The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to roll. They now have won 14 of their last 16 games, including the last seven straight. They also have opened a 6.5 game lead over the San Diego Padres, with whom they will have their next series.
The big guys, the ones who made all the talk in the offseason have been doing their jobs. Shohei Ohtani leads the team with a batting average at .355, 11 homers, nine stolen bases, and is tied with Mookie Betts with most runs on the team. Starter Tyler Glasnow is 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 63 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA and had his best outings of the season against the Miami Marlins, throwing 19 straight strikes to start the game and went eight innings for the first time in his MLB career, while allowing only two earned runs.
They are performing like their contracts say they should. But in addition to those players, some of the under the radar signings are also performing just as well.
Teoscar Hernandez has been having quite the year. He is second in home runs with 10 behind Ohtani, and has played in every game so far this season. He leads the team in RBI which makes sense given the Big Three (or Four) in front of him. His numbers are approaching his 2020-21 seasons in Toronto, and is another hard out in this lineup of heavy hitters.
But the biggest and best surprise of the new additions is James Paxton. The 35 year old was signed to be the fifth starter on a team with an impressive starting rotation already – and that didn’t include those who were on the injured list poised to come back at some point in the season. While his pitching hasn’t been the sharpest every outing, he is 4-0 in six games with a 3.06 ERA. You really can’t ask for more from the fifth starter.
Speaking of the starting rotation, Walker Buehler has rejoined the team and had his first MLB outing since June 10, 2022. It wasn’t the outing that he had hoped for, giving up three earned runs over four innings of work. He had his velocity back, but didn’t have a good feel for his off-speed until the later part of his start. Still, a huge relief to him to be back and to continue to build on his stamina and performance.
Blake Treinen also had his return after a prolonged absence. Over two innings pitched, he has two strikeouts and has not allowed a hit. His return is a huge bolster to a bullpen who has recently seen Joe Kelly, Ryan Braiser, and Evan Phillips go on the IL, and who is still waiting the return of Brusdar Graterol.
Clayton Kershaw threw his second bullpen session of his rehab on Tuesday, throwing 20 pitches, all fastballs. He is progressing well towards his hopeful return to the starting rotation sometime after the All-Star break.
Jason Heyward is still trending towards a return to the team by the end of this month. He has been running the bases at full speed, and is taking swings which is an important part of his progession.
After an off day on Thursday, the Dodgers now head out on a six game road trip against NL West foes San Diego Padres and San Francisco. If things continue as they have, they could open a double digit lead in the West by the end of May.
Think Blue Planning Committee 