In what could easily have been a sweep, the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the final two games of the weekend series to the Detroit Tigers and limped into the 2024 MLB All-Star break despite still having the best record in the National League West.
In Saturday’s middle game, the Dodgers led by as many as five runs before the bullpen self-imploded. Ricky Vanasco, Evan Phillips and Yohan Ramirez surrendered a total of seven runs over the final two innings, handing Detroit the 11-9 victory.
On Sunday, the Dodgers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and maintained control of the game until the ninth inning when Ramirez once again faltered, surrendering two runs and allowing the Tigers to walk off on a sacrifice bunt attempt, spearheaded by his own throwing error.
One of the lone bright spots of Sunday’s finale was the Los Angeles debut of 29-year-old swing man Brent Honeywell. The righty went three full innings in an opening role, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out two batters. The Dodgers added Honeywell to the roster after claiming him off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Honeywell is out of options, so it’s probably safe to say that he controls his own destiny as far as a roster spot goes. Ramirez and Anthony Banda also don’t have any options remaining on their respective contracts.
The Los Angeles offense has been hit or miss for the most part all season. Despite being near the top of the team leaders in the National League, the Dodgers still struggle with runners in scoring position and are among one of the league’s most inconsistent groups. Even with Mookie Betts and Max Muncy on the injured list, it’s not uncommon to see the Dodgers throttle opponents with double-digit wins, only to dry up with zero offensive output on consecutive days.
With the July 30 MLB trade deadline approaching quickly, it’s tough to say which areas of the roster front-office boss Andrew Friedman will address, if he addresses any at all. Betts will surely come back at some point to boost the offense, but Muncy still has no timetable for a potential return.
Righty reliever Joe Kelly could be close to returning shortly after the All-Star break, but Friedman and his crew may need additional firepower being that half of the current relief crew is made of names like Ramirez, Banda, Michael Petersen and Ryan Yarbrough.
Moreover, while the rotation has been stellar for the most part during for the first half, it has been horrific lately. According to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA, starters over the last 14 games — including Landon Knack’s outing on Thursday — are averaging just 4.4 innings per start with an 8.46 ERA.
Righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Honeywell on Sunday, resumed playing catch this week at Dodger Stadium. The soonest he can return is August 15.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Roberts is a bonehead.
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Well he is paid well to be one.
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LIMP???? They crawled on their belly’s like a snake. That ended with a THUD! But glad the break is here, They need to recharge. Deadline is going to be as Arte Johnson once said, Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry Intersting.
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Google sports trade suggestion, Cartaya-Hurt for Tanner Scott. I have to believe that pitching will be their #1 target at the deadline. I think they might target a corner outfield bat, and maybe a middle infielder. I would like to see an Arozarena-Elfin deal. I would love Parades, but where would you play Max when he returns? Maybe second base. He is pretty decent over there, but he also lacks the range Lux has, and with an abductor strain like he has, the quick jumps would be a little hard for him. It most likely will be sometime in August before they get Mookie, Yamamoto and Muncy back. Glasnow and Heyward should be activated before the resumption of the season on Friday. Outman most likely will be sent back to OKC and could become trade bait. I am now of the mind that they are going to use Vargas in a trade. They obviously do not think he is the left field solution. Gavin Lux might be on the move too. They cannot go all season with his mediocre hitting.
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I am ready to move on from Lux.
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At this point, I think Lux might be feeling the same way.
If ever there was a “change of scenery” candidate…………………………………
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According to the Trade Simulator (which is no more believable than Google), Cartaya-Hurt for Scott would be a pretty major overpay.
Another reliever who might be available is Kirby Yates of the Rangers. It all depends on how they play over the next couple of weeks, but he’s having a great year. Barely over 1.00 ERA and something like 46 strike outs in 34 innings.
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I get that. I think Scott is a better option than Yates. But that is just me.
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I think AF would be more than willing to trade Cartaya in the right deal but I think he’d like to hang on to Hurt if he could. I think they have high hopes for him.
Yates might come at a lesser cost, although I’m not sure cost would be the major determining factor in what Andrew would do.
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Perhaps the Orioles would be willing to deal Craig Kimbrel for the right price. 😀
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Kimbrel is actually having a nice year but I bet the O’s wouldn’t mind having another strong reliever to add to the bullpen for the playoffs since it’s unlikely that Kimbrel can continue at this pace for the rest of the year.
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I could only imagine the fan reaction at Chavez Ravine if Kimbrel stepped onto the bump wearing Dodger Blue again.
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What does the STB stand for?
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Sorry, should have put up an explanation when I added that this morning.
I comment here plus at LADT and LADC. The gentleman who runs LADC is named Jeff Dominique (another Jeff D.) so I couldn’t use that name either at his site or LADC where he used to comment on a regular basis using the name Jeff D.
In order to avoid confusion with the readers here who might also read my comments on the other sites, I thought I should add the STB. It might even make more sense to just use STB (Singing the Blue) over here as well.
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Isn’t your son a former MLB catcher?
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Sorry, that’s the other Jeff D.
My son is Shohei Ohtani. 🙂
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I know who you are and never had you confused with anyone else. I was just stirring the pot. I actually chatted with the other Jeff about his son Andy several times.
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I wasn’t doing it for you, since I know you know who I am, it was more or less for some of the other readers who visit both or all three sites.
As a matter of fact, Bear responded to me the other day that he had sent me an email and after a while I realized he was probably referring to the other Jeff D.
So damn confusing.
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My son is Dennis Santana. Named after me.
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I feel left out not to have had a son who played in MLB.
Unique idea to name your son after your first name instead of your last. Too bad you didn’t teach him better command of his pitches………………………….but it’s never too late.
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We sent him to the Chad Billingsley School of Pitching over the winter hoping to sharpen his command. Took a pretty big hit in the pocketbook
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Cousin of Trevor Oaks.
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