Dodgers slip into first place for first time in 2018

The Dodgers are in first place.

It may be by a razor-thin half game, but the fact remains, the Dodgers are in first place in the NL West.

This team, which many wrote off earlier this season (I was one of them), has stormed back into contention and they have done it with baling wire and duct tape due to a long list of injuries, call ups from Oklahoma City and the unlikeliest of heroes.

Last night, Ross Stripling tossed six innings of shutout ball to notch his record at 8-2 with a stingy 2.03 ERA. Dave Roberts named him to the NL All-Star team as a replacement and the funny thing is, he earned it.

With Clayton Kershaw spending most of the season on the DL, Stripling, who started the season in the bullpen, has emerged as the staff ace. The Dodgers now have a pitching rotation of Stripling, Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Walker Buehler and Rich Hill.

And then there’s the offense.

Matt Kemp apparently made a deal with the Devil because he came to L.A. as a washed-up veteran obtained to clear cap space and earned a starting spot in the All-Star game. Then there’s Max Muncy. After two lackluster seasons in Oakland, he is now the Munsternator, swatting 21 home runs going into the weekend series against the Angels.

Other players have stepped up at times. Cody Bellinger is having a little bit of a sophomore slump but is still productive; Kike Hernandez is raking; Chris Taylor has moments; Yasmani Grandal can be dangerous; and Justin Turner is trying to get healthy.

Yasiel Puig tweaked his oblique so Andrew Toles showed up from Oklahoma City and promptly stroked a few hits. These are not the juggernaut Dodgers of 2017. This is not the team that coasted into the World Series with domination.

But they are in first place.

Dodgers draw even with Arizona

On an off-day, preparing for a Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (formerly the California Angels and still suffering an identity crisis), the Dodgers moved into a first-place tie with Arizona last night when the Diamondbacks fell to San Diego.

It has been a roller coaster ride for the Dodgers, who came out of the gates like the Three Stooges, stumbling through April like a drunken sailor.

Arizona took advantage, rushing out to a sizeable lead in the standings.

But around mid-May the Dodgers woke up. Their resurgence was led by some unlikely heroes. Matt Kemp was supposed to be washed up, but he showed up from Atlanta slimmed down and hungry, earning a starting spot in the All-Star game with a .318 batting average, 20 dingers and 55 RBI. At this pace, Kemp will hit 40 home runs and drive in more than 100 RBI.

Then there's the curious case of Max Muncy. After two forgettable seasons in Oakland, the A's released the chubby infielder. The Dodgers signed him as a free agent in April 2017 and invited him to spring training this year.

The 27-year old from Midland, Texas found something during his sojourn to Los Angeles. Muncy has crashed the party in Dodger town. He is hitting .280 with 20 home runs and 38 RBI and can play first or second base. Muncy has gone yard 11 times in the last 30 games and is hitting .329 over that period.

The Dodgers lead the NL in home runs and over the last 30 games Muncy, Joc Pederson (9), Cody Bellinger (8), Kike Hernandez (8), Kemp (6) and Justin Turner (4) have provided the juice.

Pitchingwise, over that same period, Alex Wood (4-1) and relievers Daniel Hudson (0.68 ERA) and Kenley Jansen (1.32 ERA) have been the stalwarts.

This week, the Dodgers swept a three-game set against Pittsburgh and outscored the Bucs 31-8 with six home runs in one game and four in another. 

And then there's the promising status of Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw went six innings against the Pirates on Tuesday for his longest outing of the season. Kershaw gave up two runs on four hits and struck out two. Not a commanding performance, but a strong sign he is on the mend.