Dodgers Week 4: A rare losing week

The Dodgers offense crashed head first into a wall last week, averaging just over three runs per game — and that’s only after rallying over the weekend — and hitting under .200 as a team. The defense was sloppy, the Padres ran wild on them, and the bullpen was shaky.

All that, plus the team lost Corey Knebel and Zach McKinstry to the injured list, and the Dodgers suffered a losing regular season week for the first time since August 26-September 1, 2019. In between was 16 winning weeks and one 2-2 week.

It was a good run, but came to an end with a bad week, one that included the Dodgers’ only series loss so far in 2021.

Batter of the week

Chris Taylor missed two games with back stiffness, but was still effective, getting the club’s first pinch hit of the season on Saturday, then hitting a home run and a triple on Sunday. Taylor narrowly beat out Sheldon Neuse, who hit his first two major league home runs. More on him later.

Not contending this week was Edwin Ríos, who was 0-for-13, and has no hits in his last 20 at-bats. On the season he’s 4-for-39, hitting .103/.239/.179.

“There’s more chase than there has been in the last year. He just has to kind of see the baseball a little bit better. It’s a funk,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think that when any player struggles, they start expanding, it’s just not going to help.”

Pitcher of the week

Julio Urías allowed only an infield single and a walk on Tuesday afternoon in Seattle, striking out a career-best 11 in seven scoreless innings. He needed to be that good because the Dodgers scored all of one run.

The starting pitching is carrying the Dodgers so far, and posted a 2.61 ERA as a group in six starts last week, with 54 strikeouts and only four walks.

Week 4 results

2-4 record
19 runs scored (3.17 per game)
25 runs allowed (4.17 per game)
.377 pythagorean win percentage

Year to date

15-7 record
109 runs scored (4.95 per game)
77 runs allowed (3.50 per game)
.654 pythagorean win percentage (14-8)

Miscellany

A third first

Sheldon Neuse saw both extremes on Thursday night against San Diego. He hit the ball over 100 mph three times, but two of them were outs, including a spectacular double play by Jake Cronenworth and Tatis that saved the game for the Padres. But Neuse also hit a home run, the third Dodger to hit his first major league home run this season, joining Zach McKinstry (April 3) and Luke Raley (April 16).

Neuse got 61 plate appearances in 25 games with the A’s in 2019, but spent all season in 2020 at the alternate site, and was traded to the Dodgers in February.

“It was unbelievable. Been waiting a year and a half to get one like that, and was finally able to get it,” Neuse said.

For good measure, Neuse added another home run on Sunday.

Peters major league debut

Glendora native DJ Peters grew up 25 miles from Dodger Stadium, and his first taste of major league action came on Friday, for his favorite team, in front of several family and friends, including his wife Shea, his parents, and in-laws.

“I’ve been working my entire life for that one moment. To put ‘Dodgers’ across my chest” has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Peters said. “To be able to do it hear at Dodger Stadium is surreal. You couldn’t have written it any better. I was just very grateful, very blessed, and trying to soak it all in.”

Peters wore number 70 on Friday night, then switched to number 38 for his first major league start on Saturday. He said he’s been coming to Dodgers games since he was seven years old. Shawn Green was his favorite player growing up, but he also mentioned Eric Gagne as one of his favorites, too. With Austin Barnes wearing 15 (Green’s number), Peters chose Gagne’s number 38, last worn by Brandon McCarthy in 2017.

Peters is the 12th player drafted and signed by the Dodgers in 2016 to play in the majors leagues, including 10 of the club’s top 11 picks that year.

Transactions

Friday: Zach McKinstry was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique, and outfielder DJ Peters was recalled. McKinstry is expected to be out longer than 10 days.

Saturday: Corey Knebel was placed on the injured list with a right lat strain, and is expected to miss months. Dennis Santana was ill after getting a vaccination shot, and was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list, which means he is eligible to return before 10 days are up. The Dodgers recalled Matt Beaty and left-hander Garrett Cleavinger.

Game results

• Monday: Mariners 4, Dodgers 3
• Tuesday: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0
• Thursday: Padres 3, Dodgers 2
• Friday: Padres 6, Dodgers 1
• Saturday: Dodgers 5, Padres 4
• Sunday: Padres 8, Dodgers 7 (11)

Previous reviews: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Up next

The Dodgers run the Glenn Braggs gauntlet, finishing up the homestand with three against the Reds, then hit the road to face the pitching-rich Brewers for four games in Milwaukee. That’s seven opposing right-handed starting pitchers in seven games this week.

The Dodgers are in the middle of a stretch of 14 games in 14 days, and the club could decide to use a spot starter or bullpen game some time after the Reds series to give the rotation an extra day of rest, perhaps during the Brewers series.

“We’re going to have those ongoing talks and see how guys are feeling,” Dave Roberts said Saturday. “I could see that happening.”