Dodgers June Review: Power Display

The Dodgers had their best month of the season to date, turning their season around after a sluggish start. They carried the momentum they built at the end of May, winning 17 of 26 games in June.

For the second straight year, the Dodgers broke their franchise record for homers in a month, hitting a total of 55. The team was 17-5 when they hit a homer in June and 0-4 when they hit none.

The offense scored 5.38 runs per game while the pitching staff allowed a mediocre 4.38 per game.

Relievers made 103 combined appearances to lead all of baseball. Los Angeles was one of only four teams with over 100 innings of relief work in June. Early on in the month, the team won five of their first six games on the road after essentially having three bullpen games.

The Dodgers began the month trailing the Rockies by four games in the NL West and only gained a half game in the standings thanks to a big month by the Diamondbacks.

Batter of June

There were several hitters that performed well, but Max Muncy is the one that stands above the others. Muncy hit .289/.465/.711 with 10 homers and 16 runs driven in while walking an incredible 25 times. The only other Dodger ever to hit at least 10 home runs with 25 or more walks in a month was Gary Sheffield in 1999 with 12 and 26.

Joc Pederson gets an honorable mention at .283/.358/.867 with 10 long balls himself.

Pitcher of June

Ross Stripling came just short of going the entire month without issuing a walk, finishing with 30 strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander was 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA, allowing just eight runs over his five starts.

Also noteworthy was Daniel Hudson out of the bullpen. The 31-year-old allowed just one earned run in 11 appearances, giving him a 0.60 ERA in 15 innings of work. Kenley Jansen locked down nine saves in nine opportunities with a 2.02 ERA over 12 appearances.

June Performance

Season to date

Record: 43-39

380 runs scored (4.63 per game)

331 runs allowed (4.04 per game)

.563 pythagorean winning percentage

Game of the month

A number of games could qualify for this honor but one that stuck out among them was June 3. The Dodgers overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the Rockies 10-7, completing a three-game sweep at Coors Field.

Max Muncy hit homers in consecutive innings as the Dodgers scored three runs in three different innings.

Other games that come to mind included June 19 in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cubs. Down to their last strike, Kyle Farmer punched a double down the third base line to score two. The double gave the Dodgers a 4-3 win and eventually the win.

Lastly, the bases were loaded in the 11th inning between the Dodgers and Rangers on June 13 when Kiké Hernandez avoided the tag to score on an Austin Barnes ground ball. It was the Dodgers first — and to this point only — walk-off of the year.

Situational stats

Pinch hitting: Dodgers pinch hitters were 10-for-39 with two home runs and four doubles in June, hitting .256/.370/.513.

Runners in scoring position: The Dodgers hit .240/.343/.439 with RISP for June with nine homers, 10 doubles and a triple.

Bases loaded: The team was 6-for-20 for the month, hitting .300/.318/.650 with the bases loaded in June.

The month ahead

The Dodgers will play 17 of their 26 games on the road in July. They won’t leave California until after the All-Star break when they head out on a 10-game trip, mostly on the east coast.