In the past few weeks, Los Angeles Dodgers have seen their standing in the NL West to go from first place to third. The bullpen was scuffing, if not full on imploding, almost every night. They suffered a humiliating 15–0 loss to the San Francisco Giants at home, ultimately getting swept by their rivals.
The team has been plagued by injuries all season long, and overall, the team seems to be lacking any oomph.
But the last two games could point to the tide turning for the team. They beat the cross-town Angels 2-0 and 2-0 in consecutive games, one of which featured a brilliant performance from that beleaguered bullpen.
Eight different pitchers came in Wednesday night to face the Angels lineup, allowing only two hits, both to Luis Regnifo.
Fabian Ardaya has a great article Thursday in The Athletic highlighting what the bullpen did to try to right the ship. They have held multiple group meetings where everyone voiced their concerns and issues, and for now, it seems to be working.
“I think it just elevates us all to go out there and know that we can do this on a consistent basis,” (Yency) Almonte said. “These two games show us, hey, if we can go out there and attack guys, we can have these nights more consistently. … If you have this uniform on, you’re a good guy. You have elite stuff. Go out there and just prove it”, Almonte told The Athletic.
The Dodgers had an off day Monday and Thursday of this week, and are also off Monday of next week. The team is hosting their Blue Diamond Gala tonight, and will be hosting the Houston Astros this weekend. They then head to Colorado and Kansas City, and home to face the Pirates and the Angels again. Only two weeks of games remain before the All-Star break.
Los Angeles currently sits 3.5 games out of first behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants, who seemingly now can’t lose.
Max Muncy and Chris Taylor should be returning to the lineup very soon. Julio Urías goes out on a rehab start on Sunday. The schedule remaining before the break isn’t too overwhelming (aside from the pitching staff having to pitch in Coors Field), and hopefully the team can use the momentum from the last two games to put them in a good position from which to start the second half of the season.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Winning Baseball primarily pivots on effective pitching. The Dodgers have lost due to the staff having multiple injuries and disappointments. I have wondered why the Dodgers don’t use some of their young arms in the bullpen as what they did with Urias, May, and Gonsolin.
If Urias can come back as well as May the rotation begins to look better. A Rotation of Urias, Kershaw Gonsolin May, and Miller should get them into the playoff.
We all are reading speculation about Ohtani and the Dodgers. I wonder if they sign him they let Urias go if the offers for him are too high. How Miller, Sheehan, and other rookies perform will probably affect their strategy significantly. Very glad Vargas, Outman, DeLuca, and Busch are getting at-bats. Rookies need a lot of at-bats to adapt usually, look at Lux.
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I’m not at all counting on May. I would say the odds are about 50-50 that he doesn’t pitch again this year.
Miller was very inconsistent in the minors and then brilliant for his first few starts with the big club. I’m not sure we can count on him to stay consistently good for the rest of the year.
If Pepiot comes back at all it won’t be until late in the season.
Sheehan was great his first time out, but he needs to put a number of good starts together to convince me he’s ready to stick this year.
All of this coupled with the fact that Kershaw has been unusually healthy this year, Urias even when healthy hasn’t quite been Urias, and Gonsolin always has trouble staying off the IL, convinces me that AF will bring aboard at least one starter at the deadline. Whether that will be a top-of-the-line guy like Stroman or some back of the rotation guy we’ve barely heard of, I have no idea. But I’m convinced he’ll add at least one starter if not two.
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I personally believe they should sign Urias no matter the cost or the signing of Ohtani. As the Dodgers have a HUGE Latino fan base and what is better than a young man from Mexico that is a great pitcher? I don’t know if it’s an either-or. Consideration of next year’s rotation is the reason I doubt they will trade for a big-name pitcher unless they can rent him for a bunch of lower-tier prospects.
How dumb are the Angels not to trade Ohtani and at least get something? We all had great hopes for the Angels with Moreno but his ownership has been riddled with horrible decisions. Their farm system is still crap. They could trade Ohtani, get rid of that horrible Rendon contract, and have several solid prospects. Stupid Stupid and that is why they will always be a second-tier team.
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Pretty much agree Jeff ??? Miller is still a big question mark don’t care what the experts say. Think we’ve pretty much exposed all our prospects this year, and there might not be much value there now. Something Andrew has never done before. Hard to sell these guys after 3/4 games and Era of 7/8. Sheehan is a little younger. Position player’s are all in the same boat. Too bad about pages. Still like Vargas though. Cartaya has worked his way down to back up catcher and dh. Does that mean he’s not a good catcher, can’t hit, and isn’t athletic enough to try another position?
And Andre Jackson will never be a major league pitcher, but the 40 man in ludes a whole bunch worse than him I believe.
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Glad to see Grove in there as he has good swing and miss stuff. He, Pepiot and other young arms could be the answer to the bullpen. I see the experts are saying Dodgers in on old relief arms Why when you have young bloods that can compete. Watching the Tulsa kids has been a revelation. As Sheehan said he had the least velo of any of the starters at Tulsa. Although with Sheehan’s arm slot and pitch movement I believe he is the real deal along with Miller.
Roberts mentioned the 3 game win streak was pitching and defense. I wonder if he realizes that Muncy is NOT playing the infield as he is less than adequate?
So 24 team has an infield of Freeman, Vargas, Lux, Busch and Smith. A young group with plenty of possibilities. Vargas will hit but he was used to getting ahead on counts and walking now he has to learn to hit strikes consistently.
Will Urias be back? How about Kershaw? I think no on Kershaw.
IF Urias returns effective the rotation gets really good and the Dodgers are in the playoffs. The young arms might carry us despite Roberts. LOL
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Lots to comment on Tmax, so I’ll have at it:
1) Grove – I think I read where he has some pretty bad splits against lefty hitters so that could be a problem if he goes to the bullpen. Of course, it’s also a problem as a starter, so let’s just hope he grows out of it.
2) Old relief arms – did they mention any names?
3) I know Busch isn’t supposed to be a very good fielder but he sure seems adequate to me. I think he goes back to OKC as soon as Max returns. I’d really like to see him get 100-150 at bats up here this year to really get acclimated to MLB pitching.
4) Saw a video yesterday of Lux on a treadmill. That’s encouraging although nobody is saying he’ll be back this year.
5) I think odds are better for a Kershaw return next year than for an Urias return, but I’m guessing just as you are.
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