Redemption is theme for these Dodgers

Going into tonight's Game Seven against Houston, the Dodgers' roster is filled with players trying to make the final step to redemption -- World Series champion.

These are players once judged to be not ready for prime time who are now on the sport's biggest stage.

Let's start with Joc Pederson. Pederson came into the majors with a splash, hitting for power and making the All-Stars a few seasons ago. Then his hitting went south. Pitcher's figured out his go-for-broke swing and his numbers plummeted. He lost his spot in the outfield and was banished to the minors. He wasn't on the NLDS roster but Roberts played a hunch and put him on the NLCS roster. Pederson is hitting .316 in the playoffs and has gone yard three times in the Series.

Chris Taylor is another reclamation project. Playing three non-descript seasons with Seattle, Taylor showed no power. He retooled his swing and hit 21 homers this season and has gone yard three times in the post-season. More importantly, Taylor has been the catalyst of this offense at the leadoff spot.

Perhaps the most renowned of the reclamation projects is third-sacker Justin Turner, a journeyman with the Mets who arrived in LA in 2014. Turner also retooled his swing and has evolved into one of the game's leading hitters. Turner hit .322 this season with 21 dingers and has been the heart and soul of the Dodger lineup.

Yasiel Puig, who came on like gangbusters as a rookie in 2013 and in his second season in 2014, started to struggle in 2015. Puig was benched and sent to the minors last year but has come back with a vengeance. Puig had 28 homers and 74 RBI and discovered a new plate discipline. Puig is hitting .302 in the post-season with three homers.

Kike Hernandez, a journeyman outfielder who hit .212 during the regular season, has come alive in the post-season. Hernandez is hitting .302 in the post-season, highlighted by his three home run game against the Cubs.

Charlie Culberson spent most of the season in the minors, toiling in Oklahoma City. Then Corey Seager hurt his back and was left off the NLCS roster. Culberson suddenly found himself on the big stage and has not shrunk from the challenge. After getting only 13 at-bats in the regular season, Culberson is a sizzling 8-for-16 in the post-season and another option for Dave Roberts.

Kenta Maeda spent the regular season in the Dodger rotation, posting a 13-6 record and a 4.22 ERA. Maeda was sent to the bullpen for the playoffs and has responded like a champion. Maeda is 2-0, has appeared in nine games and has an 0.84 ERA as the middle relief anchor for the Dodgers.

Brandon Morrow is the main setup man to get the Dodgers to closer Kenley Jansen. Morrow has spent 11 seasons in the majors and never won more than 11 games as a starter. Morrow has appeared in every playoff game for the Dodgers and in every outing, except for the bizarre Game Five, has shut down his opponents. Solidifying one of the game's best bullpens, Morrow has been the glue for LA relievers.

Logan Forsythe had a disappointing season at the plate, hitting only .224 and making his acquisition from Tampa Bay look like a bust. In the post-season, however, Forsythe has made the trade look like a winner. Forsythe is hitting .294 in the playoffs and has delivered clutch hitting while playing a strong second base.

World Series goes Hollywood

They call it the Fall Classic.

Last year, the Cubs and Indians squared off in a seven-game series that went down to the wire with a dramatic Game Seven win for the Cubs, ending a historic 108-year drought.

Now we get the sequel -- and boy can Hollywood write a sequel.

Their backs to the wall, the Dodgers beat Houston ace Justin Verlander 3-1 on Halloween last night, forcing a Game Seven tonight in Chavez Ravine and a chance to end a 29-year drought.

Rich Hill went 4.2 innings to match Verlander in a 1-1 game the Dodgers broke open in the sixth, when Chris Taylor hit a jammed inside fastball down the right field line to score Austin Barnes, who opened the inning with a single to left.

Corey Seager then scored Chase Utley with a warning track fly out to right and the Dodgers were up 2-1 on Verlander, who was undefeated since joining the Astros at the trading deadline.

Joc Pederson provided an insurance run in the seventh inning with an opposite field home run off reliever Luke Gregorson and the Dodgers held a 3-1 lead going into the eighth frame. Pederson has gone yard three times in the World Series.

After Brandon Morrow, Tony Watson and Kenta Maeda patched together 2.1 innings of shutout ball, Dave Roberts called on Kenley Jansen to provide a six-out save, which he did in stellar fashion, retiring all six batters he faced, three of them on strikeouts.

A key point in the game came in the fifth inning when Roberts called on Morrow to get Alex Bregman with two outs and runners on second and third. Morrow induced Bregman to ground out to Seager at short and the threat was turned away.

Coming on the heels of Sunday's 13-12 extra inning loss in Houston, in which the Dodger bullpen was thrashed, last night's pitching performance by LA relievers justified Manager Dave Roberts' sticking with what got his team to the brink of the first World Series title since 1988.

After crushing it against Arizona and Chicago in the NLDS and NLCS, Dodger bats have been relatively quiet in the World Series. Chris Taylor has been the most timely hitter, coming up clutch when the Dodgers have needed it most.

Chase Utley got the start last night, scoring after being hit by a pitch and making a key defensive play at second base. Cody Bellinger, hitting a paltry .167 in the Series, came up with a critical scoop at first to stave off a Houston rally.

The Dodgers will send Yu Darvish to the hill tonight against Lance McCullers. Expect the entire Dodger pitching staff to be available in relief to try and pin down a championship.

Dodgers knot Series at 2-2

The Dodgers' 2017 World Series was on the brink.

After dropping a 5-3 decision on Friday night in a Yu Darvish meltdown, the Dodgers were staring at a 3-1 deficit going into last night's Game Four in Houston.

Enter Alex Wood, Cody Bellinger, Logan Forsythe and Joc Pederson.

Wood pitched 5.2 innings of one-hit ball, Bellinger broke out of a slump with two key doubles, Forsythe delivered a key RBI single and Pederson provided insurance as the Dodgers broke open a pitcher's duel with five runs in the top of the ninth inning enroute to a 6-2 victory to tie the series at 2-2.

Houston managed just two hits off Wood and relievers Brandon Morrow, Tony Watson and Kenley Jansen, both of them home runs. George Springer and Alex Bregman connected off Wood and Jansen for solo shots but that was all the Astros could muster.

Bellinger, who had been mired in deep slump, concentrated on going to left field in batting practice and delivered two key doubles for the Dodgers. Forsythe delivered a clutch scoring single and Pederson capped the ninth inning with a three-run dinger to right off Houston closer Ken Giles.

Pederson was hitting in the DH slot after spending most of the playoffs on the bench. Giles missed high and Pederson clubbed the homer into the right field bleachers.

Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel square off tonight in Game Five, with the series going back to Los Angeles on Tuesday for Game Six.

Darvish will try to get Dodgers back on track

After Wednesday's dramatic 7-6 extra inning instant classic loss to Houston, the Dodgers will try to regroup tonight in a critical Game Three at Minute Maid Park where Yu Darvish and Lance McCullers will square off.

For Los Angeles, the big question will be how a bullpen that had been nearly invincible will react to losing a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning and giving up six runs in the final four frames as the Astros potent offense came out of a slumber and ignited a home run derby.

Kenley Jansen and Brandon Morrow couldn't hold the lead in the eighth and ninth and Josh Fields got tapped for two homers late in the game as Houston pulled away for the win. A bright note for the Dodgers was a power surge that included homers from Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig and Charlie Culberson, who is carving out a role in the post season.

Pederson had all but been written off before Game Two and Culberson, an emergency call up for Corey Seager, is proving to be more than ready for the big stage.

Game Three in Houston tonight will be pivotal, as the Dodgers want to avoid going down 2-1 with two more games to play at Minute Maid.

Darvish has been lights out in the post season and the Dodgers need a big game from him tonight. Games Three through Five will also give Dave Roberts an extra bat in the lineup with the DH in the American League park.

Look for Pederson, Andre Ethier, Yasmani Grandal and Kike Hernandez to show up in the DH spot.

Kershaw shines on World Series stage

Clayton Kershaw has had a Hall of Fame career as a pitcher for the Dodgers.

Last night he stepped onto the World Series stage for the first time and it was not too big for him.

Kershaw held the Houston Astros to one run on three hits and struck out 11 through seven innings, earning a 3-1 victory in Game One.

Chris Taylor hit the first pitch of the game off Dallas Keuchel into the left field bleachers and Justin Turner hit a winning two-run homer to left off Keuchel in the sixth to give Los Angeles the 1-0 lead in the series going into Game Two.

Kershaw now has a 1.29 ERA in the 2017 playoffs -- so much for him not being able to pitch when the lights are bright.

Keuchel was Houston's ace until the acquisition of Justin Verlander and he pitched well, other than the home run balls surrendered to Taylor and Turner.

After Kershaw went seven strong innings and threw only 82 pitches he was ready to pitch the eighth inning. Dave Roberts knew better, bringing in Brandon Morrow for the eighth and Kenley Jansen for the ninth, neither of them giving up a hit.

Houston should have the edge tonight with Verlander going against Rich Hill but the Dodgers should challenge. L.A. has now won eight of nine games in the playoffs and are looking more and more like the team that went 43-7 in June and July.

Dodgers 2017: the making of a World Series season

The Dodgers won a league-high 104 games this year and at one point Sports Illustrated called them the best baseball team ever.

Within days of the magazine's publication, the team that went 43-7 in mid-summer fell from the stratosphere with a thud, playing .500 ball in August and September, at one point losing 15 of 16.

They finished on a high note, winning eight of 10, but the Dodger faithful still wondered which team would show up in the playoffs - the red-hot boys of summer or the doldrum Dodgers of August and September.

Arizona found out quickly and convincingly in the NLDS, getting swept in three games and wondering what happened to the team they had beaten six times a row and held an 11-8 season record over?

"Next Man Up" would be a good calling cry for these Dodgers.

Adrian Gonzalez went down early and rookie Cody Bellinger showed up to hit 39 homers and play a stingy defense at first base. Andrew Toles went down with a season-ending injury and Chris Taylor emerged as a centerfielder and rally starting leadoff man. Yasmani Grandal struggled at the plate and Austin Barnes won the full time catching job by the time the playoffs came around.

The Dodgers lost Corey Seager for the NLCS and Charlie Culberson was summoned from Oklahoma City to fill in. Culberson and Taylor platooned at short and the Dodgers didn't miss a beat.

Then there's Enrique "Kike" Hernadez. A versatile utility player, Hernandez got the start in Game Five and crushed three homers to lead the Dodgers to an 11-1 route.

Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig and Taylor have wielded the hottest bats but the role players have stepped up, providing punch all through the lineup.

Then there's Kenta Maeda. A starter all season, Maeda was shipped to the bullpen for the playoffs and has emerged as a shut down middle reliever. Maeda, Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen, with spot help from Tony Cingrani, Tony Watson, Josh Fields and Brock Stewart didn't allow the Cubs to score in five games.

The starters, led by Clayton Kershaw, have pitched well, aided by the fact they didn't have to go longer than five or six frames with Maeda, Morrow and Jansen waiting in the wings. Manager Dave Roberts has had a short hook with his starters due to the fact his pen has been so dominant.

Yu Darvish, Rich Hill and Alex Wood have all pitched well, giving the Dodgers starting pitching depth they have not seen in years. No longer does Kershaw have to pitch on limited rest and carry the weight of the pitching staff on his shoulders.

These Dodgers are deep.

Houston will be a formidable opponent, no doubt, but these Dodgers should seriously contend
for the team's first title since 1988.

Dodgers win the pennant! Dodgers win the pennant! Dodgers win the pennant! Dodgers win the pennant!

Clayton Kershaw tossed six innings of three-hit ball and reserve outfielder Kike Hernandez smashed three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in seven RBI as the Dodgers posted an 11-1 victory over the Cubs to win the National League Championship Series and earn their first trip to the World Series since 1988.

The Dodgers dominated the defending champs in a 4-1 series victory that came on the heels of a three game sweep of Arizona in the division series.

Los Angeles now awaits the winner of the American League Championship Series, where the Yankees hold a 3-2 edge over the Astros going into Friday's Game Six.

Kershaw, who has struggled some in the post season, exorcised his demons with a strong outing that was backed up by relief pitchers Kenta Maeda, Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen.

The Dodger bullpen set a major league record for scoreless innings, going the entire playoff without giving up a run.

Chris Taylor and Justin Turner were named co-MVPs for the NLCS but Yasiel Puig and Jansen could have easily won the award as well.

Charlie Culberson, who spent most of the season in Triple-A, played a stellar shortstop and went 3 for 5 at the plate, including a triple. Cody Bellinger also went 3 for 5 as the Dodger bats racked up 16 hits against Chicago pitching.

Cubs starter Jose Quintana, who stifled the Dodgers in Game One, lasted only two innings as the Dodgers  scored in the first two innings before putting up a five spot in the third inning.

Chicago forces Game Five

Chicago second-sacker Javier Baez hit two good pitches for home runs off of Alex Wood, catcher Willson Contreras added a third and Jake Arrieta pitched a strong game as the Cubs downed the Dodgers 3-2 last night to live another day in the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers, up 3-1 in the series, got solo homers from Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner but fell a run short in their attempt to sweep the reigning World Series champions.

The Dodgers send Clayton Kershaw to the mound tonight in a matchup against Chicago's Jose Quintana, who pitched well in Game One.

Cubs closer Wade Davis held the Dodgers to one run in a six-out save last night but threw 48 pitches in the two innings to hold off Los Angeles. The Cubs say Davis, who had a seven-out save against Washington in the NLDS, will not be available tonight, putting more pressure on a fragile Chicago bullpen.

Wood, who hadn't pitched since September, gave up three homers but actually pitched pretty well. Contreras' blast was a no-doubter but credit Baez with taking two out-of-the-zone pitches off his shoe tops and driving them into the bleachers.

If the Dodgers cannot close out the Cubs tonight at Wrigley they will have two chances to get to the World Series in Games Six and Seven in Los Angeles, if necessary.

Dodgers edge ever closer to World Series

Yu Darvish pitched 6.1 innings of dominant ball, Chris Taylor homered and tripled for a pair of RBI and Andre Ethier made an appearance with a second inning jack to right field as the Dodgers downed the Cubs 6-1 last night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the NLCS and bring anguish to Wrigleyville.

The Dodgers are now a win away from returning to the World Series for the first time since 1988 and they are doing it with a flourish.

The Dodgers have won six games in a row in the playoffs with a three-game sweep of Arizona in the NLDS preceeding their strong start against the defending champions.

Los Angeles has two tries to clinch tonight and tomorrow night in Chicago or face a return to L.A. with the Cubs now facing elimination in every game.

The Dodgers will send southpaw Alex Wood (16-3, 2.72 ERA) to the hill against Chicago's Jake Arrieta (14-10, 3.53 ERA) for Game Four.

The Dodgers used the same script as in the previous wins against the Cubs: strong starting pitching, timely hitting and a bullpen that doesn't give up much.

Tony Watson and Brandon Morrow pitched in the seventh and eighth innings before Ross Stripling came in for the ninth. Stripling surrendered two hits, the first off L.A. relievers in the series, so Dave Roberts called on Kenley Jansen to shut down the Cubs, which he did, getting Addison Russell to pop out and Tommy LaStella and Ian Happ on strikes to end the game.

Darvish, now 2-0 in the playoffs, is proving his trading deadline acquisition was a smart move. Darvish is 5-0 in his last five starts with an impressive 0.88 ERA.

Dodgers stun Cubs for 2-0 series lead

Justin Turner's three-run walk off homer to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning tonight gave the Dodgers a 4-1 victory over the Cubs and a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

The series now moves to Chicago for games three through five under the 2-3-2 playoff format.

Rich Hill went five innings in a matchup with Chicago ace Jon Lester that turned into a pitcher's duel knotted at 1-1 in the ninth before Turner deposited a John Lackey breaking ball into the center field bleachers.

A weakness in year's past, the Dodger bullpen has emerged as one of the team's strengths as Brandon Morrow, Josh Fields, Tony Watson and Kenley Jansen combined for four innings of no-hit ball to secure the win.

Tonight's drama filled victory came on the heel's of Saturday's 5-2 win over the Cubs that featured four innings of no-hit ball from relievers Tony Cingrani, Kenta Maeda, Morrow, Tony Watson and Jansen after Kershaw went five innings.

Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor and Justin Turner were the offensive heroes on Saturday with Puig and Taylor going yard and tonight it was Turner knocking in the tying run in the fifth inning with an opposite field single to right before his ninth inning game-ender.

Shortstop Charlie Culberson, filling in for the injured Corey Seager, had a key sac fly in last night's game and had a pair of hits tonight, including a crucial double in the gap to left center which eventually turned into a Dodger run on Turner's single.

Culberson spent most of the season in Oklahoma City but is making the most of his sudden roster call for the playoffs.

Hill and Lester pitched to a standoff tonight but the Dodger bullpen that was better than Chicago's for the second straight night.

The Dodgers will send Yu Darvish to the hill on Tuesday to face Chicago's Kyle Hendricks in a must-win game for the Cubs.

Dodgers get a rematch with Cubs

After a wild 9-8 win over the Nationals in Washington late last night, the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are headed to Los Angeles for a rematch of the 2016 National League Championship Series starting tomorrow night in Chavez Ravine.

The Cubbies dispatched the Dodgers in six games a year ago but  the script has been flipped. This year the Dodgers hold the home field advantage and came into the playoffs with the best record in baseball.

As a Dodger fan, I was pulling for the Cubs to advance because I would rather see the Dodgers face off against Cubs pitchers John Lester (13-8), John Lackey (12-12), Jose Quintana (7-3) and Kyle Hendricks (7-5) than Washington's Max Scherzer (16-6), Steven Strasburg (15-4), Gio Gonzalez (15-9) and Tanner Roark (13-11).

The Nationals pitching kept the Cubs bats in check until last night's offensive explosion.

Not to suggest the Cubs will be an easy task. But I think last year's team was on a historical mission while this year's version is trying to make it two in a row -- not an easy thing to do.

The 2017 Dodgers are new and improved from the 2016 version. Here's why:

• Yu Darvish (4-3), Rich Hill (12-8) and Alex Wood (16-3) join Clayton Kershaw (18-4) in a much deeper starting pitching rotation. 
• Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen are tough to beat in the eighth and ninth innings and late season acquisitions Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani provide left-handed spot relief.
• Kenta Maeda's proving to be a beast in middle relief.
• Cody Bellinger is a threat, Justin Turner is solid, Corey Seager is a year older and wiser, Chris Taylor is a true lead-off hitter, Yasiel Puig is maturing, Austin Barnes can rake and catch, Logan Forsythe provides a strong right-handed bat, Curtis Granderson can be streaky hot and Dave Roberts has plenty of options off the bench with Chase Utley, Yasmani Grandal, Andre Ethier and Kiki Hernandez ready to contribute.

The window of opportunity is there for the Dodgers this year. The rotation is set, the home crowd is juiced and the Cubs come into LA after a tough series with the Nats while the Dodgers have been resting after sweeping Arizona.

It's time for Dodger baseball.

Boys of Summer are back

Going into the National League Division Series against Arizona, the Dodger faithful wondered which version of the team would show up in the playoffs -- the team that owned the summer and built a 20-game lead in the standings -- or the team that limped to the finish line playing .500 ball in August and September?

Thankfully, it was the former.

The Dodgers rolled through the D-Backs in a three-game sweep and now wait for the outcome of the Cubs-Nationals series for their Saturday opponent.

The NLDS win over Arizona showcased the depth Los Angeles enjoys. Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Yu Darvish started the three games but it was the bullpen that sparkled. Kenta Maeda bolstered the pen with his presence as a middle reliever and Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen are now solidified in the setup and closer roles. Alex Wood was slated to start Game Four but was not needed.

Other Dodgers have emerged. Yasiel Puig is starting to fulfill the potential we saw as a rookie. Austin Barnes is forcing Roberts to start him over Yasmani Grandal at catcher. Justin Turner is a pure hitter and his .377 career batting average in the playoffs in ridiculous.

Chris Taylor now owns the leadoff spot and plays a decent centerfield. Corey Seager is the real deal at short and at the plate and Logan Forsythe is showing why the Dodgers went out and got him to play second base and provide some pop from the right side.

Then there's Cody Bellinger. The rookie was quiet the first two games but broke out with a dinger and several stellar defensive plays in the 3-1 series clincher.

The Dodgers looked more like the Boys of Summer this weekend than the sluggish team of August and September.

That may not bode well for Chicago or Washington in the NLCS.

Will elusive Big Mo return to LA?

All sports fans will tell you that momentum is everything.

Sometimes momentum shifts on a single play, a single pitch, a single diving catch in the outfield.

We often hear professional athletes say that their sport is as psychological as it is physical.

The 2017 season has been a roller coaster for the Dodgers. A roller coaster that started slowly with a 14-13 record in April and improved to a 19-9 mark in May.

Over the summer, the Dodgers heated up, going on ridiculous winning streaks, posting a 21-7 record in June and 20-3 mark in July.

Things were rolling along until late August when the Dodgers hit the wall. They lost 11 in a row but more importantly the mojo that allowed them to own the league for months evaporated as they slowed to 17-10 in August and a dismal 13-17 record in September, salvaged by winning eight of the last 10 games to end the season.

Arizona, which knocked off Colorado 11-8 in a Wild Card slugfest, will be the first round opponent for Los Angeles.

On paper, the Dodgers have the edge. Arizona starters Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray were both used in the Wild Card game against the Rockies, meaning the Diamondbacks will start the series with their No. 3 starter, Tajuan Walker, who posted a 9-9 record and 3.49 ERA.

Walker will match up against Clayton Kershaw and his 18-4 record and 2.31 ERA.

But if other MLB playoff games are any indications, starting pitchers are fair game in 2017. Greinke, Boston's Chris Sale, New York's Luis Severino and Colorado's Jon Gray all made early exits in their 2017 playoff debuts with their teams having to go heavy into the bullpens.

The big question for Los Angeles and skipper Dave Roberts is can his squad recapture the magic of May, June and July and somehow erase the mediocrity of August and September when the club struggled to a  30-27 record?

Tonight we get a glimpse of what the answer will be.

Dodgers stop the bleeding in Frisco

If back in March, when the Dodgers were stretching out in Glendale, Arizona, someone had told me the Dodgers would have a 10-game lead in the NL West on Sept. 13 and have the best record in baseball I would have been giddy.

All that is true, yet, there is fear and doubt in Dodgerville.

LA snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 5-3 decision over the Giants last night but the Dodgers are still reeling over the last three weeks with only 13 games left on the schedule.

The question now is which Dodgers will show up in the playoffs? The team that owned baseball all summer or the team that has stumbled through the past three weeks?

The Dodgers were the hottest team in baseball up until the bottom fell out.

In a flash, the team that couldn't do wrong couldn't do anything right.

Starting pitching fell apart, hot bats went silent, and the middle of the bullpen suddenly started pitching like it was batting practice.

After building an obscene 20-game lead in the NL West, Milwaukee went into LA and took two of three from the Dodgers.

That started the slide. The Dodgers went to Arizona and were swept by the Diamondbacks, losing 7-6, 6-4 and 8-1.

Los Angeles opened September with a 1-0 win over the Padres as Clayton Kershaw returned from the DL. The Dodgers then lost three in a row to the Padres and three more to Arizona back in Chavez Ravine.

Colorado was next, taking four in a row at Dodger Stadium Sept. 7-10 and Los Angeles was mired in a 10-game losing streak.

The Dodgers went to San Francisco on Monday and the streak grew to 11 games in an 8-6 Giants win.

LA ended the streak last night with a 5-3 win over the Giants powered by Kershaw's pitching, a splasher into McCovey Cove by Chase Utley, a two-run double by Yasiel Puig and some sparkling defense by Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger.

But can they regain the magic?

Yu Darvish takes the hill tonight and it's getting more and more urgent for a pitcher other than Kershaw to have a good outing.

As it stands now, the Dodgers will face Wild Card Arizona in the first round of the playoffs -- a Diamondbacks team that has beaten the Dodgers the last six times they have played. Should LA get past Arizona, they would face either Washington or Chicago, both teams playing better baseball than Los Angeles.

In a sport where momentum is everything the Dodgers are still looking for it.

Dodgers hit a bump in the road

It was bound to happen.

The Dodgers would stop winning like Dave Roberts had made a deal with the Devil.

Last night Rich Hill got touched up for five runs in the first inning in his first start since carrying a perfect game into the ninth inning and losing on a 10th inning homer.

The Dodgers have now lost three in a row. Milwaukee took two of three in Los Angeles and the Dodgers dropped a 7-6 decision to Arizona last night.

You think there is any panic in Dodgertown?

Nope.

Clayton Kershaw pitched a rehab assignment over the weekend and looked good. He will start on Friday. Cody Bellinger, out for about a week with a sprained ankle, returns to the lineup tonight.

The Dodgers still lead Arizona by 19 games.

Nineteen games.

If Kershaw is healthy and Alex Wood's shoulder is ok, the Dodgers will make it to the World Series. Yu Darvish is back in the rotation and Kenta Maeda and Hyun Jin-Ryu are pitching lights out, trying to earn a spot in the playoff rotation.

Offensively, this team is gangbusters. A good pitcher may keep them quiet for a night or two, but they eventually bust out.

Doctors and trainers may decide championship

A funny thing happened on the way to the World Series.

The Dodgers, 21 games up in the NL West and on course for a date in the World Series, are having injury problems.

Clayton Kershaw is pitching a rehab assignment this weekend, Yu Darvish is scheduled to come off the DL this weekend, and Alex Wood is on now on the 10-day DL with shoulder problems.

The Dodgers have been one of the most frequent users of the new 10-day DL, which allows teams to park a player on a 10-day list rather than a more long-term shelf.

But that means that the Dodgers' top three pitchers are less than 100 percent as we wind down August and move into the final month of  the season.

Kershaw wanted to pitch this weekend but the Dodgers' brass is proceeding with ultimate caution.

That's a luxury you can afford when you have a 21-game lead in your division.

Darvish experienced some back tightness and Wood some inflammation in his shoulder. Wood told reporters this week that he could pitch if necessary but the team is being careful with its arms.

Speaking of arms, Rich Hill lost a 1-0 heartbreaker last night when he gave up a 10th inning home run against Pittsburgh that snapped a no-hitter, shutout and possible win all in one swing. Hill was masterful, taking a perfect game into the ninth inning before a Logan Forsythe error at third broke up the perfecto.

What's encouraging is that Hill was on his game and appears healthy going into the home stretch.

Manager Dave Roberts will have to use a call-up from Oklahoma City or pitch a bullpen game due to the number of pitchers with wounded wings.

In the end, the work of the team doctors and trainers may have a significant impact on L.A.'s post season fortunes.

Granderson has found a home

When the Dodgers acquired Curtis Granderson from the Mets last week there was some question as to where Granderson would fit in.

Sure, Joc Pederson was struggling but the conventional wisdom was that with Adrian Gonzalez back at first base, Cody Bellinger would move to left and Chris Taylor would shift to center, putting Pederson on the bench.

But Granderson's arrival pushed Pederson to Oklahoma City where he can restructure his swing with Granderson getting the start in left when Bellinger suffered a mild ankle sprain.

Granderson took Justin Verlander deep in a 6-1 loss on Sunday and last night his grand slam put the Dodgers up 5-3 in the seventh in a game Yasiel Puig finally won with a 12th inning home run for a 6-5 victory.

When Bellinger returns from his ankle sprain, Dave Roberts will have Bellinger, Granderson, Puig and Taylor to rotate in the outfield, giving him a strategic advantage in matchups. All four are swinging hot bats, which means Roberts' main challenge will be finding enough at-bats for all of them.

Taylor's versatility means he can play in the infield as well, giving Roberts more options.

Gonzalez has returned with a vengeance, stroking a double to right on Sunday and just missing a grand slam last night with a deep fly to center. L.A.'s batting order is starting to look like an All-Star team with Taylor, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Bellinger, Granderson, Puig, Gonzalez, Logan Forsythe, Chase Utley, Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes all capable of doing some damage.

It's called an embarrassment of riches.

Puig is latest walkoff hero

Yasiel Puig plays with passion. When he gets a big hit he kisses hitting coach Turner Ward on the cheek.

All of that passion was on display last night in Chavez Ravine when he crushed a 95 mph fastball from Chicago's Jake Petricka into the gap in left center, scoring Logan Forsythe and Austin Barnes to give the Dodgers a stunning 5-4 come-from-behind, walk-off victory.

The Dodgers went into the bottom of the ninth trailing 4-2 and it looked like they were going to have to settle for a split of their two-game set against the White Sox.

But this team has no quit in it.

After Justin Turner flied out to left center, Cody Bellinger poked a pinch-hit single to center on an excuse me safety swing on a 2-2 pitch. Belllinger is known for his sweeping power swing that has produced 34 homers in his rookie season but this was a protect the plate, reach for it swing for a single.

Chicago brought in Petricka to pitch to Logan Forsythe, who promptly crushed a line drive down the left field line, plating Bellinger for a 4-3 score with one out.

Barnes then cracked an 0-1 fastball to center but Forsythe had to stop at third because the ball was hit so hard.

That brought Puig to the plate. Puig worked Petricka to a full count, fouling off several low pitches that could have put him on first and loaded the bases. Petricka then tried to get a fastball past Puig but he stroked the game-winner into left center, scoring Forsythe and Barnes, who was moving from first on the pitch and scored easily, setting off yet another Dodgers' celebration.

Yu Darvish gave up three runs on three homers and eight hits in six innings of work for a no-decision with Brandon Morrow, Tony Watson and Ross Stripling working in relief.

The Dodgers are off today before starting a seven-game road trip to Detroit and Pittsburgh on Friday.

And this magical season continues.

Dodgers in uncharted waters

Here are a few of my favorite things:

• The Dodgers have not lost a series since early June.
• They are 18 games ahead of Arizona and Colorado, which figure to make the playoffs and face off in the Wild Card game. The winner gets the Dodgers in the NLDS.
• Justin Turner is leading the league with a .346 batting average and hit two dingers last night as the Dodgers took two out of three from San Diego.
• Rookie Cody Bellinger has 34 homers and 79 RBI and he wasn't called up until late April.
• Ace Clayton Kershaw is getting close to returning to the starting rotation after suffering back spasms.
• Adrian Gonzalez is getting close to returning to the lineup. If he's healthy and gets his stroke back, an already intimidating batting order just gets better. If Gonzalez is ready look for Joc Pederson to see less playing time with Bellinger moving to left field and Taylor moving to center. That batting order becomes even scarier. Taylor could also see some time at second with Logan Forsythe and Chase Utley both hitting in the .230 range.
• Shortstop Corey Seager has avoided the Sophomore Jinx, hitting .307 with 19 homers and 57 RBI after winning the Rookie of Year last season.
• Chris Taylor has emerged as a bonafide leadoff hitter, hitting at .307 clip with 17 dingers, 56 RBI, four triples and 13 stolen bases. Oh, and he can play the outfield as well as the infield on defense.
• Yasiel Puig is maturing right before our eyes. His pitch selection, willingness to go to the opposite field and overall plate discipline has resulted in a .253 average, 21 homers and 55 RBI out of the eighth hole. Then there is his defense. Puig has a rifle in right field and covers ground like no one else.
• Yu Darvish is 2-0 since joining the Dodgers and will only get better under the tutelage of Rick Honeycutt.
• Austin Barnes, technically the backup catcher, is hitting .290 with six homers. Starter Yasmani Grandal is hitting .263 with 15 dingers and 43 RBI. Dave Roberts has to love the depth he has behind the plate.
• The rotation is solidifying. Kershaw, Darvish and Alex Wood are locks for the playoff rotation with Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu battling it out for the fourth spot.
• Middle relief looks strong with Brock Stewart, Josh Fields, Pedro Baez, Brandon Morrow, Ross Stripling, Luis Avilan and newcomers Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson ready to get the Dodgers to closer Kenley Jansen. Jansen is 32 for 33 in save opportunities, holding a 1.20 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 52.1 innings.

The Dodgers amazing season is creating sky-high expectations for October. As it stands now, LA's path to a World Series would involve facing the Wild Card winner (Arizona or Colorado) and then the winner of the Washington-Chicago series, if the Cubs can hold off St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Should the Dodgers survive the NL playoffs their World Series opponent figures to be Houston, with the Red Sox, Yankees, Indians and Angels still in the mix.

It's been a wild ride so far. 

Does this team need a nickname?

You know a team is having a historic season when they have to go back to the early 1900s for comparisons. That's how hot the Dodgers have been.

Which prompted a recent family fan conversation about nicknames. Baseball history has given us the Bronx Bombers, Big Red Machine and takes on team nicknames such as Tribe, Halos, Redbirds, Friars, Brew Crew and Rox.

Frankly, when it comes to team nicknames, the minor leagues have the best. El Paso Chihuahuas, Vermont Lake Monsters, Montgomery Biscuits, Savannah Sand Gnats, Auburn Doubledays, Omaha Storm Chasers, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Las Vegas 51's, Toledo Mud Hens, Reno Aces and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs -- now those are names.

I've actually seen the Aces play in Reno and the Chihuahuas in Salt Lake City. But those are stories for another day.

During this summer's NCAA College World Series I fell in love with Long Beach State's unofficial nickname, the "Dirtbags." They even had it on their jerseys.

The Dodgers were originally the Trolley Dodgers in Brooklyn. They were sometimes referred to as "Dem Bums." But now we need a nickname that speaks to today's red-hot team that resides in Los Angeles, the City of Angels. One slight problem is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who don't actually play in Los Angeles. That rules out any references to Angels or angelic hosts or destroying angels.

So what exemplifies baseball prowess and Los Angeles?

Blue Wave could pay homage to L.A.'s beach scene. Blue Thunder could honor the Dodgers' power hitters. Blue Crush sounds like a soft drink. Blue Flame could honor... never mind.

Big Blue Wrecking Crew could be resurrected from the 70's. But no, we need something fresh.

Hollywood is known for movies and movie stars. How about the Starlight Express? No, never mind, that was a musical involving roller skates.

Which leads me to my conclusion. The Dodgers don't need a new nickname and honestly will not merit one until they win another World Series.

Then we can call them champions.

Darvish makes stellar first impression

There were doubters.

When the Dodgers acquired Yu Darvish just minutes from the trading deadline Monday there were those who looked at his numbers and shook their heads. 6-9 with an ERA above 4.0? A disaster start against the Marlins his last time out?

Darvish quieted all those fears last night, tossing seven shutout innings of three-hit ball and struck out 10 in shutting down the Mets in a 6-0 win.

Chris Taylor, Yasiel Puig and Chase Utley went deep to give Darvish all the support he needed, but he didn't need much, showing a dazzling display of pitches and pinpoint control, walking only one batter.

Darvish confirmed he was tipping his pitches against Miami in his last start, helping the Marlins rack up 10 runs against him. He said he appreciated the scouts and journalists who pointed out his tipping so he could correct the mistake.

With Clayton Kershaw making progress in his back injury recovery the Dodgers could be scary good in the playoffs with Kershaw, Darvish, Alex Wood and Rich Hill taking the mound with Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu also available to take the hill.

If the playoffs started today, the top-seeded Dodgers would meet the Wild Card winner between Arizona and Colorado in the NLDS and then meet the Washington-Chicago winner in the  NLCS.

The Nationals and Cubs loom as solid contenders with Chicago recovering from a sluggish first half to overtake Milwaukee in the second half. I give the edge to the Cubs, setting up a rematch with the Dodgers from last year's NLCS.

In the American League, Houston and New York are lining up for a first round series with the winner meeting the Boston-Cleveland survivor. Look for Houston to take down the Yankees and then Boston to get to the World Series, setting up a Los Angeles-Houston matchup for the championship.

Hey, a guy can dream. It's only been 29 years.

With over abundance in talent, some Dodgers get overlooked

Rich Hill was just named the National League Pitcher of the Month for July.

I follow the Dodgers pretty closely and the announcement caught me off guard. Hill went 4-0, posted a 1.45 ERA, gave up only five runs in 31 innings and struck out 40 while walking only five during the month.

It's an indication of just how hot the Dodgers have been when a performance like that can go largely unnoticed.

Hill is L.A.'s fourth starter behind Kershaw, Darvish and Alex Wood. How many teams have a No. 4 who can put up those kind of numbers in a month of baseball?

Then there's Chris Taylor, who is hitting .308 this year but has been raking at a .391 clip since the All-Star break. Taylor, like Rookie of the Year candidate Cody Bellinger, started the season in Oklahoma City. Now he has become an integral part of the Dodgers' phenomenal run in 2017.

When you have a lineup that features National League hitting leader Justin Turner, All-Stars Corey Seager and Bellinger and someone like Yasiel Puig in the No. 8 slot, it's easy to overlook someone like Taylor who has been swinging a hot bat all year long.

The Dodgers dropped a 5-3 decision to Atlanta last night and will try to win the four-game series tonight when they send Wood to the hill to face his former team.

Ryu and Maeda respond to rotation competition

Funny what a little competition can do to motivate a guy.

On Monday, the Dodgers acquired Yu Darvish from Texas to bolster their pitching staff. The acquisition made it clear that come playoff time, some of the Dodgers' pitchers would move out of the starting rotation, possibly to the bullpen.

With talks swirling about the Monday trade deadline, Hyun-Jin Ryu went out Sunday and shut down the Giants, holding San Francisco to five hits over seven shutout innings. Ryu, coming back from a shoulder injury, improved his record to 3-6 and let Dave Roberts know he wants to remain a starter.

Last night, Kenta Maeda took the mound. Maeda, too, has struggled, and figures to be on the bubble when Roberts picks his playoff rotation. Maeda responded with one of his strongest outings of the year, holding the Braves to two hits over seven shutout innings to improve his record to 10-4 on the year.

Come October, Roberts figures to have a healthy Kershaw (15-2), Alex Wood (12-1), Rich Hill (8-4), Maeda (10-4), Ryu (3-6), Brandon McCarthy (6-4) and Darvish (6-9) to send to the bump. Expect Roberts to start Kershaw, Darvish, Wood and Hill with Maeda, McCarthy and Ryu working in long relief.

Coupled with a beefed up middle reliever corps and a shutdown closer in Kenley Jansen, LA's pitching figures to be formidable when October comes around.

Dodgers' brass not standing pat

What does a club do when they have the best record in baseball and a 14-game lead in their division?

Go out and snare a premium starting pitcher and additional left-handed relief pitching so they can make a serious run in October.

L.A.'s braintrust landed Yu Darvish from Texas, Tony Watson from Pittsburgh and Tony Cingrani from Cincinnati just before today's trade deadline.

What the organization is screaming from the rooftops is this: "We want to win it all this year."

The Dodgers gave up prospects Willie Calhoun, A.J. Alexy and Brendon Davis, but held onto their top farmhands in bolstering the pitching staff.

General Manager Farhan Zaidi and President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman have set up Dave Roberts to go into the playoffs with a starting pitching corps of Clayton Kershaw, Darvish, Alex Wood, Rich Hill, Hyun Jin-Ryu and Kenta Maeda. 

Kershaw is on the shelf with a back strain but expects to return to the rotation before the end of the regular season.

Expect Roberts to narrow the rotation to Kershaw, Darvish, Wood and Hill when October baseball comes around.

The Dodgers go to Atlanta tomorrow for a series with the Braves after sweeping the Giants over the weekend. Rookie Kyle Farmer, in his first major league at-bat, delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the 11th inning last night to give the Dodgers their eighth win in a row and a dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind victory.

The Dodgers rallied to tie the game at 1-1 in the ninth behind Chase Utley, who legged out a pinch-hit single and swiped second base, and Yasiel Puig, who brought him home with a single up the middle.
 
Utley, 38, a former MVP with Philadelphia, has been a steady influence in the clubhouse and provided needed sparks off the bench.

Comeback kids do it again

The Dodgers stormed back from a 4-2 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning last night to post a 6-4 win over the beleaguered Giants, who are 32.5 games behind the first-place Dodgers.

It's not really important to mention how far back the Giants are, but it is fun to write that the Giants are 32.5 games behind the Dodgers.

The comeback was L.A.'s 30th of the season, which means you can never really count this team out.

The inning started quietly, as Austin Barnes worked a base on balls from San Francisco's Matt Moore. Kike Hernandez then went down looking for the first out of the inning.

Joc Pederson then stroked a line drive double to right field, moving Barnes to third.

The Giants then brought in George Kontos to face pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig, batting for Alex Wood. Puig hit an 0-1 grounder to shortstop Brandon Crawford, who had to go to first for the out because Pederson was moving on the pitch and second baseman Joe Panik was not at the bag due to an infield shift. Barnes scored on the play, making it a 4-3 game with two outs.

Chris Taylor then worked a full count on Kontos before hitting a weak fly to left field that dropped in for a double, scoring Pederson to knot the game at 4-4. Taylor, who has been on fire since the All-Star break, was jammed on the pitch but found room in left field with the Giants shifted to the right.

Corey Seager, who homered in the first inning, then crushed his second dinger of the game to give the Dodgers the 6-4 win.

With the comeback, the Dodgers moved to 13 games ahead of Arizona and 14 games in front of Colorado in the NL West.

Speculation is strong that the Dodgers will add a pitcher before Monday's trade deadline.

Kershaw's injury could slow Dodger Express

Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw went on the DL this week, suffering a mild back strain.

Team doctors initially said the injury would keep the southpaw on the sidelines for 4-6 weeks but Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Kershaw's return.

In the meantime, the Dodgers are playing winning baseball, building a 12-game lead over Arizona in the National League West.

Las Vegas had the Dodgers pegged to win the World Series before Kershaw got hurt. Now the odds may not be so favorable.

With the July 31 trade deadline only days away, the Dodgers' braintrust has some big decisions to make: go after the likes of Sonny Gray in Oakland, Yu Darvish in Texas or Justin Verlander in Detroit, or hope Kershaw can come back for a stretch run that takes the Dodgers deep into the playoffs.

It's always a difficult decision: trade away prospects for a short-term solution or stand pat. Los Angeles has not played in or won a World Series since 1988. Windows of opportunity stay open only so long.

The 2017 Dodgers are chock full of talent but the stars have to align just so for a team to be hitting on all cylinders when October baseball comes around.

Brock Stewart gets the call tonight to try to sweep the Twins in Kershaw's absence but he will not be able to replicate Kershaw's numbers. The bullpen is strong and closer Kenley Jansen has been lights out.

But can you win it all without an ace?

Major league managers are changing how they use their bullpens -- asking relievers to go longer and using more of a platoon system to get to the closer.

So far, this new management group has made some great calls.

Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, Alex Wood, Austin Barnes, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson are all young players who have contributed mightily to LA's success.

Let's hope they make the right call about what to do before Monday's trading deadline.

Pantone 294 is spreading the Blue

I first noticed them last year in Yankee Stadium, a rabid group of Dodgers' fans had taken over a section along the left field line, waving a giant Dodgers' banner and actually drowning out the home crowd.

Last weekend I saw them in Miami, a sea of Dodger Blue in Marlins Park, hoisting the giant flag and rocking that stadium.


I was a little curious because their banner included the name Pantone 294. So I looked them up. Pantone 294 is the brainchild of Huntington Park's Alex Soto, who has been organizing Dodgers' road trips since 2009. The travel group takes its name from that particular shade of blue we call Dodger Blue.

The following is growing. They had 1,500 Dodgers' fans in New York last year. They have made trips up and down the coast in California to catch the Giants and Padres. The travel group organizes hotels, airfare and field trips in the cities they visit.

“The Dodgers have the most loyal fan base, myself included,” Soto said. “What we have done here as a group is open doors for them to travel safely and securely to away games to support their team. We have offered them a unique and fun experience and a large Dodger family to be part of and build memories with. To be able to show our love and support to our Dodgers at an away game gives new meaning to the full fan experience.”

Pantone 294 hasn't released its 2018 schedule but I think I may want to join the crowd on one of those trips.

The Dodgers are on an amazing 30-4 run right now and have won 10 in a row. Clayton Kershaw tossed seven innings of shutout ball last night in a 1-0 win over the White Sox to improve his record to 15-2.

I don't know how long this roller coaster ride will last but I am enjoying it while I can.

Bellinger becomes a cyclist

Cody Bellinger, who went into the All-Star break in a mild slump, broke out in dramatic fashion tonight, becoming the first Dodger in team history to hit for the cycle in his rookie season.

The cycle, which involves getting a home run, triple, double and single in the same game, is one of those statistical rarities in a sport that is awash in statistics, trends and records.

Bellinger's long ball, a two-run shot, gave him 26 for the season and tied him for the league lead with Miami's Giancarlo Stanton and Cincinnati's Joey Votto.

Perhaps the bigger story of the night was the performance of Alex Wood, who went 10-0 with a 1.67 ERA in the first half and continued his winning ways tonight.

Wood tossed six shutout innings and surrendered only three hits in extending his record to 11-0, the first pitcher in Dodgers' history to start with 11 straight wins. He dropped his ERA to 1.56, the lowest among starting pitchers in major league baseball.

The Dodgers also got a three-run homer from Yasmani Grandal enroute to a 7-1 win over the Marlins as Los Angeles won its 28th game in the last 32.

Coupled with Arizona's loss to the Braves, the Dodgers moved to 9.5 games up on the Diamondbacks in the National League West standings.

Los Angeles will send Rich Hill to the mound tomorrow afternoon as the Dodgers seek another series sweep.

Puig starts second half with a bang

Down to their last strike.

That's where the Dodgers were last night in the ninth inning when Joc Pederson stroked a single to right field, just outside the reach of the Marlins' defender.

That's where Yasmani Grandal was when he worked a base on balls to put two runners on base with the Dodgers trailing 4-3.

That's where Yasiel Puig was, facing a 1-2 count against Marlins' closer A.J. Ramos, when he drove a fastball deep into left center that bounced off that ridiculous piece of modern art.  The home run piece features mechanical marlins spinning, flamingos flapping, seagulls twirling and water splashing all over the 75-foot structure.

They didn't turn it on for either one of Puig's two home runs that paced the Dodgers to a 6-4 win and pushed Los Angeles to an 8.5 game lead over Arizona, which dropped a 4-3 decision to the Braves.

Former Marlins' outfielder Logan Morrison described the structure back in 2012. "I think it's definitely Miami," Morrison said. "It's very colorful, very innovative. I think there is no need to hold out your bat when you hit a home run and walk down the line any more, because the stadium will pimp it for you."

Puig's bat flip and gesture back to his own dugout was enough for me. You can have your mechanical marlins, flapping flamingos and twirling seagulls. Give me a Cuban-baked tater any day.

After the game, my brother in Utah sent a text message. "These guys refuse to lose!"

I gotta agree.

Dodgers go into All-Star break on top of baseball

It's only the first half, but what a first half of a season the Dodgers have had.

The Dodgers downed Kansas City 5-2 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep, coming on the heels of a sweep of second-place Arizona to go into the break with a 7.5 game lead in the NL West and the best record in baseball by a half-game over the AL's Houston Astros.

The Dodgers closed out the first half with a sizzling 26-4 mark in their final 30 games and did it with stellar starting pitching, power hitting and a deep bench that has dangerous bats from one to eight in the batting order.

Los Angeles staged 10 series sweeps by the All-Star break.

Clayton Kershaw finished the first half with a complete game to roll his record to 14-2. The Dodgers have not lost one of his starts since early May.

The 2017 edition of Dodgers' baseball features the top hitter in the bigs in Justin Turner and his .377 batting average; rookie sensation Cody Bellinger with his 25 home runs and 58 RBI; 2016 Rookie of the Year Corey Seager with a .298 batting average, 45 RBI and 13 HRs and a supporting cast that is deep and versatile.

Manager Dave Roberts' lineup card varies from game to game, with the likes of Chris Taylor, Kike Hernandez, Logan Forsythe, Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Austin Barnes and Chase Utley playing multiple positions and moving up and down in the batting order. Yasmani Grandal handles the catching chores with Barnes an able backup.

Case in point: Puig usually hits eighth in the order and has hit 16 home runs, knocked in 43 RBI and posted a respectable .251 average. Defensively, he ranges right field and dares runners to test his arm.

The rest of the rotation includes breakout star Alex Wood (10-0, 1.67 ERA), Brandon McCarthy (6-3, 3.12 ERA), Kenta Maeda (7-4, 4.38 ERA), Rich Hill (5-4, 3.69 ERA) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-6, 4.21 ERA).

A weakness in years past, the Los Angeles bullpen has been lights out. Closer Kenley Jansen is 21 for 21 in save opportunities and the Dodgers can roll out flame throwers in Brandon Morrow, Josh Fields, Pedro Baez, Grant Dayton, Ross Stripling and Chris Hatcher to get to Jansen in the late innings.

The second half figures to be a wild ride.

Dodgers send Snakes slithering back to Arizona

Los Angeles and Arizona are the two best teams in the National League, holding the second and third-best records in the major leagues.

After this week, it is clear that the Dodgers are a wee bit better.

LA swept the Snakes in the three-game set and did it with masterful starting pitching.

On the Fourth of July, Clayton Kershaw threw seven innings of shutout ball, gave up only two hits and struck out 11 in a 4-3 win. Kershaw is now 13-2 on the season.

Wednesday, Alex Wood continued his magical season with seven shutout innings, 10 strikeouts and surrendered just three hits in a 1-0 victory. Wood is now 10-0 with a 1.67 ERA. Wood is pitching better than Kershaw, which is mind-boggling.

Last night, spinner Rich Hill went seven strong innings, gave up just one run on two hits and struck out nine batters in a dramatic come-from-behind 5-4 win.

The Dodgers won it with a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth keyed by singles by Yasiel Puig, Cory Seager and a walkoff single by Chris Taylor bunched around four walks issued by Arizona closer Fernando Rodney, who couldn't find the strike zone.

When the dust had settled and the Gatorade coolers were empty, the Dodgers held a 5.5 game lead in the division with Kansas City coming into town to wrap up the first half.

Smart phones and the Brotherhood of the Blue

The Dodgers open a critical series with Arizona tonight with Dave Roberts sending Clayton Kershaw to the mound.

The Diamondbacks are 2.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Arizona can take over first place with a sweep while LA could pad their lead by taking down the snakes.

Living in the Eastern time zone, I usually don't stay up to catch all the games on my MLB package. I usually watch an inning or two then catch up the next morning. MLB archives the games so I check the boxscore and watch those innings where something good happened.

Then there's the Brotherhood of the Blue text messages I get on my iPhone. My brother and three nephews are on a group text. Usually during a game my phone will ping with a message when the Dodgers do something good -- often a home run this season.

Brotherhood of the Blue

Technology has linked us to games being played thousands of miles away. I like the connection. It's reassuring to know that when I am watching a game in Florida my brother and nephews are tracking the same game in Utah.

My older brother is in Los Angeles, but lost his way. He roots for the Cardinals and Angels. He is not part of the Brotherhood of the Blue.

But like a lost prodigal, we would welcome him with open arms. I wonder if he has a smart phone?

Dodgers' pitchers hitting the right spots

It's good to be a Dodgers' fan these days.

Home runs are flying out of the park at a record pace. Hitting coach Turner Ward has his sluggers listening to every word that drips off his Southern drawl.

But it's the pitching that will carry them into late October.

Look at the last five games:

On Tuesday, Kenta Maeda held the Angels to four hits over seven innings and struck out six in a 4-0 victory.

On Wednesday, Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed 5.2 innings, scattered seven hits, struck out eight and gave up just two runs in a 3-2 loss to the Angels.

On Thursday, the Dodgers sent Clayton Kershaw to the mound and he was masterful, giving up just three hits and one run while striking out 12 over seven innings in a 6-2 win.

Friday, Alex Wood went to the hill, gave up only one run on two hits over six innings and struck out eight batters in a 10-4 win over San Diego.

Last night, Rich Hill went seven strong innings, struck out 11 and shut out the Padres over seven innings in an 8-0 shutout.

This kind of pitching hearkens back to the days of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, when the Dodgers were stingy with runs.

The difference now is that the LA offense is potent, featuring the National League batting average leader in Justin Turner (.388), the home run leader in Cody Bellinger (24) and a lineup chock full of hot sticks.

Look at Chris Taylor. The fourth-year player acquired from Seattle last year had one career home run coming into the season and has hammered 10 dingers this year in limited playing time, four of them grand slams.

Like I said, it's good to be a Dodgers' fan these days.

LA battery charged up in San Diego

To the uninitiated, the pitcher and catcher in a baseball game are referred to as a battery.

The term was first used in the 1860s, referring to the battery of weapons and artillery power used in war.

It's an old school baseball term not used too often. Now and then it makes its way into broadcasts and baseball discussions.

Last night, the Dodgers' battery of southpaw Alex Wood and catcher Austin Barnes were high voltage.

Wood, who came over from Atlanta in 2015, is having the season of his life. Wood went six innings, gave up only one run on two hits and struck out eight Padres. He ran his record to 9-0 and dropped his ERA to 1.82 over his 72 innings pitched in 12 starts.

Wood started the season in the bullpen but has emerged as the solid No. 2 starter in the rotation.

Wood's pitching motion reminds me of a wounded stork as he uncoils from his windup but once into his pitching motion he looks like money. 

His battery mate, Barnes, also had a night to remember. The third-year player from Riverside, California had cups of coffee in 2015 and 2016 before moving into the backup catcher role this year with the departure of A.J. Ellis.

Barnes took full advantage of the opportunity to spell Yasmani Grandal, delivering a first inning grand slam and a sixth inning three-run blast to lead the Dodgers to a 10-4 win over San Diego.

The Dodgers finished the month of June with a sizzling 21-7 mark and clubbed a team-record 53 home runs.