Dodgers Week 15: Getting to the All-Star break

It was a week of attrition for the Dodgers, who saw a string of seven straight days with a roster move expire on Sunday. They used a whopping 13 different relievers, and it showed, especially in losing four of their first five games last week against last-place teams.

They corrected course over the weekend, exploding for the most runs in a game in Dodger Stadium history, tying the franchise record for home runs in a game in the process. They even avoided the embarrassment of dropping a home series to the Diamondbacks with a late rally on Sunday, punctuated by a walk-off home run by Max Muncy, one of five Dodgers All-Stars and the one who will be starting on Tuesday night in Denver.

Clayton Kershaw was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his forearm, which left the Dodgers will three healthy starting pitchers on the active roster. David Price could be a fourth relatively soon, but at the moment hasn’t pitched longer than three innings in a game in two years. Josiah Gray lost two months to a shoulder impingement and is currently getting stretched out in Triple-A. That, plus the trade deadline coming in just over two weeks, means pitching solutions could be on the way relatively soon.

But even with the losses and the cycling of relievers, zooming out for a moment allows us to see that the Dodgers own the second-best record in baseball, and the highest run differential — winning a game 22-1 sure helps — but just happen to be in a division with the team that has the best record.

“Obviously, we can do a lot better, and we have a lot of potential to go. We haven’t played anywhere near the caliber we are capable of playing,” Muncy said. “I’d still say we’ve done a good job, based on the number of injuries and stuff we’ve had.”

Batter of the week

AJ Pollock at one point in Miami struck out in six consecutive at-bats. But he responded with a vengeance, homering in three straight games after that, including two in Saturday’s romp. Pollock also doubled three times and slugged 1.043 for the week.

Honorable mention goes to Justin Turner, who hit his first career grand slam and hit .440/.462/.680 with nine runs batted in; and to Mookie Betts, who homered three times during the week.

Pitcher of the week

Julio Urías helped snap a three-game losing streak by giving the Dodgers their longest start of the week, seven strong innings with nine strikeouts on getaway Thursday in Miami. In a week that saw Dodgers relief pitchers throw more innings than the starters, Urías was much-needed life raft.

Tony Gonsolin had a reasonable claim this week as well, allowing only one run and recording seven more outs than Urías. But that came over two starts, including needing 83 pitches to get through four innings. Gonsolin helped taxed a worn out bullpen, while Urías did not.

Week 15 results

3-4 record
48 runs scored (6.86 per game)
27 runs allowed (3.86 per game)
.741 pythagorean win percentage

Year to date

56-35 record
476 runs scored (5.23 per game)
334 runs allowed (3.67 per game)
.657 pythagorean win percentage (60-31)

Transactions

Monday: Scott Alexander was activated off the 60-day injured list after missing 55 games with shoulder inflammation. Fellow southpaw Garrett Cleavinger was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Tuesday: Pitcher Jake Reed was called up from Oklahoma City, and to make room on both the active and 40-man rosters, outfielder Steven Souza Jr. was designated for assignment.

Tuesday: Victor Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis, and Cleavinger was recalled.

Wednesday: Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 10-day injured list with left forearm inflammation. Mitch White was recalled from Triple-A.

Wednesday: After his 20-day minor league rehab assignment ended, Yoshi Tsutsugo was sent outright to Triple-A, where he will remain while off the 40-man roster.

Thursday: Left-hander Darien Nuñez was called up from Triple-A, and White was optioned one day after pitching four innings.

Friday: Jimmy Nelson was placed on the injured list with a left lumbar strain, and lefty Alex Vesia was recalled from Oklahoma City.

Saturday: Uceta was the latest Dodgers pitcher with a left lumbar strain, placed on the 10-day injured list. Outfielder Zach Reks was recalled, putting the Dodgers roster back at 13 pitchers and 13 position players.

Game results

• Monday: Marlins 5, Dodgers 4
• Tuesday: Marlins 2, Dodgers 1 (10 innings)
• Wednesday: Marlins 9, Dodgers 6
• Thursday: Dodgers 6, Marlins 1
• Friday: Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 2
• Saturday: Dodgers 22, Diamondbacks 1
• Sunday: Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 4

Previous reviews: Apr. 1-4 | Apr. 5-11 | Apr. 12-18 | Apr. 19-25 | Apr. 26-May 2 | May 3-9 | May 10-16 | May 17-23 | May 24-30 | May 31-June 6 | June 7-13 | June 14-20 | June 21-27 | June 28-July 4

Up next

The Dodgers run the Jason Bates gauntlet, with the entire week’s events happening at Coors Field. First comes the All-Star Game and related festivities, then a three-game series against the Rockies beginning Friday.