Dodgers Week 23: Almost perfect

This week for the Dodgers had just about everything. They got ace Clayton Kershaw back after nearly 11 weeks away, they pummeled old friend Zack Greinke to the tune of five home runs in his first game back in Los Angeles, they nearly got a perfect game out of Rich Hill in just his third start in six weeks as a Dodger, a game that featured the second hook during a no-hitter this season by manager Dave Roberts.

The week saw Corey Seager and his brother set a home run record, got Andre Ethier back after 140 games on the shelf, saw Joc Pederson hit three home runs including two in one game, saw Yasiel Puig make a ridiculous catch to extend the perfect game bid in just his second career start in left field, and yet another home plate umpire got hurt during a Dodgers game this season, with Brian Knight getting struck on the collarbone by a pitch on Friday.

The Dodgers lost two of three to the Marlins, but the home sweep of the Diamondbacks gave them a winning week at 4-2, all while setting a new disabled list record in the process.

Batter of week

Joc Pederson hit .500 (7-for-14) with three home runs, including two on Saturday in Miami, and five walks for a .632 on-base percentage. He beat out Corey Seager, who hit .440 with a team-best six RBI and six runs scored, and four extra-base hits.

Pitcher of the week

Rich Hill retired all 21 batters he faced, and the only thing that stopped him was the caution of manager Dave Roberts. The left-hander struck out nine and has 19 scoreless innings in three starts with the Dodgers.

Week 23 results

Record: 4-2
24 runs scored (4.00 per game)
12 runs allowed (2.00 per game)
.780 pythagorean record

2016 season to date

Record: 80-62
634 runs scored (4.46 per game)
560 runs allowed (3.94 per game)
.557 pythagorean record (79-63)

Miscellany

“Bless his heart, he’s got to be the sickest man in America”: Sure, Verne Lundquist said that quote when Dallas Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone in Super Bowl XIII, but the feeling applied to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Saturday, too, when he pulled Rich Hill after seven perfect innings, a decision that Roberts said made him feel sick to his stomach.

How rare was it? SABR research showed that Hill is the first pitcher ever to be removed from a game that late with a perfect game still intact.

Transactions

Monday: Relief pitcher Luis Avilan was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Tuesday: Reliever Pedro Baez was recalled from his reset week on the roster of Double-A Tulsa.

Wednesday: Pitcher Brock Stewart was recalled from Double-A Tulsa to start the series finale against the Diamondbacks.

Friday: Ace Clayton Kershaw was activated from the disabled list to make his first start in 75 days, and Carlos Frias was recalled and placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster.

Saturday: Outfielder Andre Ethier was activated one day after rejoining the Dodgers in Miami, and to make 40-man room relief pitcher Casey Fien was designated for assignment.

Current active roster total: 35 players (16 position players, 19 pitchers)

Game results

Monday: Dodgers 10, Diamondbacks 2

Tuesday: Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 2

Wednesday: Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 1

Friday: Marlins 4, Dodgers 1

Saturday: Dodgers 5, Marlins 0

Sunday: Marlins 3, Dodgers 0

Upcoming week

The Dodgers run the Juan Miranda gauntlet, finishing off their road trip with three games against the Yankees in New York and four games against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The LA rotation in Arizona after Hill is mostly an educated guess.

Previous weeks in review

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 |Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22

Week 23 stats

Batting

Pitching