Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart and Walker Buehler did not
figure to be front line starters this season as the Dodgers set out to defend
the National League championship.
Yet, here we are on the cusp of June and the Dodgers’
pitching fortunes now rest on guys who at best have been on the periphery the
last few seasons.
Stripling and Stewart have bounced between Chavez Ravine and
Oklahoma City the last few years and Buehler has emerged as the latest rookie
stud. With Hyun Jin-Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Alex Wood starting to hit their strides
and Clayton Kershaw getting closer to returning to the rotation, the Dodgers
are closing in on having a settled pitching staff.
The bullpen, which has struggled during the first two
months of the season, is also getting its footings.
Dave Roberts continues to experiment with different
relievers to pitch the seventh and eighth innings but thankfully Kenley Jansen
has regained his mojo in the closer role.
Now, let’s talk about the offense.
Yasiel Puig, his average hovering above .200, has found
his power stroke in the last week or so and is once again flirting with being an
offensive force. We will see. Matt Kemp has been a revelation, leading the club
with a .331 average, getting timely hits and playing left field like he was a
youngster.
Justin Turner’s return to the batting order has been a
good jolt to the offense and Cody Bellinger and Yasmani Grandal have picked up
the pace.
Dodgers bats still trending cold belong to Chris Taylor,
Joc Pederson, Austin Barnes, Logan Forsythe and Kike Hernandez. Rookie Max
Muncy is getting playing time at first base with Bellinger in center for Chris
Taylor, now playing short with the season-ending injury to Corey Seager.
The Dodgers now trail Colorado by 4.5 games in the NL West
with Arizona and San Francisco near the front of the pack trailing the Rockies.
In a season that once seemed lost, the Dodgers are only a
modest winning streak away from regaining their swagger and first place in the NL
West.
Hey, it could happen.
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