide, the better chance the rest of the bullpen has of performing better. The starters did not perform well this series, although Shohei Ohtani did pitch into the fifth inning for the first time with the Dodgers. 

Hitting Analysis: Will Smith (3 for 8, 2 runs, HR, 3 RBI) had a nice series as he looked to end his slump. Mookie Betts (5 for 13, 3 R, 2 RBI) might officially be back! Ohtani did Ohtani things, and we are one step closer to never seeing Michael Conforto take an at-bat in a Dodger jersey again! 

Dodger Record Since We Said Not to Worry: 10-11

Next Series’ Preview

Matchups: The Dodgers get the Padres at home over the weekend, with first place in the NL West up for grabs. 
What to Look for/Analysis: If the idea that the Dog Days of August and the Dodgers being bored about the regular season are true, then this series should be one of the times the Dodgers are awake. If the Dodgers win the series, there’s credence to that theory. If the Dodgers lose the series, then we might need to have a conversation. The Dodgers next ten games include six against the Padres and four against the Rockies. With essentially a month left in the season after this ten game stretch, now is the time for the Dodgers to begin to round into playoff form.