Dodger Pitching Depth Tested

Dodger Pitching Depth Under Siege in August

By David A. Avila

It’s a race.

If you paid attention at the beginning of the season the National League West was headed to its most competitive year.

A mere two games separate three teams.

The Los Angeles Dodgers despite boasting the greatest depth of all teams in the Major Leagues is suffering a slew of injuries that would have felled any team. Yet, in the third week of August the team is holding off the red-hot San Diego Padres and equally hot Arizona Diamondbacks.

But how long can it last.

The Dodgers are under siege after losing 10 pitchers due to injuries. Just recently Tyler Glasnow was shelved for tendinitis in his elbow. They already lost Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ryan Brasier, Connor Brodgon, Brusder Graterol, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan and Blake Treinen.

If not for the July trade for Jack Flaherty and Mike Kopech where would the Dodger rotation be? If not for the returns of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler the team surely would have sunk to mediocre levels. But even with the two former aces not 100 percent, they at least keep the team competitive.

A hitting attack bolstered by Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez to this year’s starting lineup keeps the Dodgers in every game. And when you add the return of Gavin Lux and Kike Hernandez you can understand how the team from Chavez Ravine remains an offensive force.

For more than two months opposing teams were able to pitch around Ohtani due to the absence of Mookie Betts. When the two former MVPs faced pitchers back-to-back Ohtani was the most dangerous bat in the Major Leagues and had the stats to prove it. He still destroyed teams but not at the same clip as with Betts alongside.

Betts has returned.

Other additions to the Dodgers infield are Tommy Edman and Nick Ahmed. Both are shortstops and can help in the important position that was a major hole when Betts and Miguel Rojas both went down for injuries.

Edman, who came from the St. Louis Cardinals, has speed and is very good with the glove. He averaged more than 20 stolen bases a year and that’s very important during the postseason when each run is important.

Ahmed was picked up after the San Francisco Giants let him go. He is a valuable player who was a starter for the Arizona team. He’s already contributed to a win with a homerun for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers remain the top hitting team in the National League with Atlanta second and Philadelphia third according to OPS. The Dodgers also lead the NL in team homeruns with 165.

In pitching the Philadelphia Phillies lead the NL with a team ERA of 3.71. Next is Atlanta with a 3.74 ERA followed by Chicago Cubs 3.75 and the Dodgers fourth at 3.77.

For years the Dodgers led the NL in ERA but the rash of injuries has kept the team from leading in that category. This year the hitting has been the savior for the Los Angeles team.

Around the MLB

Joc Pederson has clicked all yearlong as a DH for Arizona and currently slugged 19 homers with 55 RBIs and a .940 OPS. He’s a major reason for that team’s offensive resurgence and hot streak. He was signed as a free agent.

The New York Yankees boast MLB’s two top hitters with Aaron Judge hitting 44 homers and leading MLB with a 1.175 OPS and Juan Soto slugging 34 homers and a 1.046 OPS. Those are Ruth/Gehrig numbers for the Bronx Bombers who lead the AL East by one game over Baltimore in their nip and tuck battle for the division.

Atlanta is having a down year due to the loss of Ronald Acuna, but where would they be without Marcell Ozuna who is having a marvelous year with 35 homers, 90 RBIs and a .954 OPS. He’s right behind Ohtani and Boston’s Rafael Devers in offensive numbers.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been a major reason for Kansas City Royals contending for a playoff spot. Witt has 25 homers 90 RBIs and a 1.021 OPS. The shortstop for the Royals has been solid and proved that last year was no fluke. He’s doubled his numbers from 2023 and stabilized a team that is surprising the rest of the American League.

Gunnar Henderson is another young shortstop with offensive power and leads the Baltimore Orioles with 31 homers and a .927 OPS. The Orioles are battling it out with New York for the lead in the division and trying to keep ahead of Boston. Henderson is in his third year.

Oakland Athletics boast Brent Rooker as their left-fielder and where would they be without the right-handed slugger. He already has 29 homers and 83 RBIs with a .950 OPS and is among the league leaders in those categories. Last year was good, but this year is even better for Rooker and the A’s.