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After a 3-2 week, the Dodgers come in at No. 2 in the latest power rankings update. At the moment, the Dodgers trail the Rays by one game for the second best record in all of baseball.
I know power rankings mean everything (sarcasm), but in case you were curious, here are some Dodgers write ups this week.
The Athletic
This week: 2 | Last week: 2
On paper, the Dodgers are a force, even more now than two weeks ago. Not content with one of the best shortstops in the majors, they went and added another one. And a generational ace of a pitcher. It’s enough to make your head spin.
But we’ve learned something about the Dodgers in recent years that finally came to a head this year. Sometimes, too much really is too much. Hubris and wealth aren’t a good combination. Three years ago, the Dodgers staked their roster so deep, they could make a full line change and still have a lineup better than most teams. And yet, the Rockies pushed them to a Game 163, because among all those swell pieces, they were bloated.
And now, they have even more to juggle. Dave Roberts has two months to figure out how to use Corey Seager and Trea Turner without ruining either of them. He has to fit Max Scherzer in without alienating Julio Urías. It’s a constant balancing act of egos and not an easy job. Shoot, Roberts already has Mookie Betts starting at second base.
If the Dodgers are so unbeatable, then why are they still in second place in their own division?
MLB.com
This week: 2 | Last week: 1
Mad Max was dominant in his first game in an L.A. uniform — Scherzer beat the AL West-leading Astros with seven innings of two-run, 10-strikeout baseball in his debut at Dodger Stadium. Turner made his Dodgers debut, too, and the speedster also stole his first base with his new team Saturday, bringing his total to 22 for the season. The Dodgers trail the Giants in the division, but have a firm grip on the top NL Wild Card spot.
Dodgers links
- Bill Shaikin of The LA Times writes about Corey Seager staying in Los Angeles next season.... but for the Angels?
- The 2020’s have been very rough for Cody Bellinger, writes Dan Szmborski of Fangraphs