Dodgers Week 2 review: Digging a hole

It was a sluggish week for the Dodgers, who dropped four of five games, including two marathon extra-inning games longer than any game they played in 2017. They also were leading in the final inning of both extra-inning contests, making the losses that much harder to take.

An eighth-inning lead was blown on Sunday but the Dodgers were able to salvage a game with an extra-inning lead they were able to keep.

Those extra frames certainly contributed but it’s hardly ever good when the bullpen (26⅔ innings) pitches as much as the rotation in any given week.

The Dodgers have dug themselves an early hole at 3-6, four games back of the Diamondbacks in the division, and with their worst nine-game start since 1996.

Dodgers batter of the week

Chase Utley made the most of his playing time, hitting .286/.412/.571 while hitting a double and a game-tying home run on Saturday in San Francisco. Honorable mention goes to Kyle Farmer, who was 2-for-5 with a game-winning RBI double on Sunday for he only win of the week.

Dodgers pitcher of the week

Clayton Kershaw allowed just three runs in two starts but had limited run support to show for it. He struck out 12 and walked one in his 13 innings. Honorable mention goes to Ross Stripling, who pitched 4⅔ scoreless innings in relief with six strikeouts and no walks.

Week 2 results

Record: 1-4
15 runs scored (3.00 per game)
25 runs allowed (5.00 per game)
.282 pythagorean record

Season to date

Record: 3-6
29 runs scored (3.22 per game)
27 runs allowed (3.00 per game)
.533 pythagorean record (5-4)

Miscellany

Font of inspiration: The Dodgers lost their series opener on Monday night in Arizona, but were able to extend the game to 15 innings thanks to a yeoman’s effort by pitcher Wilmer Font. Font allowed a pair of runs in the 15th inning to suffer the loss but his 4⅓ innings on zero days rest (he threw 21 pitches in an inning the night before) was the most by a Dodgers pitcher since Ismael Valdes in 2000. Font also saw the first two plate appearances of his career in this game and laid down two successful sacrifice bunts, including moving the go-ahead run into scoring position in the 15th. Font is just the second Dodgers reliever since the start of 2010 to bat twice in a game, along with Julio Urias in 2016.

Extra pain: Font also suffered the loss in the 14th inning against the Giants on Saturday, when Andrew McCutchen’s sixth hit of the game was a walk-off three-run homer. Font is the first Dodgers pitcher with two extra-inning losses in the same month since Kevin Correia in September 2014.

Transactions

Monday: Pitcher Jesus Liranzo was acquired from the Orioles for minor league pitcher Luis Ysla. a pitcher Tom Koehler was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster.

Monday: This doesn’t yet affect the 40-man roster but potentially could — Daniel Hudson was inked to a minor league deal.

Tuesday: Outfielder Trayce Thompson, who was designated for assignment on March 28, was claimed off waivers by the Yankees. It was a busy transactional week for Thompson, who was claimed off waivers by the A’s just two days later.

Tuesday: Relief pitcher Josh Fields was placed on paternity leave with the birth of his first child. Zach Neal got the call-up from Triple-A Oklahoma City for some bullpen coverage, and to make 40-man space Jesus Liranzo was designated for assignment.

Thursday: Jesus Liranzo’s three-day tenure with the Dodgers ended with the Pirates claiming him off waivers.

Thursday: Pitcher a Alex Asher was claimed off waivers from Baltimore and optioned to Triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster Zach Neal was designated for assignment.

Saturday: Josh Fields returned from the paternity list, activated by the Dodgers.

Saturday: Zach Neal cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A.

Game results

Monday: Diamondbacks 8, Dodgers 7 (15)

Tuesday: Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 1

Wednesday: Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 0

Friday: postponed, rain

Saturday: Giants 7, Dodgers 5 (14)

Sunday: Dodgers 2, Giants 1 (10)

The week ahead

The Dodgers run the Erubiel Durazo gauntlet this week, back home for a two-game series against Oakland surrounded by a pair of off days, followed by a weekend series against the D-backs at Dodger Stadium. The weekend rotation is still to be announced, but this is an educated guess.

Stats