Weeks have flown by, and the Dodgers’ season is unfolding pretty much as many anticipated.
As of Monday, they boasted the best record in baseball at 11-4. Their lineup shines in nearly every statistical category. The mix of elite talent and solid depth they’ve cultivated seems, well, unmatched.
Though, let’s not ignore a few surprises along the way.
Here are the 15 most notable moments from the team’s first 15 games.
1) Andy Pages is the hottest hitter in MLB.
People had high hopes for Pages this season. Manager Dave Roberts spotlighted him as a “player to watch” during spring training, forecasting 27 home runs by 2025. But, no one expected this. Pages is hitting .429 with a league-leading 17 RBIs and an OPS of 1.181, the best in the National League. He placed more hits and walks than outs in three out of five series.
2) Kyle Tucker is the Dodgers’ least productive hitter.
Even so, Tucker’s still getting regular playing time with over 50 at-bats. He has a decent on-base percentage (.343) thanks to nine walks but hits a mere .246 with a .659 OPS and just one home run. Last week, he gathered 5 hits across 25 at-bats, lacking any extra-base hits. Sure, it’s early days, but the expectations for him are considerably higher.
3) … and he’s striking out more than ever.
This statistic brings caution. His strikeout rate sits near 24%, significantly rising from his 15% average over his first five seasons. His tendency to swing and miss has also escalated. The Dodgers brought Tucker on board largely to enhance his contact skills. So far, that goal seems far off, making it easier for teams to pitch against him while batting behind Shohei Ohtani.
4) Ohtani aims for the record books.
No one is surprised to see Ohtani chasing history. His current streak of reaching base in 46 consecutive games marks the longest for a Japanese-born major leaguer. Previously, he was known as an aggressive hitter prone to strikeouts. His former record stood at 36 games with the Angels between 2022-2023. Now, at 29, he’s been more patient, which is encouraging. For context, Ted Williams holds the MLB record at 84 consecutive games set in 1949.
5) Bullpen performance is unexpectedly strong.
Spring training painted a grim picture for relief pitching, yet the bullpen has unexpectedly performed well with a 3.40 ERA, ranking 10th in MLB. They’ve allowed just one run with only two saves—tying for the fewest in the league—and they excel in high-pressure situations according to FanGraphs. Considerable improvement compared to the previous year.
6) …Despite Edwin Diaz’s struggles.
Similar to Tucker, Diaz had a rocky start as the new $69 million closer. He claimed his first four saves, but a rough outing last Friday raised concerns about his declining fastball velocity. The team seems to be downplaying the situation, but they’re monitoring it closely.
7) Tanner Scott’s resurgence.
After a year away from the spotlight, Scott is beginning to look like the pitcher the Dodgers envisioned. He’s allowed only one run in his first eight outings, tallying eight strikeouts with no walks. Teammates like Alex Bashear and Blake Treinen have also stepped up, maintaining perfect ERAs, which adds depth to the bullpen.
8) Aki Sasaki’s underwhelming performance.
Considering his poor spring, Sasaki’s struggles are somewhat anticipated. After a decent finish to last season, his current ERA sits at 6.23 with 10 walks in 13 innings. Notably, only 43% of his pitches hit the strike zone, ranking him among the least accurate pitchers in MLB.
9) So far, no major pitching injuries.
It might be tempting fate to mention this, but Dodgers pitchers have managed to avoid new injuries in these early weeks. This has not been the case in previous seasons, where injuries mounted by late April. The stability of their pitching staff thus far feels like a good omen for the long season ahead.
10) Defensive prowess surprises.
Although the Dodgers have the oldest batting lineup in the league, they rank in the top five defensively. They lead in runs allowed, sit third in outs above average, and hold fourth place in fielding percentage. To add to the surprises, veterans Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy are showing impressive defensive skills.
11) Will Smith’s unexpected performance.
Last season, Smith struggled significantly, ranking near the bottom of pitchers. This year, however, he’s climbed to fifth overall. Even with new rules in place, he’s finding ways to refine his pitch-framing skills, showing solid improvement.
12) Dalton Rushing’s impressive start.
Smith’s numbers indicate growth, but Rushing has also stood out. Despite earlier challenges in accepting a backup role, he’s batting .537 with three homers and contributing positively. Currently, his WAR is better than Smith’s, which is promising.
13) Alex Cole shines brighter than Tucker.
This adds to Tucker’s slow start, as Cole’s WAR surpasses Tucker’s considerably, even though he has fewer games under his belt. The hope is that Tucker will find his rhythm soon, but currently, he’s lagging behind.
14) Kim Hye-sung’s return helps.
Kim’s demotion didn’t last long. He was recalled to fill in for the injured Mookie Betts and has made an impressive impact at the plate. In six games, he’s hitting over .300 and has notably reduced his strikeouts, complicating decisions for the team moving forward.
15) Dodgers flying under the radar.
Despite their busy offseason, the Dodgers have seemingly evaded scrutiny regarding competitive balance in the league. While attention to these issues may simmer, if they keep racking up wins, they could find themselves as top contenders as the deadline approaches.
