Perhaps reports of the Dodgers demise were premature.
After going through a 2-8 stretch and dropping to third place in the National League West standings, the Dodgers won four games in a row, four of their past five games, and seem to have turned things around.
What changed?
Max Muncy got hot for one.
The human walk machine started swinging the bat last week and hit three home runs. He was the toughest out in the lineup, going 9-for-21 in the two series against the Seattle Mariners and Miami Marlins. That’s a .428 batting average if you’re keeping score at home. He also drew five walks and has a .442 on-base percentage.
Muncy started feasting on opposing pitching.
Fans feasted on new food in the stands.
Shake Shack opened at Dodger Stadium. When it was revealed that Dodgers Dogs were no longer made by Farmer John, the Dodgers went into a slump. They couldn’t hit. The bullpen couldn’t hold a lead. Players were landing on the injured list on a daily basis it seemed. It was bad.
But ever since Shake Shack opened at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, the Dodgers fortunes changed for the better. It’s not the same as bringing Farmer John back at the concession stands, but it has made a difference on the field. Give Shake Shack some credit for the Dodgers recent winning ways.
Reinforcements are on the way.
Albert Pujols joined the Dodgers. The three-time National League MVP was unceremoniously released by the Los Angeles Angels before joining the Dodgers. How big a role he will play on the Dodgers has yet to be determined. But even if it’s a chance for Pujols to chase another World Series championship, it is a constructive move. Any Dodgers story that ends with a World Series title is worth exploring. If Pujols is part of the story, there won’t be many complaints.
In another not-so-celebrated move, the Dodgers acquired Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, an infielder from the Tampa Rays. The 29-year-old hit 44 home runs in 133 games playing for Yokohama in the Japan Central League in 2016. His numbers with the Rays are not as impressive. He was hitting .167 in 23 games with Tampa before getting traded.
Perhaps Tsutsugo will have better results with the Dodgers.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Dodgers last week. Corey Seager broke his hand when he was hit by a pitch on Saturday against the Marlins. He will be out at least a month, creating an ever-growing gaping hole in the Dodgers lineup.
He joins Cody Bellinger, AJ Pollock and Zack McKinstry on the injured list. And that’s only the hitters. Pitchers Dustin May, Scott Alexander, David Price, Tony Gonsolin and Brusdar Graterol have spent time or are on the injured list.
Here are the Dodgers starting pitching power rankings:
- Trevor Bauer
- Clayton Kershaw
- Walker Buehler
- Julio Urias
- Jimmy Nelson
After Sunday’s loss to the Marlins, the Dodgers are in third place in the NL West, at 22-18, and two games behind the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers wrap up their homestand with a four-game series against the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks before heading on the road for a weekend series against the Giants.
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