NFL
By: George Lopez
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024 season with high expectations after the team signed Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well as trading for Tyler Glasnow in the off-season. Though the Dodgers entered the all-star break in first place in the NL West, the first half of the season has been a mix of uneven play in all facets of the game. The Dodgers limped into the break losers of 8 of their last 11 games and look to use the break as an opportunity to regroup heading into the second half of the season.
Starting pitching has always been a focal point for the Dodgers. This season’s starting rotation has been hit with both injuries and inconsistency. Listed below are the starting pitchers the Dodgers have and their current status.
Tyler Glasnow, expected to return after the all-star break.
Dustin May, out for 2024 season after surgery for torn esophagus.
Tony Gosolin, out for 2024 season
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, on 60 day IL, earliest return is mid August.,
Emmet Sheehan, out for season with elbow surgery
Walker Buehler, returned from IL but placed back on IL with injured hip
Clayton Kershaw, on IL due to shoulder surgery. Expected back in August.
Bobby Miller was sent back to the minors due to inconsistent pitching after their return from IL.
After his next rehab start, Clayton Kershaw will be evaluated to determine if he will rejoin the starting rotation. It would not be surprising if the Dodgers have Kershaw throw an additional rehab assignment to increase his pitch total before he rejoins the rotation. Getting Kershaw back in August will allow the Dodgers to build him up at a pace that will have Kershaw at his peak in October when the playoffs begin. After returning to the rotation following his 2nd Tommy John surgery, Walker Buehler was placed back on the IL with inflammation of his hip. Though he has begun throwing again, there is no time table as to when Buehler will return to the rotation. A bright spot in the rotation has been the pitching of rookie Gavin Stone as he enters the break with a 9-3 record and a 3.26 ERA. With the amount of injuries that Dodgers have with their starting rotation, look for President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman to be very active at the trade deadline in an attempt to acquire a starting pitcher for the playoff push.
The Dodgers bullpen has also been beset by injuries. Brusdar Graterolhas been out since spring training with a shoulder injury. Manager Dave Roberts has stated however that Graterol could be activated off the IL by the end of July. Joe Kelly, on the IL with a shoulder injury has made rehab appearances prior to the all-star break and is expected to be activated after the break. Michael Grove was placed in the IL in June with right intercostal strain. At the time of the injury, it was reported that Grove isn’t expected to miss more than a few weeks.
Mookie Betts, out since June 16th with a fractured left hand has begun fielding softly hit ground balls. Betts isn’t expected to return to the Dodgers until mid August at the earliest. Starting 3rd baseman, Max Muncy has no timetable for his return as he deals with a pulled oblique. After a setback in his recovery, Muncy has not resumed swinging a bat. Just before the break, OF Jason Hayward was placed on the IL with a knee injury. Manager Dave Roberts has announced that Hayward will not need a rehab assignment and is on pace to be activated right after the break.
Outside of injuries, the Dodgers have been inconsistent on the field in the first half of the season. In 2023, the Dodgers led MLB with 2 out runs scored. This season the team is ranked in the middle of the pact. Kiki Hernandez, James Outman and Chris Taylor have struggled this season with all 3 currently hitting below .200, though Taylor has shown signs of breaking out of his season long slump. Teoscar Hernandez has been better than Dodger fans expected. At the break, Hernandez is batting 261 with 19 homeruns and 62 RBI’s. As odd as this sounds, Shohei Ohtani had a bigger first half of the season than fans envisioned when the Dodgers signed him. Ohtani enters the break hitting 316 with 29 homeruns and 69 RBI’s. When Betts returns from the IL, the Dodgers will once again have a very dangerous top 3 in the lineup of Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. With Betts out, Ohtani has been batting leadoff and has done a tremendous job. When Betts returns, manager Dave Roberts will have a decision to make as to who will be the leadoff hitter.
Though the Dodgers have struggled in the 1st half of the season with injuries and inconsistent play, the team finds themselves in first place. The 2nd half of the season will see the team get back key players both on the field as well as in their starting pitching and bullpen. Andrew Friedman will be active at the trading deadline in an attempt to add pieces to the roster that will help get the Dodgers over the hump and into the World Series.
