Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff berth. The Dodgers’ magic quantity for matching that’s 5 after Monday’s 6–5 extra-inning loss to the Phillies.
So the possibilities are excessive the groups will meet once more within the postseason, which makes this week’s sequence at Dodger Stadium a terrific alternative to do some scouting.
“We attempt to collect as a lot data as we are able to,” infielder Miguel Rojas mentioned. “They’re doing the identical factor.”
That’s not the primary goal, although. As a result of if the Dodgers are closing in on a playoff berth, they aren’t there but. They usually have much more work to do after Monday’s sport, which ended with J.T. Realmuto’s Tenth-inning sacrifice fly scoring ghost runner Harrison Bader with the profitable run for Philadelphia.
“With the place we’re at, I’m making an attempt to win each sport,” mentioned supervisor Dave Roberts, whose crew fought again from deficits 3 times earlier than falling. “And the place it falls out is the place it falls out.”
The place the Dodgers are is 2½ video games in entrance of idle San Diego within the Nationwide League West. Their magic quantity for clinching an eleventh division title in 12 seasons is 10 with lower than two weeks left within the common season.
However the Dodgers additionally entered the Phillies sequence with their eyes on the No. 2 seed within the postseason event, a spot Philadelphia holds and one which brings with it a bye within the first spherical. It’s a break Roberts’ battered roster might use.
However it’s one which turned extra elusive when Monday’s win pushed the Phillies’ result in 5½ video games within the race for No. 2, a deficit the Dodgers have simply 12 video games to make up.
“It’s actually arduous to not face these video games down the stretch like a playoff sport,” Rojas mentioned. “We’ve been doing this for nearly two weeks now. That’s the way in which that we’ve to take a look at it if we need to be ready for October.”
Left-hander Jack Dreyer agreed.
“Clearly it’s enjoyable to consider the playoffs,” he mentioned. “However proper now, we’re simply centered on this sequence and do[ing] no matter we are able to to carry out for this sequence.”
That doesn’t imply gamers received’t keep in mind how particular person matchups unfold throughout this sequence or the following one towards the San Francisco Giants, one other potential playoff opponent.
“There are completely issues which you could type of choose up on and attempt to use sooner or later,” Dreyer mentioned. “Each time that you just’re enjoying guys, you possibly can type of deposit these reminiscences into your mind for the longer term. Since you’re certain to face the identical guys time and again.”
One reminiscence Dreyer received’t quickly neglect is the 2-0 fastball he threw to Weston Wilson within the seventh, a pitch Wilson, the Phillies’ ninth-place hitter, drove 417 ft to lifeless middle for a go-ahead dwelling run.
Two matchups Roberts did need to see Monday was left-hander Anthony Banda going through the Phillies’ two left-handed sluggers, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. So he despatched the reliever out to open the sport.
That didn’t work out effectively, with Schwarber driving a 2-2 pitch into the second row of the right-centerfield bleachers for his league-best 53rd homer of the yr. It was the primary homer Banda had given up since Aug. 4.
Banda then walked Harper earlier than leaving in favor of right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who didn’t hand over one other hit till Otto Kemp opened the seventh with a ground-rule double to left.
That led Roberts to tug Sheehan for Dreyer, who gave up an RBI single to Bryson Stott adopted by Wilson’s two-run homer, which gave the Phillies a 4-3 lead.
Dodgers aid pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate through the first inning of a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday at Dodger Stadium.
(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)
The Dodgers received their first run within the third, when Andy Pages led off with a double into the left-field nook, moved to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Mookie Betts fly ball simply wanting the warning observe in middle.
Two innings later, Max Muncy put the Dodgers in entrance with a leadoff dwelling run to proper, his first since coming back from the injured checklist per week in the past. Betts made it 3-1 with one other sacrifice fly to middle later within the inning, giving him 18 RBIs in September and 77 for the season, two higher than his complete final yr.
Betts added to that in seventh, tying the sport with a two-out homer, his 19th of the season, matching his complete from final season.
Harper answered within the eighth, placing the Phillies again in entrance, solely to have Pages even issues once more with one out within the ninth together with his 25th homer of the season off Phillies nearer Jhoan Durán, sending the sport to additional innings.
The sport ended with Muncy grounding out with the bases loaded towards Philadelphia right-hander David Robertson.
Stewart reviews for rehab project
Reliever Brock Stewart, the Dodgers’ most celebrated acquisition on the commerce deadline, left Monday to affix Oklahoma Metropolis for a two-game rehab project. Stewart, on the injured checklist since Aug. 12 with proper shoulder irritation, is predicted to pitch Tuesday and Thursday in Triple A earlier than returning to Dodger Stadium.
“If all goes effectively, then we’ve a dialog over the weekend,” Roberts mentioned of Stewart’s availability. “We’ve simply received to ensure he’s wholesome. If he’s proper, then it might be very additive.”
Dodgers honor Betts’ philanthropy
For the second straight yr Betts has been chosen because the Dodgers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious off-the-field prize, in recognition for his wide-ranging charity work.
In January, Betts’ 5050 Basis donated greater than $30,000 of Nike clothes to victims of the Southern California wildfires. A couple of weeks later, in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Basis (LADF), he donated greater than $160,000 to the Brotherhood Campaign to assist struggle starvation and homelessness in Los Angeles.
Additionally this season the 5050 Basis partnered with the Obama Basis at Hyde Park Academy to donate youth sports activities gear and different provides whereas additionally funding the Mookie Betts Metro Baseball Match in Nashville.
