MidValleySports.Com

By Those Deferred BenchWarmers

All looked good on Friday, as the Dodgers began another series with a 5-2 victory, but the weekend soured as the Dodgers lost Saturday and Sunday.

The Week in Review
Headline for the Week: Dodgers Fall at Fenway

Results: The Dodgers started the weekend with a 5-2 victory, and while they had 2 run leads on Saturday and Sunday, they ended up losing both days, 4-2 and 4-3 respectively. This dropped the Dodgers 2nd half record t0 3-6.

Pitching Analysis: This time it was the Dodger bullpen that did well: 10 relievers combined to pitch 10 ⅓ innings, surrendering only seven hits and zero runs. The bullpen held down the Red Sox offense while keeping the Dodgers in the weekend games. The starters performed okay, considering it was three pitchers coming off major injuries, but we are slowly approaching the time period where results are what matters, and the recovery may be better served in the bullpen. Emmet Sheehan and Dustin May both struck out five in five innings of work, showing some potential to be late inning arms to aid the playoff run. With the heavy dose of injuries early, the Dodger bullpen has been taxed. Getting Glasnow, Snell, and Saski healthy and available for the postseason would give the Dodgers additional arms for the bullpen. 
  
Hitting Analysis: The story of the series was once again the Dodgers’ RISP. The Dodgers started the series 2 for 3, but ended it a woeful 1 for 18, including 0 for 3 in game 2 and 1 for 11 in game 3. They left 26 runners on base, essentially one for every inning. 

Dodger Record Since We Said Not to Worry: 3-3

Next Series’ Preview
Matchups: The Dodgers make a stop in Cincinnati to take on the Reds, who have won four straight and are a game back of the last wild card spot in the NL.

Analysis: While the Dodgers are 3-6 in the second half, the Reds are 6-3. Stretching back into the first half, they are 8-3 and have won 10 of their last 14 games. They’ve climbed back into the playoff picture, and are actually only 5 games back of the Dodgers. The Padres, who occupy the last wild card spot, are four games back of the Dodgers (and the Giants are 7). 

What to Look For: This is a pivotal series for both teams, as it will likely dictate a bit of what will happen for both teams at the trade deadline and has strong playoff seeding implications. The Dodgers have moved to a six man rotation, which means for the time being their best three pitchers currently: Glasnow, Ohtani, and Yamamoto will be grouped together for this series and the when the Dodgers return back home. The Red will send out rookie Chase Burns in game 1, so it will be important for the Dodgers to jump on him, and the Reds, immediately. Nick Martinez and Nick Lodolo are innings eaters.