NFL
By: George Lopez
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the all-star break with a 51-38 record, percentage points in front of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West. The first half of the season has been up and down for the Dodgers. Injuries and inconsistency on both the offense and pitching staff have plagued the Dodgers this season. The Dodgers did end the first half on a high note, winning 5 of their last 6 games, and will look to carry that momentum into the 2nd half of the season.
Throughout their storied history, the Dodgers have. been known to have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. This season, Dodger fans are seeing the pitching staff struggle. At the break, the Dodgers pitching ranks 23rd in MLB with a team E.R.A. of 4.50. Injuries have hit the starting rotation. Julio Urias, recently returned from the IL after being out for 5 weeks with a hamstring injury. The Dodgers announced last week that Dustin May will be lost for the rest of the season following surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his right elbow. Prior to the break, Clayton Kershaw was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers do expect Kershaw to be ready to go in the 2nd half of the season and do expect him to make his first scheduled start of the 2nd half. Walker Buehler has been out since undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. There is hope that Buehler will be available for the stretch run in September as Buehler has begun throwing. bullpen sessions in Arizona.
WIth the injuries to the starting pitching, the Dodgers have been able to get a good look at the young arms in the organization. In 8 starts since being called up, Bobby Miller has posted a 5-1 record with 4.50 E.R.A. Though he has been hit hard recently, the Dodgers believed they may have corrected a flaw in his pitching motion where he was showing the baseball earlier than they would have liked. Emmet Sheehan has posted a 2-0 record in 4 starts with a 4.35 E.R.A. Michael Grove has struggled as a starting pitcher since being called up, posting a 6.89 E.R.A. Grove has shown promise coming in as the 2nd pitcher when the Dodgers go to a bullpen game. In his last appearance, Grove went a career-high 6 innings and allowed 4 runs. Grove may prove more valuable in the bullpen for the Dodgers. Prior to becoming an elite closer, Eric Gagne was a starting pitcher for the Dodgers who would struggle after a couple of innings. The Dodgers converted Gagne to the bullpen and the rest is history. Dodger fans could see the same move with Grove.
An area of great concern in the 1st half has been the performance of the Dodgers bullpen. Collectively, the bullpen had an E.R.A hovering around 5.00. Inconsistency has been a problem for the relief pitchers. Alex Vesia, who Manager Dave Roberts leans on in stressful situations, had a difficult time finding his groove. At the break, Vesia’s E.R.A. is 6.75. Vesia has been sent down to the minors a couple of times to work on his mechanics. During the last 2 weeks of the 1st half, Vesia has given the type of performance that Dodger fans have come accustomed to seeing. One of the issues with the Dodgers bullpen is the lack of a dedicated closer. Roberts has used multiple pitchers to close out games in save situations. This is putting other relief pitchers in different situations than they have been accustomed to in the bullpen. In the 2nd half of the season, the Dodgers will need to stay with a dedicated pitcher to close out games. Roberts has options with Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson, and possibly Caleb Ferguson.
Offensively, the Dodgers enter the break with a team-battling average of .244. The Dodgers are 2nd in MLB with 149 home runs. Leading the way for the Dodgers offense, Freddie Freeman ended the 1st half batting .320 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI’s. Mookie Betts has increased his power production, belting 26 home runs with 62 RBI’s to go along with his .276 average. J.D. Martinez had a productive 1st half with 22 home runs and 62 RBI’s. Freeman, Betts, and Martinez were voters as starters in the All-Star game. Will Smith, who ended the 1st half hitting .279 with 13 home runs and 46 RBI’s will join his Dodger teammates as he will play in his 1st All-Star game.
Rookies Miguel Vargas and James Outman cracked the starting lineup for the Dodgers this season. Vargas has been mired in a slump for the better part of the 1st half. Vargas has played sound defense at 2nd base, but his hitting has struggled. At the break, Vargas’ average has dropped to .195. Manager Dave Roberts announced that Vargas is being sent down to the minors to work on his hitting. After struggling in the middle part of the 1st half, Outman has begun to find his swing ending the first half hitting .236 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI’s. Outman’s defense in the outfield has been very good, prompting Dodgers announcers to make comparisons to Cody Belinger’s defense. A pleasant surprise has been the production of Jason Heyward. At the break, Hayward is hitting .254 with 8 home runs and 22 RBI’s in a platoon role. Heyward has given the Dodgers a much-needed spark off the bench.
Injuries have been of great concern for the Dodgers. In the first half had 992 missed games with players who have been or are currently on the injured list. With so many injuries, Andrew Friedman is expected to be active at the trading deadline. The Dodgers could use some bullpen help as well as starting pitching. The Dodgers do have a plethora of prospects that they can use in securing a trade for a key player to add to the roster.
Going into the 2nd half, the Dodgers will look to find more consistency both offensively as well as with their pitching. The Dodgers will be looking for key players to come off the injured list and be a productive member of the roster. Look for the Dodgers to be active at the trading deadline to help improve their roster as they continue their quest to make a playoff push and add another championship to their storied history.
