Dodgers Week 22: World Series preview, or review?

The Dodgers won four of six games against the American League East last week, though with an imbalance both in runs and victories. After scoring 16 runs in the opener to the week, LA scraped together 10 total runs over the final five games.

That resulted in a sweep of the Blue Jays — the latter two wins coming in walk-off fashion, giving the Dodgers 12 such victories on the year — then dropping two of three to the Yankees in a battle between the two best records in baseball.

The weekend against New York was as close to a World Series preview as you’ll get in the regular season, but given that the Dodgers hit .183/.240/.312 in three games against the Yankees it sure seemed more like a World Series review than a preview.

San Francisco is in second place in the division, 20 games behind the Dodgers, who now have a magic number of 12 to clinch the NL West. It’s no longer possible for said clinch to happen in August, so that pipe dream is dead. But the time is coming.

Batter of the week

Chris Taylor returned from the injured list and picked up right where he left off, hitting .350 with four extra-base hits after missing more than a month. Honorable mention goes to Max Muncy, who hit two home runs, including a walk-off job on Wednesday. Muncy also struck out 11 times and walked seven times, giving him one of the three true outcomes in an astounding 20 of his 24 plate appearances during the week.

Pitcher of the week

Walker Buehler was magnificent on Wednesday against the Blue Jays, allowing only five hits in seven scoreless innings while whiffing eight. In four home starts since the All-Star break, Buehler has allowed one run in 29 innings, with 42 strikeouts.

Week 22 results

4-2 record
26 runs scored (4.33 per game)
22 runs allowed (3.67 per game)
.576 pythagorean record

Season to date

86-46 record
719 runs scored (5.45 per game)
505 runs allowed (3.83 per game)
.656 pythagorean record (87-45)

Miscellany

Take your base: Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday flinched on the mound in the fourth inning against Toronto, a balk that allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to advance to second base. It was the first balk for Kershaw in over two years, since July 18, 2017 against the White Sox. Kershaw has 20 balks in his career, though never more than three in any single season.

Power quintet: Max Muncy ‘s walk-off home run on Wednesday not only secured a win, but also was his fifth consecutive game with a home run, matching a franchise record. Six Dodgers have homered in five consecutive games, with Muncy the first one since Joc Pederson from May 31-June 3, 2015.

Assume the position: At the end of Tuesday’s blowout of Toronto, infielder Richard Urena pitched the final inning for the Blue Jays and was burned for four runs. It’s the fifth time the Dodgers have faced a position player pitching this year. That group — John Ryan Murphy, Roman Quinn, Alex Avila, Bryan Holaday, and Ureña — have combined to allow 14 runs in 5⅔ innings, with the Dodgers 18 for 34 with three home runs, four doubles, and five walks, hitting .529/.590/.912. Holaday, who faced just one batter for the Marlins on Aug. 13, is the only one of the group to escape unscathed.

Less than grand: Hyun-jin Ryu had his first home clunker of the season on Friday, allowing seven runs and three home runs to the Yankees in just 4⅓ innings, matching his total home runs and earned runs allowed in his first 11 starts and 77⅔ innings at Dodger Stadium in 2019. The final home run off Ryu was hit by Did Gregorius with the bases loaded, the first grand slam Ryu allowed in his career.

Transactions

Tuesday: Chris Taylor was activated off the injured list after missing 31 games with a left forearm fracture, and Kike Hernandez returned from the IL after missing 22 games with left hand sprain. Kyle Garlick and Casey Sadler were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Kristopher Negron was placed on the 10-day injured list with neck stiffness. Dylan Floro also returned from Oklahoma City to join the bullpen.

Wednesday: Floro hit the injured list one day after getting called back up, sidelined by a left intercostal strain. Sadler returned, reversing the bullpen swap from Tuesday.

Saturday: Russell Martin was placed on the bereavement list after his grandmother passed away, and is expected to miss the minimum three days, with a return slated for Tuesday in San Diego. Austin Barnes was recalled from Triple-A to fill in as backup catcher. He’ll go back to Oklahoma City once Martin returns, then will rejoin the Dodgers shortly after rosters expand in September.

Game results

• Tuesday: Dodgers 16, Blue Jays 3
• Wednesday: Dodgers 2, Blue Jays 1 (10)
• Thursday: Dodgers 3, Blue Jays 2
• Friday: Yankees 10, Dodgers 2
• Saturday: Dodgers 2, Yankees 1
• Sunday: Yankees 5, Dodgers 1

Stats

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

The week ahead

The Dodgers run the Keith Hessler gauntlet this week, back on the road to face divisional foes San Diego and Arizona.