LOS ANGELES — At this level within the season and with the division lead they’ve constructed, it’s a matter of when, not if, the Dodgers win their tenth National League West title in 11 seasons.
But as has been the case these previous few seasons, the Dodgers will use the previous few weeks finding out by way of some questions earlier than they make a run at a second World Series title in 4 years.
One of these questions is how they’ll line up in opposition to left-handed pitching in October – and in the event that they’ll have sufficient firepower. In a 6-1 loss to the Padres on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers had no solutions for Padres ace Blake Snell, who represents the standard of pitcher they’ll see within the postseason.
Mookie Betts led off the sport with a tender single that dropped in entrance of Juan Soto in left discipline. Betts additionally reached on a stroll within the third inning. That’s all of the offense the Dodgers managed in opposition to Snell, who struck out eight and walked only one over six dominant innings.
“Yeah, I mean, we’ve faced him quite a bit,” stated Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor. “I thought tonight … I mean, he’s always had success against us. I thought tonight was the best he’s looked since we’ve faced him.”
The Dodgers have been one of the crucial potent offenses this season whatever the pitcher’s handedness. Against right-handed pitching, nevertheless, the Dodgers have a set lineup given Jason Heyward’s sturdy season and David Peralta’s skill to hit for a good common.
Against southpaws, enjoying time might be determined based mostly on matchups and the way every participant is performing. On Wednesday, the Dodgers didn’t begin Max Muncy in opposition to Snell simply to provide him a time without work.
Muncy has had a powerful season in ‘23, however has struggled in opposition to lefties greater than he has in earlier campaigns, coming into play Wednesday with a .149 common, in comparison with a .236 clip in opposition to righties. Still, the Dodgers would need Muncy’s on-base skill within the lineup on most nights in October. If Muncy begins at third in opposition to lefties, nevertheless, it does set off a series of selections.
Kiké Hernández began at third on Wednesday, but additionally has the power to play middle discipline. That place, in fact, belongs to James Outman, who was the one participant to file a hard-hit ball off Snell on Wednesday. Hernández’s function on the staff is to hit lefties, so he’s going to be in each variation of the lineup until he goes on an enormous hunch earlier than October. But beginning Hernández means Muncy or Outman are most likely out of the lineup.
However, there’s additionally the state of affairs the place Hernández begins at second base, which might power Amed Rosario — who has struggled on the plate lately — to be relegated to a bat off the bench. Rosario has been significantly better in opposition to lefties in his profession.
The Dodgers have just a few weeks to determine how they need to map out their plan in opposition to lefties. The excellent news is that they gained’t must face Snell, given the place the Padres are within the standings. But Wednesday’s problem served as a very good reminder that that is the extent of pitcher they’ll see all subsequent month.
“I think it’s a test in the sense that you’re facing an elite pitcher,” Roberts stated. “But the preparation, the focus, the importance of every pitch, that’s hard to simulate during the regular season.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com