Dodgers taking off the training wheels

Last week, the Dodgers faced two critical series at Chavez Ravine.

Division rival San Francisco came into town followed by baseball’s best team – the Chicago Cubs.

When the dust had settled, the Dodgers had won four of six, taking both series and cling to a two-game lead in the National League West.

And though veterans played critical roles, it was the young guns who played beyond their years to hold off the Giants and the Cubs.

Julio Urias, Brock Stewart, Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda turned in solid mound performances, pitching like they were seasoned veterans. The veteran bullpen, anchored by Joe Blanton, Jose Baez, Jesse Chavez, Adam Liberatore and Kenley Jansen, has emerged as one of the stingiest in the league.

At the plate, rookies Cory Seager, Andrew Toles and Rob Segedin have delivered, despite facing the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Matt Moore and John Lester. Seager is a front-running candidate for Rookie of the Year and is in the conversation for NL MVP.

Players that are driving the Dodgers race for the pennant are not far removed from playing ball in places like Rancho Cucamonga, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

It has been well documented that the Dodgers have put more players on the disabled list than any in baseball – yet the recent arrivals have stepped in to fill the voids.

And while the rooks have shined, veterans such as Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner, Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal have been steady producers.

The Dodgers have made this improbable run to first place without ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who stepped up his rehab by throwing from the mound this week. He is scheduled to pitch a minor league rehab game and the Dodgers are hoping to get him back for a stretch run.