The Dodgers needed a night like this, and they got one in an 8-2 win over the Giants that offered a lift for a team that’s been scuffling.
The offense did most of the damage. Mookie Betts launched two home runs, Max Muncy added one, and the recently returning Will Smith chipped in with some slugging of his own. Kyle Tucker also went deep at Dodger Stadium, a rare homer there, and he finished with another hit and a walk.
It was a sharp turnaround from just two days earlier in Cincinnati, when the Dodgers went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Since then, they’ve answered with back-to-back eight-run games, putting up eight on Thursday and then eight more Friday.
Against San Francisco, they collected 11 hits and drew five walks for 16 baserunners. They went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, but the power production made that a non-issue.
The biggest offensive standout was De Paula, who is on a run of near-perfect swing decisions, and now the hard hits are coming. De Paula is becoming undeniable for the Dodgers and headed to the postseason roster.
There was also a key bullpen note. Edwin Diaz made his first appearance since being activated earlier in the day from the injured list, and he handled the ninth inning with the Dodgers already ahead 8-2.
He worked a clean frame, giving up one hit while recording two strikeouts. The inning featured seven called strikes and whiffs, and there were no hard-hit balls.
The context matters, though. The Giants have been one of the worst teams in baseball, and the game was low-leverage from the start. Even so, Diaz was looking for exactly this kind of clean outing, something he can build on as he tries to show the Dodgers he can keep contributing into October.
In Other News...
Dave Roberts Just Raised A Dodgers Question Fans Will Hate
Elly De La Cruz has already become one of the more frustrating outs on the Dodgers schedule, and Dave Roberts made sure to acknowledge why. The Reds shortstop has put together a strong season and has shown up especially well against Los Angeles, where his speed, power and all-around athleticism have stood out in the kind of matchups that tend to sharpen a players profile.
Roberts praised De La Cruzs talent and the way he handles big moments, which only adds to the sense that this is the sort of player every contender notices. For Dodgers fans, the uncomfortable part is that De La Cruz is still early in his team control window, with three years of arbitration left before he can hit free agency in 2030, and Cincinnati has not yet locked him into a long-term deal. That leaves plenty of time for a player already looking like one of the sports more electric names to remain a problem for Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Rehab Concern Emerges After Pitcher Exits Triple A Game Fast
Oklahoma Citys Friday doubleheader ended on a positive note in the standings, but one of the more important developments for the Dodgers came on the mound. In the resumed game against El Paso, Jake Cousins needed only one pitch before leaving with a leg issue as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery, a setback that quickly shifted attention away from the two wins the Triple-A club collected.
The Dodgers have been monitoring Cousins as part of his return process, so any interruption in that buildup is worth watching closely. Oklahoma City still got plenty from the rest of the roster, with Alex Thomas, Matt Gorski and Zach Ehrhard standing out offensively across the two games, but the bigger question now is how the club handles Cousins next steps after such a brief outing. [Read more 🡒]
Josue De Paula Just Changed A Real Dodgers October Debate
Josue De Paulas first turn at Dodger Stadium came in a game that looked a lot like the kind of October test the Dodgers have been chasing all season. Los Angeles beat the Giants in the opener of its final homestand, kept rolling in the season series, and did it with a power display that included five home runs. Tyler Glasnow gave them six solid innings, allowing two runs while striking out six, and the bullpen finished the job without much fuss.
De Paulas contribution in his home debut adds another layer to a lineup already built for October noise, and its the kind of performance that can make a front office pause when the calendar tightens. The Dodgers have spent much of the season sorting out how their best version looks, and games like this only sharpen the conversation about who belongs in the mix when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]