Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell<\/b>. The way I see it, the Dodgers needed to go 21-10 in their final 31 games to guarantee that they win the NL West (remember, they only have to tie the Padres), which means the Padres would have to go 22-9. Right now the Dodgers are 4-2, the Padres are 2-5.<\/p>\n
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Random thoughts<\/p>\n
\u2014The most frustrating thing about this year\u2019s team is they seem to defeat themselves much more frequently than last year\u2019s team. Baserunning mistakes. Fielding problems, with balls that seem to be catchable dropping. Going two or three games seemingly forgetting what makes them a great offense: working the count and tiring the pitcher. So, while I do believe in the importance of not taking any one loss too hard, the frustration can be understandable.<\/p>\n
\u2014Case in point, the Dodgers sweep Cincinnati, which is battling for a postseason spot, then almost get swept by Arizona, which is on the fringe of battling for a spot at best.<\/p>\n
\u2014The other thing to keep in mind: The Dodgers are defending World Series champions. For some teams, playing the Dodgers is their postseason. If they can play spoiler, they can hold their heads up just a little bit higher. Should the Dodgers respond? Sure. But the narrative that this is an underachieving franchise went away after last season\u2019s title. <\/p>\n
\u2014Those of you hoping that the Dodgers would move Mookie Betts<\/b> back to right field can stop rubbing your lucky rabbit\u2019s foot. It didn\u2019t work. \u201cMookie,\u201d manager Dave Roberts told reporters, \u201cwill not go to right field…. When you\u2019re talking about shortstop play, you\u2019re looking for consistency, and I\u2019ve just loved the consistency. He\u2019s made every play he\u2019s supposed to make, and then the last couple weeks, he\u2019s made spectacular plays. He\u2019s been a big part of preventing runs.\u201c<\/p>\n
\u2014By the way, since Aug. 8, when a certain newsletter writer said Betts should move down in the order, he has hit .321\/.398\/.444.<\/p>\n
\u2014The Dodgers play Pittsburgh next. The Pirates have the third-worst record in the NL, so another trap series for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n
\u2014I still miss the Cool-a-Coo. <\/p>\n
\u2014The Dodgers were cruising along Sunday behind one of Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/b>\u2018s best starts in the majors (seven innings, one run, four hits, no walks, 10 strikeouts) when Tanner Scott<\/b> came in and lost the entire three-run lead in the eighth inning.<\/p>\n
Scott was signed to a four-year, $72-million deal during the offseason after he went 9-6 with a 1.75 ERA and 22 saves for the Marlins and Padres last season. It was his second strong season in a row and the signing was heralded as another example of the Dodgers outspending their opponents and ruining the game of baseball. Andrew Friedman <\/b>had rarely shown a willingness to give a long, large deal to a reliever (and he probably will think twice before doing it again). Scott signed two days after the Dodgers landed Roki Sasaki<\/b> and before they signed reliever Kirby Yates<\/b>, sort of a triumvirate of sadness for the team this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s someone that we have watched and admired from afar over the years and have tried to acquire multiple times,\u201d general manager Brandon Gomes<\/a> said at Scott\u2019s introductory news conference<\/a>. \u201cTanner possesses all of the qualities we value as an organization when looking to bring on a free agent.\u201d<\/p>\n Roberts told Jack Harris<\/b> just before the season began<\/a>: \u201cThe fear in the batter\u2019s box against him is certainly real,\u201d he said of Scott, who pitched three scoreless innings in the NLDS and struck out Shohei Ohtani <\/b>all four times he faced him. \u201cI\u2019m happy he\u2019s on our side 1756822511,\u201d Roberts added, comparing the quiet, bearded pitcher to an \u201cassassin\u201d on the mound.<\/p>\n So far, less like an \u201cassassin\u201d and more like Maxwell Smart<\/b>. <\/p>\n This season, Scott is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA. Last season, Scott blew only two saves. This season? Eight, which is second in the majors. Last season, he came in with 19 runners on base…. and none of them scored. That\u2019s amazing! This season, two of nine runners he inherited have scored. Last season, he allowed 5.6 hits per nine innings. This season, 8.5.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s going to happen? Based on Dodgers history, nothing. The Dodgers don\u2019t give up on players. They keep trotting them out there, hoping it will turn around. Sometimes it doesn\u2019t work: Chris Taylor<\/b>. Sometimes it works: Max Muncy<\/b>. <\/p>\n So don\u2019t be surprised if nothing happens. If they keep sending him out there, hoping he turns things around. This is how the Dodgers operate. Let\u2019s not be surprised about it.<\/p>\n However, Roberts did say recently, \u201cI just think that we\u2019ve got to play the best players and that\u2019s just the way it should be, right?… \u201cObviously Shohei is going to be playing. Mookie is going to be playing. But the point being is, we\u2019ve got to ramp it up and we\u2019ve got to be better. If some other guys deserve more opportunities, then they\u2019re going to get them. That\u2019s just the way it should be.\u201d<\/p>\n By the way, Scott is one of the rare left-handed closers in history. There have been many great right-handed closers, but comparatively few left-handed. The best left-handed closers of all time were Billy Wagner<\/b>, John Franco<\/b>, Sparky Lyle<\/b> and Randy Myers<\/b>. Only seven of the top 50 all-time in saves were left-handed. That\u2019s 14%. Historically, around 25% of pitchers in MLB history each year are left-handed. <\/p>\n Walker Buehler<\/p>\n Some fans were unhappy when the Dodgers didn\u2019t make a real attempt to re-sign Walker Buehler <\/b>after his postseason heroics. And while it\u2019s true that Buehler does have that swagger that has been missing often this season with the team, it appears they made the right decision. The Boston Red Sox gave him a one-year, $21.05-million deal. Buehler went 7-7 with a 5.38 ERA and the Red Sox released him last week. After he cleared waivers, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and will join their rotation after making a start in the minors. Which leads me to my new nightmare: Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers trail by one in the ninth inning. Bases loaded, one out. And who comes in to shut the Dodgers down and save the game?<\/p>\n By the way, if the Dodgers do tie the Padres for first in the NL West this season, you can thank Buehler for the Padres not getting that one extra win they needed. Buehler\u2019s best start this season came on Aug. 8 at San Diego when he pitched six shutout innings against the Padres. It was Buehler\u2019s last win this season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s never fun to see a storied Dodger fail, no matter where he goes. Hopefully Buehler can recapture his old magic at some point and have a long, good career. Just not against the Dodgers.<\/p>\n Notes<\/p>\n \u2014The Dodgers activated Hyeseong Kim<\/b> and Michael Kopech<\/b> from the IL on Monday, bringing their roster to the 28 allowed in September. <\/p>\n \u2014The Dodgers signed pitcher Andrew Heaney<\/b>, who had been released by Pittsburgh. Heaney, a left-hander, is 5-10 with a 5.39 ERA this season. He was signed in time to be postseason eligible if need be. He was sent to triple-A Oklahoma City. Heaney had one of the best seasons of his career in 2022 with the Dodgers, when he went 4-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 14 starts. It\u2019s hard to see exactly where he fits in on this team, but if injuries crop up, he could contribute.<\/p>\n \u2014Max Muncy\u2019s return was delayed after he came down with some sort of cold or flu. He should be back during the next homestand.<\/p>\n \u2014Since moving to the bullpen at Oklahoma City, Bobby Miller<\/b> has given up eight hits in 12.2 innings, walking seven and striking out 14 with an ERA of 3.68.<\/p>\n \u2014The Padres were dealt a tough injury Sunday when reliever Jason Adam<\/b> suffered a ruptured tendon in his left quadriceps and will be out for the season. Adam was their primary setup man and was 8-3 with a 1.81 ERA this season.<\/p>\n A different race<\/p>\n The race for the NL batting title is going to be interesting to follow. Here are the top seven after Monday\u2019s games:<\/p>\n Trea Turner, Philadelphia, .301 (.300 over last week) Dropping out of the top seven since we last checked: Geraldo Perdomo<\/b>. Joining the list: Turang.<\/p>\n The postseason<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the postseason race pans out after Monday\u2019s games:<\/p>\n NL<\/b> Wild-cards<\/b> 7. Cincinnati, 70-68 AL<\/b> Wild-cards<\/b> 7. Texas, 72-67 The Dodgers have three games remaining with Philadelphia, which could be crucial in determining the No. 2 seed. Right now, the Phillies lead the season series, 2-1. Whoever wins the season series has the tiebreaker advantage. If they tie, 3-3, in games, then the second tiebreaker is record within their own division. Right now, the Dodgers are 26-13 against the West and the Phillies are 23-19 against the East.<\/p>\n The top two teams in each league get a first-round bye. The other four teams in each league play in the best-of-three wild-card round, with No. 3 hosting all three games against No. 6, and No. 4 hosting all three against No. 5.<\/p>\n The division winners are guaranteed to get the top three seeds, even if a wild-card team has a better record.<\/p>\n In the best-of-five second round, No. 1 hosts the No. 4-5 winner and No. 2 hosts the No. 3-6 winner. That way the No. 1 seed is guaranteed not to play a divisional winner until the LCS.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Tuesday<\/b>: Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw<\/b>, 9-2, 3.06 ERA) at Pittsburgh (Carmen Mlodzinski<\/b>, 3-2, 1.97 ERA), 3:40 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020<\/p>\n Wednesday<\/b>: Dodgers (Shohei Ohtani<\/b>, 1-1, 4.18 ERA) at Pittsburgh (Braxton Ashcroft<\/b>, 3-7, 3.86 ERA), 3:40 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020<\/p>\n Thursday<\/b>: Dodgers (*Blake Snell<\/b>, 3-3, 2.41 ERA) at Pittsburgh (Paul Skenes<\/b>, 9-9, 2.05 ERA), 3:40 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020<\/p>\n *-left-handed<\/p>\n In case you missed it<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez: Everyone can stop wondering. Mookie Betts isn\u2019t moving back to right field<\/a><\/p>\n State legislators heed L.A. mayor and council, spurn McCourt on gondola legislation<\/a><\/p>\n Bookie linked to Shohei Ohtani\u2019s ex-interpreter sentenced to prison<\/a><\/p>\n And finally<\/p>\n Steve Yeager<\/b> hits a three-run homer during the 1977 World Series. Watch and listen here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Until next time…<\/p>\n Have a comment or something you\u2019d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com.<\/a> To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. 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Freddie Freeman, .300 (.235)
Sal Frelick, Milwaukee, .298 (.269)
Will Smith, .293 (.167)
Ketel Marte, Arizona, .290 (.316)
Brice Turang, Milwaukee, .2888 (.300)
Nico Hoerner, Chicago, .2886 (.263)<\/p>\n
1. Milwaukee, 85-54
2. Philadelphia, 80-58
3. Dodgers, 78-59<\/p>\n
4. Chicago, 79-59
5. San Diego, 76-62
6. New York, 74-64<\/p>\n
8. San Francisco, 69-69<\/p>\n
1. Detroit, 80-59
2. Toronto, 79-59
3. Houston, 76-62<\/p>\n
4. New York, 76-61
5. Boston, 77-62
6. Seattle, 73-65<\/p>\n
8. Kansas City, 70-67
9. Cleveland, 68-68<\/p>\n