The Dodgers and Athletics reports are combined. Click on and read what Those Deferred BenchWarmers & The Great Time Byrnes have to say about these franchises.
Dodger Notes:
By Those Deferred BenchWarmers
It’s somewhat comical at this point. As soon as the Dodgers seem to be clicking (first team to sweep the Reds all year), they revert to the early 2000 Dodgers and struggle to hit and score. This weekend, at least Will Smith was there to save the day.
The Week in Review
Headline for the Week: Diamondbacks Down Disinterested Dodgers
Results: The Dodgers were outscored 9-1 in the first two games before blowing a 4-1 lead in the 8th in game three. Will Smith’s walk off homer gave the Dodgers a bit of good vibes heading into the week.
Pitching Analysis: Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow did okay. They each game up three runs, combining to strike out 14 Diamondbacks. Glasnow pitched seven innings for a quality start, including six scoreless to start the game, but 7th inning got away from him from the get go. The bullpen was strong as a unit until the end of game 2, when Kirby Yates gave up a three run home run to Ildemaro Vargas. It was the light hitting second basemen’s second HR of the season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched like the ace he is, surrendering only 4 hits and one run in seven innings. He struck out 10 in a dominating performance that will be remembered more for Tanner Scott blowing his 8th save, giving a three run home run in the 8th to Corbin Carroll. Blake Treinen pitched an 8 pitch ninth (seven of the 8 pitches were strikes as he struck out one DBack) to earn the win.
Hitting Analysis: The Dodgers offense was anemic the first two games, scoring 1 run and mustering one hit with runners in scoring position (1 for 9 in total). No Dodger had more than one hit in either game, although Mookie Betters, responsible for the lone Dodger RBI, had a hit in each game, as did Andy Pages. Betts added two runs in game 3 and Pages added two ribbies as well. The Dodgers finished Sunday 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Game three was also when the Dodgers finally jumped on a pitcher with an ERA over 5, scoring four runs in 4 four-plus innings in game three. They were then shut down by Brandyn Garcia, a rookie with four games experience and a 10.80 ERA heading into today’s game. Max Muncy is due back next weekend, and he is sorely missed.
Dodger Record Since We Said Not to Worry: 20-17
Next Series’ Preview
Matchups: The Dodgers travel to Pittsburgh for a three games series against the surging Pirates.
What to Look for/Analysis: The Pirates remain in the cellar of the NL Central, but they are 9-4 winning two of three against the Red Sox. Luckily for the Dodgers they will miss Paul Skenes’ turn in the rotation. Skenes held them scoreless back in April, although the Dodgers scored 17 runs the other two games against the Pirates. The Dodgers will face Carmen Mlodzinski and Braxton Ashcraft, two starters who have been strong all season and borderline stellar recently.
***
Athletics Notes:
By Tim Byrnes
Since the all-star break, the A’s have been among the best teams in baseball!
The team is an amazing ten games over .500 (22-12) against all of Major League Baseball, since the break…
…except against the Texas Rangers.
For the second time in as many months, the Rangers broomed the Athletics, and swept a three game series. Booney on the “Locked on A’s Podcast” said it best, “A’s pitching, bad! A’s hitting, worse!”
Booney graciously invited this writer on the podcast over the weekend and we spent about 30 minutes talking A’s. I highly recommend tuning in for daily A’s content.
The Rangers jumped on the A’s early in each game and didn’t give the home team any room to catch up.
As in the series in Arlington, pitchers Jack Leiter and two-time Cy Young winner Jacob DeGrom handled the A’s bats in the first two games.
The Athletics managed six meaningless runs in the series final two innings sunday, after falling behind 8-0, and lost 9-6.
Rookie superbat Nick Kurtz was lost to injury in the series and the already thin starting pitching finally imploded, and took the relievers with them.
It was a great run for the team, sandwiched between two Rangers sweeps, with the A’s sweeping four games from the Astros, in Houston, three in Minnesota against the Twins, and three games at home against the Detroit Tigers.
Athletics Batting:
As previously stated the A’s bats were sporadic at best, and most of the positive results had no bearing on ability to win games.
There were some bright spots though, beginning with outfielder Lawrence Butler.
Butler has underwhelmed this season, with a higher strikeout rate than usual but his bat did wake up this series. Butler hit his 18th home run, and his 29th double while batting a team-leading .417 against Texas.
If you thought rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson would slow down, coming off nearly a month of injury and rehab, you would be mistaken.
Wilson has hit safely in 7-of-8 games since coming off the IL list, including all three games of this series. He hit 5-for-13 versus Texas and has hit .333 since returning from injury.
Designated hitter Brent Rooker hit his 33rd+34th double, and his 27th home run, to supply what little power the A’s had in the series.
Second baseman Zack Gelof continues to be late on his swing, and is currently striking out in over 55% of his at-bats.
Gelof is a better baseball player than that, and he needs time to work on his swing.
Batting under the Mendoza line (.128), his season can’t end fast enough!
Athletics Pitching:
All three A’s starters gave up early runs and took the loss.
Jeffrey Springs went 5 2/3 innings in the opener, allowing three runs but the A’s bats offered little support managing just five hits in the 5-2 loss.
Rookie RHP Mason Barnett (0-1) made his MLB debut, and had a nice 1-2-3 first inning but was basically throwing batting practice, breaking pitches that Rangers players teed off on and he lasted just four innings.
JT Ginn (2-6) is the new JP Sears for the A’s. He is a workhorse that shows promise, and struggle.
His seven strikeout in the finale shows he has good stuff, but he gives up the home run ball, two this start, and he took the loss.
The relievers as a unit finally came back to earth.
After leading all of MLB with a sub-3.00 era since the all-star break, the relievers gave up eight earned runs in just 11 1/3 innings.
Upcoming Series:
It doesn’t get any easier for the team, as after being swept, the Athletics (63-75) hopped a flight to St. Louis where they begin a series against the Cardinals (68-70) monday morning.
Rookie surprise RHP Luis Morales (2-0, 1.19) takes the mound against former A’s fan favorite RHP Sonny Gray (12-7, 4.19).
This is the first meeting of the two teams this season and both teams are 5-5 in the last 10 games.
Game Time:
Sept 1, 2025 11:15AM
Busch Stadium
St. Louis, Mo.
Loading ...
Leave a Reply