The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting the month of May statistically tied for first place with the San Diego Padres, and only 0.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. If they would like to put a little breathing room between themselves and these two teams, this month would be a good time to do it.

Of the 28 games the Dodgers have for the rest of the month, 26 of them are against teams that are currently under .500. Los Angeles will face the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and Arizona Diamondbacks each twice, home and away.

As we have previously mentioned, the division can’t be won early in the year but it can be lost. You need to beat the teams that you should beat pad that win column as much as possible. The Dodgers only split six games with such teams last week, and should look to do better in the series ahead.

As it is now May 2nd, major league teams have had to trim their roster from 28 to 26. The extra two players were allowed for the first month of the season because of the truncated spring training. The Dodgers will still be carrying 13 pitchers, the maximum amount allowed on the 26-man roster. Zach McKinstry was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and RHP Carson Fulmer was designated for assignment.

Relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle had his first appearance for the Dodgers since he was signed to the team in December of 2020. Kahnle underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2020, and the signed him to a two year deal with the understanding that he would not pitch until this season, and the hope that he would regain his former dominance.

Sunday’s outing definitely seemed promising. Kahnle’s fastball touched 97mph, and he paired that with a change up that had an incredible amount of movement. He struck out the first two batters, while going 1-2-3 in his inning of work.

Afterwards, he told reporters, “I was very excited. It was a pretty special day. It’s been a while, but I treated it like any normal day I have in the past six or seven years I’ve been up here. It was fun to get back out there and finally be a part of the team. … To come out with the outing I had was great today, but I’m going to try to build on this and keep it going in the future.”

Kahnle could fit nicely into the bullpen, especially now with Blake Treinen on the injured list. On Friday, manager Dave Roberts talked about the recovery of both Treinen and Andrew Heaney.

“I don’t know the next time they’ll pick up a ball or be back with us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think early on we were hopeful that both guys would be more shorter than longer, but as it’s turned out, both are on the more longer side of things.” Roberts also stated that he didn’t know what the diagnosis was for Treinen, just that it was his shoulder that is bothering him.

As for Heaney, he also has not picked up a baseball since he went on the IL on April 20 with left shoulder discomfort. Both men have had MRIs since hitting the IL. Heaney’s showed some inflammation.

The Dodgers will enjoy two off days this week, with a two-day series with the Giants at home in between. Probable starters are Carlos Rodón and Julio Urías on Tuesday, and Alex Wood and TBD for the Dodgers.