The Dodgers’ latest test comes against a Cubs team that may as well be serving up a playoff dress rehearsal, and once again the challenge starts with a left-handed arm. Justin Wrobleski is lined up against Matthew Boyd, and that means the Dodgers are staring down yet another southpaw after already dealing with a stretch of them.
It’s not just the opening matchup that tilts that way. Five of the projected six starters in this series are left-handers, so both lineups are going to keep seeing the same look over and over. For the Dodgers, that puts even more pressure on an offense that has already had its share of trouble against lefties.
Wrobleski is trying to shake off a rough last outing, one that turned into a mini-Home Run Derby when the Mariners tagged him for a season-high four homers. Even so, he has found a way to stay in games this season by refusing to hand out free passes.
That command has been one of his biggest strengths, and it’s about to be tested in a big way. His NL-leading 1.7 BB/9 goes up against a Cubs offense that leads baseball with a 10.9 percent BB%.
Boyd brings the opposite kind of problem for the Dodgers. They’ve already had plenty of trouble against lefties in the Red Sox rotation, and the veteran has been dealing lately. Over his last three starts, Boyd has allowed just two earned runs across 20 innings, including seven scoreless frames in his most recent outing.
There’s also a notable return of sorts for Kyle Tucker, who will play in Wrigley Field for the first time since signing with the Dodgers. It doesn’t carry the same emotional weight as his first trip back to Houston after the trade, but it still puts him in a familiar place with a different uniform.
Tucker’s numbers at Wrigley weren’t nearly as ugly as his production at Dodger Stadium, but they were still below his norm, as he posted a .757 OPS in the Cubs’ home park. Oddly enough, he has been better against left-handed pitching this season, with a .771 OPS versus LHP compared to .675 against RHP.
In Other News...
Dodgers Just Made A Deadline Pitching Bet Fans Will Debate
The Dodgers added another layer to their deadline-day pitching shuffle by dealing minor league right-hander Carlos Duran to the Royals in exchange for Kris Bubic, a move that fits the clubs long-running habit of betting on arms it believes it can maximize. Bubic has been working back from shoulder trouble and has spent time on rehab assignments, so the trade is as much about Los Angeles taking a longer view as it is about filling an immediate need.
For a team that keeps turning over the bottom of its roster in search of usable depth, this is the kind of transaction that can look smart in October or get picked apart before then. The Dodgers also stayed active elsewhere, reuniting with Ben Rortvedt in a separate deal involving Chayce McDermott, which only adds to the sense that the front office was balancing present-day coverage with a few bigger-picture bets. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Prospect Just Changed The Organizations Pitching Depth Picture
The Dodgers spent Monday reshaping the edges of their pitching depth, and one of the more notable developments came from a name that has not been in the spotlight for long. Hyun-Seok Jang, making his High-A debut, turned in a dominant first impression that earned him Midwest League pitcher of the week honors and gave the organization another reminder of how quickly a young arm can force its way into the conversation.
It arrived in a week when the club was already busy with roster churn and deadline-related moves, including trades involving Chayce McDermott and Carlos Durn, plus the additions of Hunter Feduccia and Jacob Kmatz. Chuckie Robinson and Jonathan Hernndez were also called up from Oklahoma City, while Emmet Sheehan was optioned to Triple-A, leaving the Dodgers with a fresh look in the upper minors and a few more questions about how that depth will line up in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About This Dodgers Deadline Deal
The Dodgers added some much-needed catching help at the deadline, landing Hunter Feduccia and right-hander Jacob Kmatz from Tampa Bay as they try to steady a position group hit by injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing. Feduccia is a familiar name in the organization, having once been drafted by Los Angeles before spending time with the Rays, and the move gives the club a quick layer of depth behind the plate at a moment when it was needed most.
Jacob Kmatz arrives as part of the same package, giving the Dodgers another arm to evaluate while they manage the fallout of their catching situation. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, gets outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money in return, a return that reflects the kind of deadline calculus that often comes with a deal involving both major league need and long-term roster planning. [Read more 🡒]