‘It’s what we wanted’: Lynn delivers in Dodgers debut

LOS ANGELES — When the Dodgers acquired Kiké Hernández from the Red Sox and Lance Lynn from the White Sox final week, the staff was hopeful these strikes had been only the start of what was going to be a busy stretch of upgrading a roster that has stunned by 4 months. 

But when the Trade Deadline hit at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, it was principally quiet at Dodger Stadium. There had been no gamers out on the sphere and no coaches ready behind them. It seems it was additionally quiet within the entrance workplace because the Dodgers, a staff anticipated to be lively within the pitching market earlier than the Deadline, solely landed a depth piece in left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from the Royals in change for prospects Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa. 

“We added five guys in the last week, and a lot of them contributed big today,” mentioned Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who went 4-for-5 on Tuesday, his fourth four-game hit of the season. “We feel good. We love our team. We had a first-place team going into the day, and we have a first-place team coming out of tonight. We love the team we have.”

Lynn, who turned out to be the surprising massive addition on the pitching facet, fared effectively in his staff debut, permitting three runs (all on solo house runs) and struck out seven over seven innings. Lynn grew to become the primary Dodgers starter to finish seven innings since Clayton Kershaw on June 20.

“It’s what we needed,” mentioned Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “He was a pro. Efficient. Attacking the zone. Made pitches when he needed to. It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a starter get through seven. So to go out there and use two guys tonight out of the ‘pen and feel really good about tomorrow, it’s just what we needed.”

The veteran right-hander confirmed flashes of why the Dodgers acted rapidly final week. His completely different mixtures of heaters gave the A’s some hassle, and Lynn leaned on the curveball greater than he has in earlier outings. Unfortunately for Lynn and the Dodgers, the right-hander nonetheless struggled to maintain the ball within the ballpark, and has now given up 31 homers — probably the most within the Majors. 

“We won, so it was good. That’s all that matters,” Lynn mentioned. “I made a couple mistakes that left the ballpark. But we won, so that’s all that matters.”

As for Hernández, Dodgers followers are not any strangers to the utilityman arising with massive hits. Facing reliever Tayler Scott, a right-hander — not the function the Dodgers acquired him for — Hernández cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double within the fourth inning to offer the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

In the tip, nevertheless, all of the discuss across the ballpark surrounded the pitchers they failed so as to add earlier than the Deadline. The Dodgers had been pursuing Justin Verlander, however knew that they confronted an uphill battle because it appeared the right-hander had his eyes set on a return to Houston. While the Dodgers may’ve swept the Mets off their ft with a powerful prospect haul, it was finally Verlander’s resolution due to his no-trade clause.

Then there’s the saga with Eduardo Rodriguez. After coming to phrases with the Tigers on a deal that may’ve despatched the left-hander to the Dodgers, Rodriguez opted to not waive his no-trade clause. According to sources, a number of gamers on the Dodgers had been in communication for days with Rodriguez, attempting to persuade him to return to Los Angeles. Rodriguez, nevertheless, mentioned he wasn’t , a proper he earned when given a no-trade clause.

“We knew that this year, there was a smaller number [of options] than there typically is, for various reasons,” mentioned Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “But there have been a pair guys we aggressively pursued, and that’s the way it goes. From our standpoint, we really feel actually good in regards to the staff now we have and the depth now we have behind it. That mentioned, you at all times need to really feel even higher.” 

Whether the Dodgers are higher following Tuesday’s Deadline is up for debate. They didn’t land a high-end influence starter that would assist their possibilities in October and enhance a rotation that had a 6.18 ERA in July. Lynn’s begin does give them some optimism transferring ahead, however the way it all shakes out stays to be seen. 

“We got who we got now. We like who we have,” Freeman said. “So we’re ready for the next 57 games.”