PHILADELPHIA — Coming into the three-game sequence towards the Phillies, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts wouldn’t say this was a litmus take a look at for his membership. In any case, it’s a roster that’s lacking important items each on offense and within the beginning rotation.
Roberts did, nevertheless, say that his staff could be taking data from a sequence between the groups with the 2 finest data within the Nationwide League. After a three-game sweep, which ended with a 5-1 loss on Thursday night time at Residents Financial institution Park, the Dodgers got here out understanding simply how a lot floor they’ll have to make up over the following two months if these two groups meet once more in October.
“They’re clearly taking part in rather a lot higher baseball than we’re. They’re clearly a greater staff than we’re proper now,” Roberts stated. “We actually didn’t do a lot properly this sequence. Beginning pitching, protection, we had a mistake tonight on the bases. Situational hitting, getting hits — all that form of stuff, we have been outplayed.”
There was no manner round it. The Dodgers obtained totally crushed by a Phillies staff that, proper now, seems to be like the higher staff in nearly each manner. Los Angeles’ offense was held to only 5 runs and it didn’t have a beginning pitcher get via 5 innings, a recurring theme over the previous few weeks.
“We didn’t play superb that sequence,” stated Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who went 0-for-10 within the three video games. “There’s nothing to spin it any totally different manner. We didn’t hit. We didn’t do a lot. As a gaggle, we simply should put it behind us, go to Detroit tomorrow and attempt to win a sequence.”
Offensively, the Dodgers are with out Mookie Betts, who was arguably the favourite to win the NL MVP Award earlier than struggling a fractured left hand on June 16. They’re additionally with out Max Muncy, who final performed on Might 15 resulting from a strained proper indirect. Even with some inconsistencies, Muncy gives a continuing presence in the course of the lineup that permits different hitters to slip down within the order.
On the pitching facet, the record of injured gamers is even longer. Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler are all on the injured record. Of the group, Kershaw is the one one for whom the membership has a common thought of when he may very well be again on the mound. Bobby Miller, who began on Tuesday and allowed 9 runs over 4 innings, goes to spend prolonged time within the Minors.
All these components have turned the Dodgers, who have been probably the greatest groups within the league over the primary 50 video games of the season, into an underperforming membership over the previous two months. After the three-game sweep by the hands of the Phillies, L.A. is now 26-24 over its previous 50 video games, together with 22-22 in its previous 44.
“I feel … we don’t have a lot margin for error,” Roberts stated. “I hate to say you’ve obtained to play excellent baseball to win, however it’s seeming like that. … I feel we’re getting guys alternatives. After we do get guys again, guys are going to know that they’d their alternatives to carry out. That’s form of the place my head is at.”
Sure, the Dodgers will get more healthy and may return to their standard dominance. The expertise and the backs of the baseball playing cards recommend so. However over the following three weeks, Los Angeles may even have to infuse the present roster with extra expertise earlier than the July 30 Commerce Deadline.
Including a beginning pitcher — or two — can be on the forefront of discussions. Counting on injured pitchers to get again in time for the stretch run is all the time dangerous. Including some extra firepower to the lineup may be helpful.
However within the meantime, the Dodgers might want to attempt to climate the storm. They didn’t do a very good job of that in Philadelphia, and a variety of their present points have been on full show.
“I imply, we’re injured. We have now a variety of guys lacking. Nobody actually cares about that — nor does anybody in right here,” Freeman stated. “That is the group we’ve obtained. We wish to go on the market and win each ballgame. We simply didn’t play very properly this sequence. We’ve obtained three video games left [before the All-Star break] to try to finish on a optimistic observe.”
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