MidValleySports.Com

By Those Deferred BenchWarmers

Branch Rickey said that baseball is a game of inches, and the saying rang ever true on Wednesday. The Dodgers were probably a combined 6 inches from losing: Betts had a check swing barely called a no swing, then two pitches later beat a ground ball out by half a step, and then Freddie Freeman’s walk-off single narrowly avoided Harrison Bader’s glove in left.

The Week in Review

Headline for the Week: Freeman Saves The Day and The Series

Results: The Dodgers bounced back on Monday with a 5-2 victory over Minnesota, and everything seemed to be trending in the right direction. This was followed by a disastrous 10-7 loss, and everything went back to being bleak until the bottom of the 9th in Game three, when Freddie Freeman walked off the Twins.

Pitching Analysis: It was an up and down series for the bullpen, but the Dodgers starters showed their mettle. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was hurt by an error, but Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, and Dustin May (who may be traded or regulated to the bullpen soon) combined to throw 14 innings of two run ball. Glasnow’s start was especially encouraging. He was the Dodgers Ace last year until his injury, and if he can be healthy and present in August, September, and October, it would be a big boost for the Dodgers come playoff time.

Hitting Analysis: Betts went 2 for 12 in the leadoff spot with 2 walks. He had some hard hit balls, however, and seems to be trending in the right direction. Often, slump busters are innocuous infield singles. Considering the importance of Betts’ single in the 9th, the gift of not striking out on the 0-2 check swing, and a return to Boston, all signs are pointing to Betts breaking out soon. Something similar can be said for Freddie Freeman, who went 4 for 11 and two walks this series, including the walk off single on Wednesday.

The other important stat we like to check is the Dodgers average with RISP. They were 6 for 18 in scoring 15 runs this series. And, of course, we must mention Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani. Smith went 3 for 9 this series, raising his league leading average to .323. The next closest hitters are Freddie Freeman and Kyle Stowers at .295. Shohei Ohtani tied a Dodger record by hitting a home run in his fifth consecutive game, although the three homers were his only hits of the series.

Dodger Record Since We Said Not to Worry: 2-1

Next Series’ Preview

Matchups: The Dodgers travel to Boston, to take on the AL East’s 3rd Place team. The Red Sox are currently in possession of the last wild card spot in the AL.

Analysis: The Red Sox were on fire to end the first half, as they won 10 in a row, and 13 of 15, heading into the All Star Break. They’ve cooled considerably in the second half, as they, like the Dodgers, have started 2-4.

What to Look For: Game 1 gives Ohtani a chance to break the Dodgers consecutive games with a home run record and gives Emmet Sheehan another start back from injury. Game 2 pits Clayton Kershaw against Garret Crochet on national TV, and the series ends with the Dodgers facing former teammate Walker Buehler for the first time. A lot of intrigue and a lot to look forward to (on top of all the hope that Betts, Freeman, and the rest of the hitters can continue their upward hitting trends).