Will starters in the pen save the season?

When the Dodgers got Manny Machado and Brian Dozier in mid-season trades it was obvious that management was all in – a taste of last year’s World Series was not enough, the organization wants the whole enchilada.

Then Kenley Jansen started having heart issues and Dozier followed a couple of nights later with dizziness and unusual EKG readings.

The Dodgers lost three straight games in Colorado where the bullpen did not hold a lead then wasted a gem by Clayton Kershaw against the Giants to make it four in a row.

Now word comes that Skipper Dave Roberts is going to send Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda down to the bullpen to shore things up. Let us hope they can settle things down.

Maeda proved he could pitch effectively out of the pen last season and hopefully Stripling will be able to make the adjustment. With Jansen out of action, the Dodgers are in dire need of some fire fighters in the pen.

Thankfully, Arizona has had its own problems and their lead in the NL West is only a game. The Rockies are even with the Dodgers in second place, which means the stretch run for the pennant will be highly competitive.

Last season, the Dodgers built an insurmountable lead in the standings and coasted to the finish. This year, if the Dodgers are fortunate enough to make the playoffs, it will require a battle against Arizona and Colorado.

Offensively, the Dodgers have the sticks. Justin Turner, Matt Kemp, Dozier, Yasiel Puig, Machado, Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Yasmani Grandal and Chris Taylor can all rake.

It is the pitching, especially in the pen, that has been spotty. If Stripling and Maeda can bolster the pen, L.A. has a chance to return to the promised land.