Are these Dodgers up for the stretch run?

Going into tonight’s tilt against Texas, the Dodgers are one game out of first place, trying to catch Arizona and Colorado.

Los Angeles is trying to win its sixth straight NL West title, but the hill looks a little steep. Mid-season acquisitions Manny Machado and Brian Dozier have solidified the infield and the batting order and Justin Turner has his sweet stroke back after a wrist injury in spring training. Matt Kemp is having a renaissance season, Max Muncy has 30 dingers, Cody Bellinger has 20 homers and Yasiel Puig is maturing right before our eyes.

It is the Dodger pitching that raises questions. Staff ace Clayton Kershaw is 6-5 with a 2.39 ERA. His fastball, once regularly clocked in at 93-94 mph, now comes in at 91-92 mph. Kershaw is a competitor, but three years
of back problems have taken a toll. He goes to the slider now as his out pitch and though still capable of winning a game, he is also capable of giving up the long ball.

The rest of the rotation remains questionable. Rich Hill is 6-4 with a 3.50 ERA, Walker Buehler is 6-4 with a 2.96 ERA, Hyun-Jin Ryu is 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA and Alex Wood is 7-6 with a 3.60 ERA. A decent staff, but no
one is having a championship season.

It is the bullpen that has been the issue. Kenta Maeda has been shipped to the pen and Ross Stripling is headed to the pen as soon as he comes off the DL. Kenley Jansen, since having a heartbeat scare, has blown three save opportunities by giving up home runs and looked shaky again last night in an 8-4 L.A. win.

Maeda, Stripling and Jansen could be a lights-out 7-8-9 combination but it will depend on Jansen getting his mojo back.

Arizona and Colorado are hungry to depose the five-time NL West champs and the Dodgers will have to play inspired ball in September to keep the crown and make the playoffs.

The schedule may work in L.A.’s favor. After two games in Texas this week the Dodgers return to Chavez Ravine for a critical four-game set against the Diamondbacks. L.A. could regain first-place with a strong showing against Arizona.

The Dodgers then host the Mets for a three-game series before heading to Colorado for three against the Rockies. The seven games against the Diamondbacks and Rockies between Thursday and Sept. 9 will define the pennant race.

Later in the month, the Dodgers go to St. Louis for four games against the red-hot Redbirds before hosting the Rockies for three, San Diego for three and then a down-to-the-wire road trip against Arizona and San
Francisco to close out the season.

Buckle up, it is going to be a fun ride.