and the Beat Goes on!
Since last Friday, when the Dodgers beat the Padres 11-6, they have played five more games and scored one less run than they did in Friday s game. When you average two runs a game, you are certain to have a sub .500 record and the Dodgers are 2-3 in those games. It s a testament to their pitching that they have won any of those games. They won one game 2-0

Since last Friday, when the Dodgers beat the Padres 11-6, they have played five more games and scored one less run than they did in Friday’s game. When you average two runs a game, you are certain to have a sub .500 record and the Dodgers are 2-3 in those games. It’s a testament to their pitching that they have won any of those games. They won one game 2-0 and the other 1-0. The only games they have won in this streak were shutouts.
Striker Buehler (and it really is “Striker”, because he did not walk anyone) was very good, but he had to be perfect and he wasn’t. To top it off, older than dirt Mark Melancon struck out Raley, Barnes, and Betts to save the game. That was his 7th save and his ERA sits at 0.90, with a 0.31 WHIP. We all saw that coming! Yeah, right!
Right about now, the Dodgers can’t jump out of a boat and hit water. If they don’t wake up their bats in short order, they are in danger of losing their first series and emboldening the young Padres even more. Kershaw and Darvish battle tonight and both have been very good this year. The Padres are #1 in MLB with a 2.54 ERA and the Dodgers are second with a 2.68 ERA – both have identical 1.03 WHIPs.
Slumps happen in baseball all the time, but it’s most rare that nobody is hitting, although Noisy and Pollock both had big flys last night. Hitting is contagious and right about now someone really needs to get “sick” with the bat and infect the rest of the team. We got a “glimpse” of Max Muncy in Sheldon Neuse… but he’s just a role player. The Dodgers missed Bellinger, Taylor, and McKinstry last night – the later two had lower back soreness, but that is no excuse. This is the deepest team (on paper) in baseball and you simply have to execute. When asked about his team’s execution last night after the game, Dave Roberts said, “I’m all for it!” [that’s a joke, son]
Blake Treinen is who we thought he was: Pretty good at times and not so good at others. It’s too early to predict what he will do this season, but in 2.1 IP against LH, he has given up 6 hits with no runs while having a 3.86 WHIP. Against RH, he has given up 6 hits in 5.2 IP, but has a 1.24 WHIP. He needs to get it together. iIs stuff is too good to play down like that.
Baseball is sometimes maddening a when you least expect it… BANG! Something crazy happens. Stay Tuned
The Beat Goes on!
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Discussion (54)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The bottom line with runners on second and third, nobody out, late in the game, you’ve got to score.
Nuese hit the ball hard, a few feet left or right and it’s a different story. But Muncy has to produce, at least hit a fly ball. Earlier with two runners on, he strikes out. Hey, you absolutely have to put the ball in play. Other Dodgers lately have followed a similar pattern with runners on. Some of the hitters look a little lost.
The Dodgers need to have a couple of hitters get hot. Hard to waste an excellent pitching performance. Had the Padres on the ropes, but failed to deliver. At some point, everybody hits and this slump ends. Hopefully soon. Hard to watch.
The Dodgers need Bellinger back. For Lux and McKinstry, What is the deal with tight backs anyway? Not stretching properly?
The difference in the game was when they had a man on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out and Muncy grounded weekly to second, then Nuese scorched a rocket that was turned into a double play. Guy’s are slumping and when they do something good, it doesn’t work out. Bad luck is a thing in baseball. Betts and Seager were both 0fer. They aren’t going to win many games when that happens.
Dodgers have a real problem against Left handed pitching and it starts with Betts’ head scratching struggles against lefties. It’s more than just an anomaly that will work out over time. This is one spot where the Dodgers might really miss Kiki. He seemed to be the one guy along with Turner who could get things going against LHP.