Dodgers July review: Offense fills Clayton Kershaw void

The Dodgers were without the best pitcher on the planet with Clayton Kershaw missing all of July, and the relievers averaged a whopping 4.43 innings per game during the month.

But thanks to an offense that led the National League in runs per game during July, the Dodgers put up the best record in the NL for the month, and gained four games on San Francisco in the National League West.

Yasmani Grandal led the team in home runs and OPS, while Justin Turner continued his power surge, surrounded by hot months by Howie Kendrick and Corey Seager, and a solid July from Adrian Gonzalez.

Joc Pederson missed a month and still had a .906 OPS. Yasiel Puig, when healthy, put up an .806 OPS that ranked seventh among the regulars. When an .806 OPS is seventh, you know the team is humming.

Brandon McCarthy returned from Tommy John surgery, and Bud Norris was acquired, forming half of an evenly matched quartet with Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir.  As starters that group all had 26... and 27... innings, and all four had between 31-33 strikeouts in July.

The result was a 15-9 record, the club's best winning percentage for any month this season.

Dodger Batter of July: Catcher Yasmani Grandal is finally fully healthy again and it shows. He hit eight home runs and walked 13 times in July, putting up an 1.120 OPS.

Dodger Pitcher of July: After missing 15 months, Brandon McCarthy rejoined the staff and hit the ground running, putting up a 2.39 ERA in five starts, with 32 strikeouts and eight unintentional walks.

July Record: 15-9
126 runs scored (5.25 per game)
94 runs allowed (3.92 per game)
.631 pythagorean winning percentage (15-9)

2016 Record: 59-46
464 runs scored (4.42 per game)
390 runs allowed (3.71 per game)
.579 pythagorean winning percentage (61-44)

Game of the Month: On July 29 at home, the Dodgers allowed seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to fall behind 7-3. But a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the inning tied the score with nobody out, then the Dodgers scored the go-ahead run later in the frame, in a 9-7 win over Arizona.

Pinch Hitting: Dodgers pinch hitters have been terrible all season, and July was no different. Pinch hitters during the month were just 6-for-42 with a home run and five walks, hitting .143/.229/.214.

Runners in Scoring Position: In July, the Dodgers hit 276/.358/.474 with runners in scoring position in 271 plate appearances, with 11 doubles and 11 home runs. It was their best month of the season with RISP, and their most opportunities.

Bases loaded: The Dodgers were 6-for-27 with the bases loaded in July, with two grand slams and 16 RBI, hitting .222/.241/.481.

The Month ahead: The Dodgers play 15 of their 28 games in August at home, including the Red Sox, Giants and Cubs making trips to Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers begin and end their month with a three-game series in Denver against the Rockies.

July weeks in review: July 3 | July 11 | July 18 | July 25 | Aug. 1

Previous months in review: April | May | June

July Stats

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