Dodgers fortunes take an upturn

After struggling through the first month of the season playing less than .500 ball, the Dodgers exited April with a sweep of Philadelphia and a modest four-game winning streak.

The turn of fortunes was punctuated Saturday night when the Dodgers got back-to-back-to-back homers from Yasiel Puig, Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner to tie the game then won it on a cue shot single from Adrian Gonzalez to cap a wild ninth inning.

Bellinger, the top prospect in the farm system, hit two homers in the game and is demonstrating why he is the slugger in waiting in Oklahoma City. Despite his power eruption, Bellinger will probably be sent back to the minors this week when Joc Pederson and Logan Forsyth return from rehab assignments. Look for the lanky outfielder/first baseman to return to the bigs before the season is out.

The Dodgers got strong performances from Kenta Maeda and Hyu Jin-Ryu against the Phils, which means skipper Dave Roberts may have a glut of starting pitchers on his hands with Rich Hill set to come off the DL after a rehab assignment in the minors.

LA's rotation now features Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy, Rich Hill, Ryu, Maeda, Julio Urias and Alex Wood, who was lights out in a spot start last week.

The organization is trying to spoon feed Urias so look for Wood to go back to the bullpen for long relief work and spot starts and Urias to return to Oklahoma City unless he continues to force Roberts to keep him in the rotation.