The Dodgers can take a rough weekend and still find a way to smile.
After beating the Mariners in two of three games to lock in a fourth straight series win coming out of the All-Star break, they were swept and outplayed at home by the Red Sox. That kind of whiplash usually leaves a team searching for something positive. For Dave Roberts, it arrived in the form of Tarik Skubal joining the club.
“A day later when all these talks have been kind of building up, it’s crazy. The front office did a great job,” Roberts said Sunday night. “I don’t think I’ve felt this good after getting swept, so that’s a silver lining, I guess.”
Even with the ugly finish, there was plenty of production around the lineup this week. Shohei Ohtani took a rest day Thursday while managing left knee inflammation and right biceps troubles, but still crammed six games’ worth of damage into five. He hit .500 with two home runs and three doubles, and his hit streak reached six games.
Freddie Freeman wasn’t far behind. He collected 11 hits in 24 at-bats and pushed his hit streak to 12 games, the longest by a Dodger this season. Over his last 42 at-bats dating back to July 21, Freeman has 23 hits and is batting .548.
On the mound, Eric Lauer kept doing exactly what the Dodgers needed, even if his stay could be short. He might be dealt by the 3 p.m.
PT Monday trade deadline, but his work so far has been steady and then some. His best outing came Wednesday against the Mariners, when he threw six scoreless innings and allowed only three runners to reach base.
The week also brought a little house history for Max Muncy. The third baseman has signed four different extensions with the Dodgers and is under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028.
On Tuesday against the Mariners, he launched his 130th career regular season home run at Dodger Stadium, tying Eric Karros for the most in the 65-year history of the ballpark. Including postseason homers, Muncy now has 137 at Dodger Stadium, which stands alone.
Miguel Rojas also checked off a rare box on Friday against Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez. Rather than shuffle the rest of the lineup, Roberts hit Rojas third for the first time in his career.
That gave Rojas the full set: he has now started in all nine lineup spots over his 13-year career. His only time batting cleanup came in 2022 with the Marlins.
The roster churn kept moving all week. Kiké Hernández returned Tuesday after an oblique strain cost him 51 games in his second extended injured list stint of the season, while Alex Freeland was optioned after not starting in any of the previous 13 games.
Wednesday brought Edwin Díaz back from arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow three months and a week earlier, and Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment for the third time this season and second with the Dodgers. On Friday, Brock Stewart went on the injured list for the third time this season with right shoulder discomfort, Cole Irvin was recalled, and Chayce McDermott was designated for assignment.
Then on Saturday, Will Klein landed on the injured list with elbow discomfort and Wyatt Mills was called up.
The numbers from Week 19 tell the same story: plenty of offense, uneven pitching, and a team still trying to sort itself out. The Dodgers finished 69-43 overall, with 572 runs scored and 422 allowed. Their pythagorean record sits at 71-41.
Now the attention turns quickly. The trade deadline hits at 3 p.m.
PT Monday, and a few hours later the Dodgers are back at Wrigley Field to open a road trip that starts with the Cubs and continues against the Diamondbacks. Tuesday’s game will be on TBS in addition to SportsNet LA.
In Other News...
Dodgers Prospect Just Changed The Organizations Pitching Depth Picture
The Dodgers have spent the last few days reshaping their pitching inventory at multiple levels, and one of the quieter developments might end up mattering just as much as the headline moves. While the club shuffled pieces around the trade deadline and kept Oklahoma City busy with roster activity, a newer arm in the system gave the front office another reason to feel better about the depth it is trying to preserve.
Hyun-Seok Jangs first High-A start turned into a statement, as he worked six scoreless innings and piled up eight strikeouts before being recognized as the Midwest League pitcher of the week. For an organization that just watched Chayce McDermott and Carlos Durn head out in trades while Hunter Feduccia, Jacob Kmatz, Chuckie Robinson, Jonathan Hernndez and Emmet Sheehan all became part of Mondays movement, Jangs arrival in the conversation is the kind of development that can change how a pitching pipeline looks in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Clarified Two Unexpected Post Deadline Roster Roles
The Dodgers used the final stretch before the August 3 trade deadline to make a quiet but meaningful decision on two roster pieces in Alex Call and Eric Lauer. Neither player was moved, and both are now expected to stay with Los Angeles the rest of the season, a sign the club sees enough value in each to keep the roster intact rather than shop for a different fit.
Dave Roberts and Brandon Gomes both backed the decision, with Lauer set to remain in the starting rotation for now. Andrew Friedman had at one point weighed shifting Lauer to the bullpen, but recent roster changes opened the door for him to keep starting, leaving the Dodgers with a clearer picture of two unexpected roles as the season moves deeper into the second half. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Number 29 Change Just Signaled A Notable Roster Shift
Jonathan Hernndezs latest stint with the Dodgers came with a small but noticeable change that did not go unnoticed in the dugout or on the field. After being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, the right-hander handled the final two innings in a recent game while wearing No. 26, a shift from the No. 29 he had earlier in his time with the club.
The jersey switch also reflects a broader roster reshuffling that comes with a new arrival in the clubhouse, especially when a number with some Dodgers history is involved. No. 29 has belonged to a long line of previous Dodgers players and coaches, and the change left Hernndez in a different lane as he settled back into the big-league mix. [Read more 🡒]