Los Angeles Dodgers Summer Check Up

Los Angeles Dodgers

31-31 (T-3rd in NL West)



Eye Popping Number

9

That is the number of players currently on the disabled list for the Dodgers. Three of those players are on the 60 day DL. Their best pitcher (Clayton Kershaw), and best hitter (Corey Seager), are both currently injured, which could explain why the team just recently got to a .500 winning percentage. The team was supposed to run away with the division, but they got off to a terribly slow start, and just started to get hot. Because of the injuries, players like Ross Stripling, Max Muncy, Walker Buehler, and Joc Peterson have gotten extended looks and performed well.

Biggest Surprise

There have been a ton of surprises this year for the Dodgers. Their cold start was definitely one, as has been their hot streak with their injuries. Any of the players listed above could be considered the team’s biggest surprise, but I’m going to go with Ross Stripling. Stripling, a former first round pick, is having a truly remarkable season so far. His first two seasons, he pitched average to slightly above average, but there was nothing to suggest that he would become an ace in wake of Kershaw’s absence. His ERA+ of 250 ranks 3rd in the Majors among starting pitchers (if he kept that up for a whole season it would rank 9th all time), and his 25.6% strikeout to walk percentage ranks 14th in the Majors in a list dominated by relief pitchers. You can check out this article by Fangraphs that goes into more detail on Stripling’s surprise season.

Player to Watch

A player that I left off the surprises list, is Matt Kemp, only because he is a former MVP runner up. He has had a rough go of it once he turned 30 though, but this season he has found the fountain of youth. His .349 batting average and .589 slugging percentages are both on pace to be career highs. His 164 Weighted Runs Created Plus ranks second in the NL and would be the second best of his career behind his near MVP season. With Corey Seager missing the rest of the season with Tommy John surgery, and Justin Turner missing most of the season up to this point, Kemp has carried the offense. The Dodgers will need him to continue to do so in order for them not to fall back into another funk.

What to Watch for at the Deadline


After trading for Yu Darvish and multiple bullpen pieces last year at the deadline, the farm system isn’t as highly touted as it once was, but there are still many pieces that could be used in order to bring a piece back to try and go on another World Series run like last season. Because of injuries, they could use a middle infielder and starting pitching. It also wouldn’t hurt to try and add another bullpen arm. Players for them to target could include Starlin Castro (Miami) or Whit Merrifield (Kansas City) to play second base, as well as JA Happ (Toronto), Tyson Ross (San Diego) or Blake Treinen (Oakland) to add to their stable of arms. Their best bet would be to get at least of one of the Baltimore Orioles’ available relief pitchers, whether it’s Brad Brach, Mychal Givens, Darren O’Day, Richard Bleier, or even Zach Britton once he’s healthy.

*All stats as of 6/7 via fangraphs.com and baseball-reference.com

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