Currently, the Los Angeles Dodgers stand at a 34-25, which is a decent record, but it is only good for third place in the surging National League West Division. The Dodgers three full games behind the division-leading San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers will continue a six-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who come in with one of the worst records in the league at 23-35. The Blue Crew looks to take this series after they dropped two out of three to the Atlanta Braves.
On the road, the Dodgers so far have a record of 15-15, as opposed to home where they are 19-10.
Right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin is expected to rejoin the team during this series, recently completing a rehab stint for shoulder issues. Gonsolin figures to slide into that fifth starting spot in the rotation since Dustin May went down with a season-ending injury.
In his final rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Gonsolin went 3 ⅔ innings, allowing one run while recording two strikeouts and two walks.
Even though the Dodgers are in third place in the division and in the second Wild Card spot, their postseason odds still stand at 98.1% per Baseball-Reference.
The Dodgers face last-place teams in back-to-back series with the Pirates series beginning today and then a home series against the Texas Rangers. Ideally, the Dodgers should go 6-0 in this trip or at least 5-1, as they are clearly the better team than these two.
However, with the Dodgers being the World Champions, they are prone to get every team’s best shot.
The Dodgers will start Walker Buehler in the opening game and Julio Urias in the final game, no starter has been announced for the middle game although it could be Gonsolin. If Gonsolin can’t go for any reason, it figures to be another bullpen game.
The Pirates best hitter this season by far has been Adam Frazier. The 29 year old infielder is batting .332, good enough for fourth in the Majors, and he figures to be at the All Star Game. Leading the team in home runs and RBI is outfielder Bryan Reynolds
Facing the Dodgers will be right hander JT Brubaker in the opener, left hander Tyler Anderson in Wednesday’s middle game, and righty Mitch Keller in the finale. Brubaker is 4-4 with a 3.74 ERA, Anderson is 3-5 with a 4.67 ERA, and Mitch Keller is 3-6 with a 6.65 ERA
So far this season it seems as the Dodgers play in hot and cold streaks, and we are all waiting for that second gear to hit. These next two series will be important to win as the Dodgers look to make up ground in the division.
The first pitch for Tuesday’s opener is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Pacific.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
You mention Bryan Reynolds, Jose. We have nothing in the way of outfielders who look like they’ll be ready in the next couple of years.
I would love to see AF go after Reynolds and make him our left fielder. He’s a 26 year old switch hitter with very even splits and he’s controllable for another 4 years after this year.
Yes, it would cost some good prospects, but I’d be willing to give up Ruiz and another couple of good prospects for him because we are really in need of a major league outfielder who can field and hit, and Reynolds is that guy.
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Yes. He’s another verdugo.
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Reynolds’ first arb year is ‘22. He’s their best player and an affordable 4 WAR for several more years. Though the Pirates catching prospects look thin, and they might be interested in Ruiz, I doubt they trade that guy unless you give them affordable 5 WAR in return. Just my opinion.
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I agree that he’s a very valuable asset so we’d have to give them a good group of prospects for them to even consider it. If they feel they’re still at least 3 years away from competing (and I think they are), they might decide that by the time that happens they won’t be able to afford Reynolds so if they could get, for example, three top flight prospects who are still 2-3 years away, it might make some sense for them.
It’s a call that I think Andrew should make, just to get the lay of the land. On the other hand he’s a pretty smart guy so may well have made that call already.
The only prospects I wouldn’t be willing to part with at this point are Bobby Miller, Cartaya, Busch, Vargas and possibly Pepiot. No clue what’s going on with Gray and his shoulder. If he’s going to be OK I wouldn’t want to trade him and if not, they wouldn’t want him.
So maybe Ruiz, Pages, Beeter and Raley. Actually according to baseballtradevalues.com, the trade would be about even without Beeter, but I think we would have to include a decent pitching prospect.
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I think your logic is sound. I also think Reynolds is a guy around whom the Pirates would want to build. As owner, I give you permission to make the call.
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