It is not yet September, but the Dodgers’ magic range to clinch the Countrywide League is presently down to 15.
Their direct for the majors finest record is 8 video games.
And, quick of a likely force for MLB’s all-time wins report of 116, there doesn’t seem to be much drama remaining in the Dodgers’ remaining common time slate.
The a few-game collection in New York from the Mets that starts Tuesday should really be a uncommon exception.
Even with trailing the Dodgers by eight game titles for the Nationwide League’s top rated playoff seeding, the Mets loom as perhaps the most formidable problem in the team’s quest for the pennant, many thanks to a functional lineup and best-major pitching personnel.
“I’m searching at it as a opportunity opponent down the street,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts said. “It’s likely to be a enjoyment series.”
Forward of the 3-video games in Queens, listed here are five takeaways on where the Dodgers stand.
Chris Taylor’s ‘alarming’ strikeout difficulty
The Dodgers have experienced a great deal of experience very good stories in their lineup this year.
Suitable now, Chris Taylor is not one of them.
In the initially yr of a four-yr, $60 million contract, the utility person has battled injuries, inconsistent production and, particularly of late, a skyrocketing strikeout charge that has Roberts worried.
“The strikeout level, the swing-and-overlook price, is alarming,” Roberts reported. “I know he’s not hoping to swing and miss out on, hoping to strike out. But I feel for me to really feel self-confident to run him out there extra continuously, it’s just acquired to get better. And I know he understands that way too.”
Taylor, who turned 32 on Monday, has always had swing and miss in his activity, with a vocation strikeout fee of 28.6%. But normally, it’s been palatable, balanced out first rate electrical power and a regular capability to nevertheless get on base.
This calendar year, having said that, his numbers are skewing in the wrong direction.
On the year, his strikeout rate is 36.6%, the optimum in the majors between hitters with 350 plate appearances. Because returning from a foot fracture earlier this month, he’s struck out 30 occasions in 73 at-bats. Throughout the 4-activity sequence at Miami that concluded Monday, Taylor went two for 12 with 6 strikeouts, dropping his batting common to .227.
It has coincided with other statistical fall-offs, as perfectly.
His .394 slugging proportion is on rate to be the most affordable entire-time mark of his Dodgers tenure. His .307 on base share is on track to be the next-most affordable of his complete profession.
“It’s kind of been [a struggle] all calendar year,” Taylor explained. “But it’s been a small harder not too long ago.”
Roberts stated, for now, Taylor will go on to get reliable at-bats, hopeful he can do the job through mechanical problems the supervisor believes are at the root of the trouble.
“It’s unquestionably not deficiency of exertion,” he mentioned. “I anticipate he’ll do the job by it.”
But, Roberts also warned, “If you’re not obtaining that [consistent power and contact] and the strikeout amount spikes, it’s just tricky to stomach. So some amount of regular speak to is what we’re all on the lookout for.”
Taylor acknowledged he is “missing balls that I do not generally miss.” He also conceded that, when he’s been vulnerable to chilly stretches during his profession, this slump is beginning to sense severe.
On the other hand, he also stays hopeful of a turnaround, drawing a comparison to past 12 months when he slumped down the extend of the regular period prior to turning out to be just one of the Dodgers’ most clutch performers in the postseason.
“It takes place every 12 months where by you go through phases,” he mentioned. “This year, it’s been a very little little bit far more than a long time earlier. But it is not like a new emotion.”
The clock is ticking for him to figure it out.
Prospective playoff preview in New York
Roberts didn’t shy away from the probability of experiencing the Mets in the postseason. As such, he mentioned that there could be strategic gamesmanship at perform to disguise details in scenario the teams do meet in the playoffs.
“I imagine you strategy the collection diverse, in the feeling that it is a workforce you could probably see in Oct,” Roberts mentioned. “I check out to preserve that in my mind when I’m watching tendencies and what guys are doing, to then just take what you get to sort of cross-check out.”
Requested if he might try out staying away from unique matchups this week that could occur in Oct, Roberts smirked.
“I don’t know that answer,” he reported. “Maybe.”
The Dodgers previously know who they will deal with (Taijuan Walker on Tuesday, Jacob deGrom on Wednesday, Chris Bassitt on Thursday) and who they won’t (Max Scherzer was pushed back a working day and will pass up going through his previous workforce).
The Dodgers even now have just one significant pitching choice to finalize, with their starter for Thursday remaining to be declared.
While it appears to be most likely that Clayton Kershaw could make his return from the wounded list that day, Roberts did not eliminate the risk that Dustin May could start on ordinary rest in the collection finale as a substitute.
Trayce Thompson’s reverse splits
When the Dodgers traded for Trayce Thompson in June, they ended up hoping the right-handed hitter could grow to be a weapon in opposition to still left-handed pitching.
So considerably, he’s performed the opposite.
In what is been a breakout performance from the 31-calendar year-old journeyman slugger, Thompson’s most achievement has come in opposition to proper-handed pitching — something he struggled with earlier in his vocation.
Thompson is batting .354 against righties with six property runs and a 1.123 OPS. Versus lefties, he has strike .172 with a person house operate and a .555 OPS.
Thompson has not had a lot of an explanation for the serious splits, saying previous week he feels comfortable against pitchers of both hand.
Roberts has not nonetheless pinpointed a induce either.
“I imagine we’re all shocked by it,” Roberts mentioned. “I do imagine the numbers vs . left will right alone a little little bit. And hopefully the figures as opposed to ideal really do not self-suitable either. No matter, when he’s in there I really feel excellent. He’s gained some alternatives, so I’m seeking to get him in there when I can.”
Trea Turner’s 1,000th hit
Trea Turner is hoping his 1,001th hit looks prettier than his 1,000th one did Monday night.
In a milestone second, Turner reached the career 1,000 strike plateau on an infield solitary that set up the Dodgers’ eventual successful run in the 10th inning.
With the ball in his locker postgame, he laughed about the engage in, a dribbler up the 3rd-base line that gave him adequate time to race to 1st properly, in advance of reflecting on what it signified about his 8-12 months job.
“It’s anything I consider I was searching ahead to, due to the fact my parents were being in this article and my Dad’s been counting down, so it is good to get it in entrance of them,” Turner stated. “Glad I could do that, but ideally many far more in the tank.”
With two hits Monday, Turner stored tempo with teammate Freddie Freeman in the race for MLB’s hit lead. Freeman presently potential customers the majors with 163 hits. Turner is second with 161.
Treinen nearing return
The Dodgers will very likely get a single bullpen strengthen this 7 days, with Blake Treinen on keep track of to return to the crew Friday after missing much more than four months with a shoulder injuries.
For the duration of a rehab assignment with triple A Oklahoma City this week, Treinen pitched in back-to-back game titles for the first time, bouncing back from a two-operate, a few-strike, one-out clunker to pitch a scoreless inning in his next overall look — through which his fastball averaged extra than 97 mph.
Treinen is scheduled to make one particular much more rehab physical appearance Tuesday ahead of coming off the hurt list. He’s authorized two gained operates whilst hanging out 6 and walking one in 5 innings throughout 6 appearances throughout the rehab assignment.
Roberts stated when Treinen returns, he’ll slot into his typical large-leverage position.
The ideal-hander will be no cost to pitch in back again-to-again video games, but Roberts stated he’ll check out to avoid utilizing him for more than a person inning at a time.
At the time Treinen returns, the Dodgers will have four relievers on the wounded record: Tommy Kahnle, Victor González and Danny Duffy (who are all on rehab assignments), as effectively as Yency Almonte (who has but to toss a bullpen given that going on the IL with elbow tightness earlier this month).
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