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The Dodgers head into the All-Star break on the highest of high notes, after their second undefeated week in the last three. The club faced the second hottest team in the National League (Diamondbacks), then the hottest team in the American League (Royals), both winners of 18 of their last 24 games heading into Los Angeles.
Both were swept.
This was not a week of beat-downs, like when the Mets and Rockies came to town and got outscored by 40 runs in seven days two weeks ago. All three wins over Arizona were by one run, as was one of the three wins against Kansas City. This week, the Dodgers won a pair of games with four no-out walks in their final time to bat, including a walk-off walk on Saturday.
But wins are wins, and the Dodgers head into the break at 61-29, a half-game ahead of the Astros for best record in baseball.
The Dodgers’ run differential of +163 is the best at the All-Star break in National League history. Only three American League teams have beaten that mark — the 1939 Yankees (+217), the 1969 Orioles (+168) and 1936 Yankees (+167). All three went to the World Series.
Winners of 26 of their last 30 games, it would be natural for the Dodgers to want to keep playing rather than have four days in between games. But after a hard-charging first half, rest is good, too.
“The All-Star Game is coming at a great time. We all are looking forward to the four days, all of us except for six guys, which is great for them,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We’re not concerned. It’s time we’re looking forward to, but once the second half starts we’ll be ready to play.”
Batter of the week
Justin Turner was initially left off the National League All-Star team, but responded by hitting .313/.478/.938 with three home runs, a double, and six walks, driving in six. He did win the Final Vote, announced Thursday, so the Dodgers’ .377/.473/.583-hitting third baseman is in fact in Miami.
Pitcher of the week
Clayton Kershaw celebrated getting named to his seventh straight All-Star team with a pair of vintage starts. He struck out 24 in two wins, including the Dodgers’ first complete game of the season on Sunday, a 13-strikeout gem to end the “first half” in style.
That Sunday start opened up an All-Star spot for the deserving Alex Wood, who gets honorable mention for heading into the break on a high note, striking out 10 in seven scoreless frames against Arizona on Wednesday. Dodgers starters had a 1.10 ERA for the week, allowing six total runs in six games.
Week 14 results
Record: 6-0
24 runs scored (4.00 per game)
14 runs allowed (2.33 per game)
.728 pythagorean record
Year to date
Record: 61-29
463 runs scored (5.14 per game)
300 runs allowed (3.33 per game)
.689 pythagorean record (62-28)
The Dodgers’ .678 winning percentage is their four-best before the All-Star break, behind only 1942 (52-21), 1952 (51-21), and 1955 (58-26).
Transactions
Tuesday: Starting pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu was placed on the disabled list with a left foot contusion, and pitcher Ross Stripling was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Thursday: Relief pitcher Grant Dayton was placed on the disabled list with neck stiffness, and outfielder/first baseman Scott Van Slyke was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Saturday: Brandon McCarthy was activated from the disabled list to start against the Royals, and Scott Van Slyke was optioned to Triple-A.
Game results
Tuesday: Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 3
Wednesday: Dodgers 1, Diamondbacks 0
Thursday: Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 4
Friday: Dodgers 4, Royals 1
Saturday: Dodgers 5, Royals 4 (10)
Sunday: Dodgers 5, Royals 2
The week ahead
The Dodgers run the Jeff Conine gauntlet, focusing solely on Miami. First there is the All-Star Game and all that comes with it, then the Dodgers open up their post-break schedule against old friend Don Mattingly and his Marlins squad.
Week 15 schedule
| Mon, Jul 10 | Tue, Jul 11 | Wed, Jul 12 | Thu, Jul 13 | Fri, Jul 14 | Sat, Jul 15 | Sun, Jul 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jul 10 | Tue, Jul 11 | Wed, Jul 12 | Thu, Jul 13 | Fri, Jul 14 | Sat, Jul 15 | Sun, Jul 16 |
| HR Derby | All-Star Game | Off | Off | at Marlins | at Marlins | at Marlins |
| 5 p.m. | 5 p.m. | 4:10 p.m. | 4:10 p.m. | 10:10 a.m. | ||
| Bellinger v. | Scherzer v. | McCarthy v. | Wood v. | Hill v. | ||
| Bellinger | Sale (L) | Straily | Urena | Volquez | ||
| ESPN | Fox | SNLA | SNLA | SNLA |
Previous weeks in review: Apr. 3-9 | Apr. 10-16 | Apr. 17-23 | Apr. 24-30 | May 1-7 | May 8-14| May 15-21 | May 22-28 | May 29-Jun 4 | June 5-11 | June 12-18 | June 19-25 | June 26-July 2
Stats
Week 14 batting
| Player | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | BABIP | Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | BABIP | Player |
| Turner | 16 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 0.313 | 0.478 | 0.938 | 1.416 | 0.200 | Turner |
| Pederson | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.300 | 0.364 | 0.700 | 1.064 | 0.250 | Pederson |
| Bellinger | 15 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0.267 | 0.476 | 0.533 | 1.010 | 0.300 | Bellinger |
| Forsythe | 18 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0.278 | 0.409 | 0.500 | 0.909 | 0.364 | Forsythe |
| Grandal | 15 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.533 | 0.867 | 0.556 | Grandal |
| Taylor | 24 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.458 | 0.792 | 0.471 | Taylor |
| Puig | 19 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0.211 | 0.211 | 0.368 | 0.579 | 0.231 | Puig |
| Seager | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0.200 | 0.273 | 0.250 | 0.523 | 0.400 | Seager |
| Starters | 137 | 18 | 38 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 157 | 0.277 | 0.363 | 0.511 | 0.874 | 0.352 | Starters |
| Van Slyke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ----- | 1.000 | ------ | 1.000 | ------ | Van Slyke |
| Barnes | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.167 | 0.286 | 0.667 | 0.952 | 0.000 | Barnes |
| Utley | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.250 | 0.357 | 0.333 | 0.690 | 0.300 | Utley |
| Thompson | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.143 | 0.143 | 0.429 | 0.571 | 0.333 | Thompson |
| Hernandez | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.091 | 0.286 | 0.091 | 0.377 | 0.143 | Hernandez |
| Bench | 36 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0.167 | 0.302 | 0.333 | 0.636 | 0.227 | Bench |
| Pitchers | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.071 | 0.071 | 0.071 | 0.143 | 0.143 | Pitchers |
| Offense | 187 | 24 | 45 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 63 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 214 | 0.241 | 0.332 | 0.444 | 0.776 | 0.316 | Offense |
Week 14 pitching
| Pitcher | G | GS | W | L | Sv | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | ERA | WHIP | FIP | Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | G | GS | W | L | Sv | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | ERA | WHIP | FIP | Pitcher |
| Wood | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.714 | 1.20 | Wood | |
| Kershaw | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16.0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 1.13 | 0.625 | 1.39 | Kershaw | |
| Hill | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1.29 | 0.286 | 2.91 | Hill | |
| McCarthy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.50 | 1.333 | 3.87 | McCarthy | |
| Maeda | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1.80 | 1.200 | 2.40 | Maeda | |
| Starters | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 41.0 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 1.10 | 0.756 | 2.10 | Starters |
| Stewart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.000 | 2.20 | Stewart | ||
| Stripling | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.000 | 1.20 | Stripling | ||
| Romo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.000 | -2.80 | Romo | ||
| Jansen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3.7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2.45 | 0.818 | 5.38 | Jansen | |
| Baez | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.86 | 1.714 | 7.49 | Baez | ||
| Fields | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.50 | 1.500 | 1.20 | Fields | ||
| Avilan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13.50 | 1.500 | 19.70 | Avilan | ||
| Morrow | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20.25 | 6.000 | 2.45 | Morrow | ||
| Bullpen | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 14.0 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 5.14 | 1.429 | 5.27 | Bullpen |
| Totals | 24 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 55.0 | 39 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 65 | 1 | 2.13 | 0.927 | 2.91 | Totals |