Los Angeles Dodgers: Focus set on getting right for September

With September looming, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter the pennant chase in a dichotomous situation: they are a heady 50 games over .500, owners the best record in baseball, but they also are on the heels of a season-high five-game losing streak. To get the momentum situated for the playoffs, they need to focus on getting right in September.

First things first, the Los Angeles Dodgers were just swept by their likely National League Division Series opponent, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Generally speaking, that is not a positive development. The starting pitching completely imploded: Rich Hill allowed five runs in the first inning; Hyun-Jin Ryu allowed six runs in four innings; Kenta Maeda allowed seven runs in three innings.

The blitzkrieg was not representative of who the Diamondbacks would likely face in the NLDS, however, as the imminent return of both Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood would seem to ensure that not one of the starting pitchers they faced would throw a pitch in the first inning during a potential matchup.

Voluminous keystrokes have been produced regarding the dominance of Clayton Kershaw, but his five-week absence has emboldened his case for Cy Young, as his 15 wins and 2.04 ERA still lead the league. Wood, with a 14-1 record and 2.41 ERA, is also a likely top-five Cy Young candidate. Add a healthy Yu Darvish to the mix, and the playoff rotation looks very different than the one the Dodgers rolled out in Phoenix.

Secondly, the Los Angeles Dodgers offense is hibernating. The team has scored 13 runs in five games. For a ball club that is seventh in the Major League in runs scored, this does not bode well. Upon closer inspection, however, the absence of Corey Seager – day-to-day with a lingering elbow issue – is throwing their lineup into disarray.

Perhaps the team’s most consistent player this season, the perennial MVP candidate is hitting .310 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI, all amongst the league leaders at the position. Without Seager in the lineup, the Dodgers are playing Kiké Hernandez at shortstop with Chris Taylor in left field.

Still toying with Adrian Gonzalez at first base, Cody Bellinger’s return from injury has placed him in the outfield, which affects both the defense and the lineup. Gonzalez, a stalwart on the ballclub since his acquisition, is a positive influence in the clubhouse but is hitting a lowly .170 since his return from injury and likely will only be used as a pinch hitter during the stretch run.

Curtis Granderson, a spark plug with a sterling reputation in the clutch, is manning center field when Taylor is at other spots, but he is only hitting .122 since the acquisition. The Dodgers have called up top prospect Alex Verdugo to potentially man the center field position in September, with a shot of sneaking onto the postseason roster.

It is also worth noting that Joc Pederson was not called up and does not seem likely to rejoin the club for the stretch run. With the recent instability allaying significantly, it looks that the Los Angeles Dodgers offense will return to form.

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Justin Turner’s recent slump – .250 batting average, .781 OPS – should be viewed more as a correction than an indication of his postseason outlook. A monstrous first half in which he clubbed a 1.056 OPS on the heels of a .377 batting average was never going to be sustained, so look for him to rebound shortly and build upon his history of strong playoff performances.

As the regulars return to both the lineup and the pitching rotation, the team’s core and strengths will be evident as they continue to build on what should still be a historic season.

In short, this does not appear to be a cause for major concern or worry. The Dodgers were the only team in baseball without a four-game losing streak, and despite being on the losing end of a sweep for the first time in 16 months, the team was as discombobulated as its been at any point this season.

In short, this does not appear to be a cause for major concern or worry. The Dodgers were the only team in baseball without a four-game losing streak, and despite being on the losing end of a sweep for the first time in 16 months, the team was as discombobulated as its been at any point this season.

Next: Dodgers not on the 40-man that will be on playoff roster

The Diamondbacks already proved they can match up with the Boys in Blue, and the Cubs and Nationals both return key pieces (Jayson Werth, Trea Turner & Bryce Harper for the Nats; Jon Lester for the Cubs). The showdowns in October are going to be incredible, and it’s paramount that the Dodgers get right immediately.