PITTSBURGH — Now’s the time, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts believes, for his group’s depth to rise.
And if the exterior pressures of a decent Nationwide League West race, postseason seeding implications and a looming World Sequence protection in October don’t do it, then possibly, he hopes, elevated inner battles for enjoying time will.
For some time on Tuesday night time, in a sequence opener towards the perpetually rebuilding Pittsburgh Pirates, the Dodgers confirmed battle. Clayton Kershaw gave up 4 runs in an unsightly first inning, however the lineup clawed its manner again to even the rating — thanks, partly, to a 120-mph rocket of a house run from Shohei Ohtani within the third, his forty sixth of the season and a centesimal as a Dodger and a tying solo blast from Andy Pages within the fourth.
Kershaw, in the meantime, settled right down to get by 5 innings with none extra injury, retiring 13 of his closing 15 batters to salvage one thing from his begin.
Because the latter innings approached, it left the Dodgers in place to not solely win, however construct their division lead after the San Diego Padres’ loss on Monday.
Alas…
The bullpen faltered, with Edgardo Henriquez (who hadn’t given up a run in his first 12 outings this yr) and Blake Treinen (who had lastly began trying like himself once more after an early-season elbow damage) combining for 3 runs conceded within the sixth.
The lineup couldn’t overcome one other huge deficit, scoring twice within the seventh just for the Pirates to get the runs again within the subsequent two innings.
And as soon as extra, the Dodgers misplaced to a group miles behind them within the standings, falling 9-7 at PNC Park to drop to 4-10 of their final 14 video games towards groups with shedding information.
The Dodgers’ lack of ability to beat unhealthy groups has underscored a persistent problem with the group.
They’ve been inconsistent, struggling to stack clear performances or any semblance of an prolonged successful streak. They’ve at occasions lacked urgency, failing to tug away from the slumping Padres within the division or get again in place for a top-two NL playoff seed (which might give them an all-important first-round bye within the postseason).
For all their efforts to rally on Tuesday, additionally they noticed every of their three outfielders fail to snag catchable balls, an eighth-inning wild pitch by Anthony Banda led to at least one key insurance coverage run and a normal lack of execution price them in different key spots (like once they managed just one run from a bases-loaded, no-out scenario within the second).
To this point, neither a comfortable spot within the schedule nor the realities of the calendar have mounted such miscues.
Thus, Roberts highlighted one other answer in his pregame deal with — acknowledging that gamers who don’t step up their efficiency quickly may see their taking part in time get minimize because the roster returns to full well being.
On Monday, when MLB rosters expanded to twenty-eight gamers firstly of September, the Dodgers activated two key items from the injured record: Infielder Hyeseong Kim, who had been out since late July with a shoulder damage; and reliever Michael Kopech, who had been restricted to eight appearances this yr due to arm troubles and a meniscus surgical procedure in his knee.
Subsequent homestand, extra reinforcements might be on the way in which, with Max Muncy and Tommy Edman starting rehab assignments with triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis this week.
And earlier than lengthy, the Dodgers’ long-shorthanded depth chart may out of the blue be crowded, forcing powerful selections to probably be made in left subject, at second base and within the bullpen.
“I do suppose simply type of naturally it raises the extent of efficiency and depth,” Roberts stated, pointing to veteran infielder Miguel Rojas as one instance of somebody who’s “preventing for enjoying time” with lately improved play.
“I tip my cap to him,” Roberts stated. “I’m anticipating that from a whole lot of different guys as effectively.”
Certainly, there are a variety of underperforming gamers that might get squeezed out of their present roles because the roster will get wholesome.
Roberts stated Edman will play principally heart fielder throughout his rehab stint, one thing he had been unable to do earlier this season whereas battling an ankle damage. As soon as he’s again, which means somebody comparable to Michael Conforto (who continues to be batting underneath .200 on the season) may drop to the bench, leaving the nook outfield spots for Pages and Teoscar Hernández.
Within the infield, Kim will doubtless determine in at second base (although may additionally kick out to left subject, the place he noticed time throughout his personal latest rehab project). That can create another slice in an infield pie that’s already being divvied between Rojas, Kiké Hernandez and Alex Freeland. As soon as Muncy is again at third, at-bats shall be at much more of a premium.
The identical scenario may unfold within the bullpen, which can even get Alex Vesia and Brock Stewart again this month from their very own accidents. That can elevate the stress on struggling offseason signings Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to proceed incomes leverage alternatives.
The way it all shakes out stays unclear.
However the place there are extra choices, the Dodgers consider, higher manufacturing — and depth — will observe.
