The Offense Did Enough — And Then Some
Look, the Dodgers didn’t need to light up the scoreboard with Ohtani going the way he was, and they didn’t. But there were some encouraging signs throughout the lineup.
Mookie Betts went 2-for-the-game and has genuinely been hitting the ball hard lately — not just getting on base, but barreling things up. Watch for that to turn into a run of production real soon.
And I owe Freddie Freeman an apology. I said he was getting old. I said it. I’ll own it. The man went out and smoked two more doubles. He is absolutely not coasting. He’s locked in.
Kyle Tucker chipped in, going 1-for-2. Teoscar Hernandez launched an absolute bomb that had no business being caught — the kind of swing you just sit back and appreciate. Hyeseong Kim added a hit. Muncy had a hit mixed in with an error. Will Smith went 1-for-4 with a double play ball, same as Paja, who went 0-for-4 with a couple of DPs. Those two left some runs on the table, but one quiet series doesn’t concern me. The lineup is too deep for that to matter over 162.
The Bullpen: 29 Scoreless Innings and Counting
This is the real story right now, and I don’t think it’s getting the attention it deserves nationally. After Ohtani’s five shutout innings, the Dodgers’ bullpen came in and threw four more zeroes. That’s 29 consecutive scoreless innings for this pitching staff. Twenty-nine.
Edgardo Enriquez, Blake Trinen, Kyle Hurt, and Will Klein all came in and handled business. And here’s what I love about this group — it’s not just that they’re pitching well now. These guys have been here before. Enriquez, Trinen, and Klein all pitched in the World Series. Hurt is on that path. This isn’t a bullpen figuring things out. This is a bullpen that knows how to win when it matters.
What’s Going on With the Padres?
The Padres are a mess right now, and they shouldn’t be. Fernando Tatis still hasn’t hit a home run this season. Not one. Manny Machado is hitting .178. Their most productive offensive player at the moment is Miguel Andujar, batting .290 with five home runs, which is not what you drew up when you built that roster. And now Jackson Merrill looks like he’s heading to the IL with an injury, which only makes things worse.
Their pitching is legitimately good — don’t sleep on that staff — but the offense has real holes, and the Dodgers found them. Mason Miller looked shaky in the series opener, and even when he settled in, you could see he wasn’t fully comfortable. When a pitcher looks scared on the mound against you, that’s a good thing. File that away.
Looking Ahead: Milwaukee and a Healthier Roster
The Dodgers head to Milwaukee next for a three-game set. I’ll be honest — that’s not an easy trip. The Brewers are better than their payroll suggests, no matter what their front office wants you to believe. That’ll be a real test.
But the good news is the Dodgers are getting healthier. Kiké Hernández is expected back around the 25th. Tommy Edman looks like a rehab assignment could be coming soon. There’s hope that Gavin Stone can return before long, and Eric Lauer is set to make his Dodger debut sometime next week. The cavalry is on its way.
They don’t even play Milwaukee until Friday, so there’s time to breathe. But right now? Twenty-nine scoreless innings. A bullpen full of World Series veterans. Shohei Ohtani is homering and pitching in the same game? I’ll take it.
God Bless and Go Dodgers!