PHILADELPHIA — For the higher a part of virtually two months, the Dodgers have been a .500 group.
And the largest drawback in that point — a scarcity of dependable beginning pitching from an injury-plagued, rookie-reliant rotation — solely appears to worsen with every passing day.
In the offseason, the Dodgers thought they’d mounted their latest beginning pitching woes. They traded for Tyler Glasnow. They signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They spent almost half a billion {dollars} attempting to bolster each the highest of their rotation, and the depth choices behind it.
This week, nonetheless, in a collection sweep in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies that was cemented with a 5-1 loss Thursday, it’s clear the membership’s rotation is an space of concern once more.
And not with any easy, apparent fixes.
“If you had told us in spring training that we would be where we’re at with the depth of our starting pitching, I would have doubted it,” supervisor Dave Roberts sighed earlier than Thursday’s recreation. “But, we are.”
Indeed, the Dodgers pitching workers is going through query marks virtually all over the place it appears to be like.
This week, in what was supposed to be a marquee matchup between the National League’s high two groups, the Dodgers as a substitute struggled to piece collectively manufacturing on the mound.
The drawback was made all of the extra magnified by a slumping lineup that scored simply 5 runs in three video games at Citizens Bank Park, and an error-prone protection that contributed to a number of Phillies’ rallies, together with a decisive two-run sixth inning Thursday that began on a fly ball James Outman couldn’t get to in heart discipline.
“They’re clearly a better team than we are right now,” Roberts stated.
Added first baseman Freddie Freeman: “We didn’t play very good that series. There’s nothing to spin it any different way.”
In the long run, although, it’s the pitching points that look hardest to clear up.
Philadelphia’s Trea Turner rounds the bases after hitting a house run off Dodgers pitcher Anthony Banda through the first inning Thursday.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
The group was unable to name on Glasnow, its lone All-Star arm, after he joined Yamamoto on the injured record Tuesday.
They determined they might not depend on second-year right-hander Bobby Miller, demoting him to triple A on Wednesday after a nine-run clunker within the collection opener.
And whereas rookies Gavin Stone and Landon Knack — who gave up three runs in 4⅓ innings of bulk aid Thursday, the most effective outing by a Dodgers pitcher this week — have been strong in opposition to the Phillies’ high-scoring lineup, neither have been shut to spectacular both, a stark reminder of the group’s sudden lack of a longtime ace amid all the opposite key absences it’s going through.
“I try not to fret too much or worry too much about the guys who can’t help us right now,” Roberts stated, referencing a gaggle that features Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May and several other different injured arms. “[We’re] hoping that they’ll be back soon.”
Glasnow is anticipated to return shortly after subsequent week’s All-Star Game.
Beyond him, nonetheless, the opposite injured pitchers within the group provide little assurance of front-line success.
Yamamoto nonetheless hasn’t restarted catch play, suggesting that he stays a month or extra from a comeback.
Buehler is working at a non-public facility in Florida, attempting to discover any semblance of consistency after eight tough begins in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure.
Kershaw will resume his minor-league rehab project this weekend; however, as a 36-year-old veteran coming off a significant offseason shoulder harm, he’s hardly sure to possess the uncooked stuff required to reach October.
And whereas Miller does possess that pure expertise, highlighted by his triple-digit fastball, he’s slated to start the second half of the season again in triple A, aiming to clear up the inconsistencies in his supply that led to an ERA over 8.00 in seven begins this 12 months.
Normally, that is the place a contending group would look to the commerce deadline for answers and goal a front-line arm to bolster its postseason pitching plans.
After all, through the Dodgers’ 22-22 stretch during the last 44 video games, their starters have a 4.91 ERA, fifth-worst within the majors throughout that span.
This 12 months, although, the commerce market is slim on such influence pitchers.
The Dodgers have curiosity in Garrett Crochet, in accordance to folks with information of the state of affairs not licensed to communicate publicly, however the Chicago White Sox left-hander is already nearing an innings restrict in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure, which means it’s unlikely he may pitch common turns via the rotation between now and October.
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers is one potential deadline goal having a Cy Young-caliber season. But with two and a half seasons of membership management left, it’s unlikely the Tigers would transfer him — and definitely not for something lower than an enormous prospect haul, the sort the Dodgers are sometimes cautious of providing this time of the 12 months.
There are different cheaper, but nonetheless productive, potential choices — such because the Tigers’ Jack Flaherty, Toronto Blue Jays’ Yusei Kikuchi or White Sox’s Erick Fedde.
Depth, nonetheless, just isn’t the Dodgers’ largest want. In the quick time period, they’ll depend on youthful arms equivalent to Stone, Knack and Justin Wrobleski to cowl innings and protect the membership’s sizable NL West lead.
“I just look at it as these guys are getting a good opportunity in a playoff race, in a pennant race,” Roberts stated.
The eventual returns of Glasnow, Kershaw, Buehler, Miller and — sooner or later — Yamamoto will stabilize their depth chart, as effectively.
Until then, what’s as soon as once more lacking is a wholesome, established, true front-of-the-rotation arm — the sort that might have tipped the scales on this week’s collection in opposition to the Phillies, and can virtually actually be wanted to key any prolonged playoff push.
Perhaps Glasnow will return on time and be that pitcher once more. Maybe Stone will construct off his sturdy first half of the season and blossom into a real postseason weapon. It’s not not possible for Yamamoto to come again and appear like the All-Star-caliber pitcher he was earlier than his harm.
It’s simply that, at this stage, none of these outcomes look inevitable. None of these pitchers might be taken as a right.
Once once more, the Dodgers are scrambling to reinforce a rotation they thought they’d already mounted.
And because it stands now, they could haven’t any alternative however to cross their fingers, wait on improved well being, and hope they’ve sufficient expertise on the mound to carry them to — and thru — October.
This week’s sweep was a reminder that’s no assure.
