clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Dodgers Week 9: Taking control of the National League West

LA finished 22-8 on the road, and 27-13 against their division

By Eric Stephen
Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The Dodgers bookended last week with losses, but in between told the story of a team closing in on another division title. Los Angeles went on the road and won a showdown with the second-best team in the National League, then took three of four from one of the worst.

After five wins in seven games against the Padres and Rockies, the Dodgers can clinch their eighth straight NL West crown as early as Tuesday.

Batter of the week

Chris Taylor continued his resurgent season, with two more home runs and two doubles while leading the team in OPS (1.079) and RBI (seven), all while starting at three different positions. Honorable mention goes to Justin Turner, who returned from the injured list to hit .389, and has reached base in 26 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.

Pitcher of the week

Tony Gonsolin pitched seven strong innings to beat the Padres on Tuesday, then struck out his first six batters in Denver on Sunday en route to striking out 10 on the day. Gonsolin has a 1.77 ERA this season

Week 9 results

5-2 record
45 runs scored (6.43 per game)
29 runs allowed (5.14 per game)
.691 pythagorean win percentage

Season to date

38-16 record
312 runs scored (5.78 per game)
193 runs allowed (3.57 per game)
.709 pythagorean record (38-16)

Standings: 1st place, NL West; 4 games up on San Diego
Magic number to clinch division: 2

Current wild card round playoff matchup: vs. No. 8 Cincinnati (27-27)

Transactions

Tuesday: Justin Turner was activated after missing 14 games with a left hamstring strain, and pitcher Josh Sborz was optioned

Wendesday: Joc Pederson was placed on the family medical emergency list, and Zach McKinstry was recalled. McKinstry made his major league debut Wednesday, then doubled and singled Sunday for his first major league hits.

Wednesday: Caleb Ferguson was placed on the injured list with a torn UCL, and will have Tommy John surgery. Sborz was recalled, and Joe Kelly was activated after serving his five-game suspension.

Friday: Mitch White was recalled, and Sborz was optioned. White pitched two innings of relief Friday to earn his first major league win.

Game results

Week 9 batting

Player AB R H 2B HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS
Player AB R H 2B HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS
Taylor 24 3 7 2 2 7 0 3 0.292 0.370 0.708 1.079
Bellinger 25 3 8 2 1 5 0 5 0.320 0.433 0.520 0.953
Turner 18 5 7 1 0 1 0 3 0.389 0.476 0.444 0.921
Betts 28 7 9 1 1 4 3 1 0.321 0.345 0.536 0.881
Ríos 23 4 6 1 2 4 0 1 0.261 0.292 0.565 0.857
Pollock 19 2 4 0 2 5 0 1 0.211 0.250 0.526 0.776
Seager 26 5 7 1 1 4 0 3 0.269 0.345 0.423 0.768
Smith 15 3 4 2 0 5 0 0 0.267 0.353 0.400 0.753
Lux 18 2 3 0 1 2 0 1 0.167 0.211 0.333 0.544
Muncy 21 5 3 1 0 2 0 5 0.143 0.308 0.190 0.498
Starters 217 39 58 11 10 39 3 23 0.267 0.343 0.475 0.818
Barnes 7 4 2 0 0 0 1 3 0.286 0.583 0.286 0.869
McKinstry 7 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0.286 0.286 0.429 0.714
Hernández 7 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0.143 0.250 0.286 0.536
Pederson 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Bench 27 6 5 2 0 1 1 3 0.185 0.333 0.259 0.593
Offense 244 45 63 13 10 40 4 26 0.258 0.342 0.451 0.793

Week 9 pitching

Pitcher G Record IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP
Pitcher G Record IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP
May 1 0-0 5.3 3 3 1 1 6 1.69 0.750
Gonsolin 2 1-1 12.0 7 3 3 1 12 2.25 0.667
Kershaw 2 1-1 13.3 9 4 4 0 15 2.70 0.675
Urías 1 0-0 5.7 3 2 2 0 2 3.18 0.529
Starters 6 2-2 36.3 22 12 10 2 35 2.48 0.661
White 1 1-0 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 0.00 0.000
Jansen 2 0-0, Sv 2.0 2 0 0 1 3 0.00 1.500
McGee 2 0-0 1.3 2 0 0 0 2 0.00 1.500
Kelly 2 0-0 1.3 0 0 0 0 1 0.00 0.000
Ferguson 1 0-0 0.3 0 0 0 0 1 0.00 0.000
Graterol 2 0-0 2.7 2 1 1 1 1 3.38 1.125
Kolarek 3 1-0 2.7 2 1 1 2 1 3.38 1.500
Sborz 2 0-0 2.3 2 1 1 0 1 3.86 0.857
Gonzalez 2 0-0 1.7 2 1 1 0 1 5.40 1.200
Baez 3 0-0, Sv 1.7 2 3 1 0 0 5.40 1.200
Wood 2 0-0 3.0 7 4 4 0 2 12.00 2.333
Floro 2 1-0 2.0 5 3 3 0 2 13.50 2.500
Treinen 3 0-0 1.7 5 3 3 0 2 16.20 3.000
Bullpen 27 3-0, 2 Sv 24.7 31 17 15 4 18 5.47 1.419
Totals 33 5-2, 2 Sv 61.0 53 29 25 6 53 3.69 0.967

Previous reviews: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8

The week ahead

The Dodgers run the Luis Polonia gauntlet, finishing up the regular season at home against the American League West.

Week 10 schedule

Mon, Sep 21 Tue, Sep 22 Wed, Sep 23 Thu, Sep 24 Fri, Sep 25 Sat, Sep 26 Sun, Sep 27
Mon, Sep 21 Tue, Sep 22 Wed, Sep 23 Thu, Sep 24 Fri, Sep 25 Sat, Sep 26 Sun, Sep 27
Off vs. A's vs. A's vs. A's vs. Angels vs. Angels vs. Angels
6:40 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 6:10 p.m. 12:10 p.m.
May v. Urias v. Buehler v. Kershaw v. TBD v. TBD v.
Montas Manaea (L) Fiers Heaney (L) TBD TBD
SNLA/ESPN SNLA SNLA/MLBN* SNLA/MLBN* SNLA SNLA

More From True Blue LA