Get ready to make that call.
Between now and the end of next month, the Dodgers seem poised to pull ahead of every other team in the National League West.
Recently, Shohei Ohtani has been looking more like his old self at the plate, and Kyle Tucker is beginning to resemble his usual performance. If they can produce at expected levels, it raises the question: who can really stop this team?
The Dodgers have maintained offensive consistency, even after their well-known midseason surge, and the resurgence of their two key players indicates that an upswing might be on the horizon.
Although Tucker’s statistics suggest he is still in a slump, watching his recent at-bats paints a different picture. It appears the Dodgers’ star, earning $60 million annually, is starting to find his groove again.
Now, Tucker seems to have a clear plan at the plate, rather than just reacting to pitches. His balance has improved tremendously, and the number of awkward swings that marked his earlier struggles has significantly declined.
This is reminiscent of what Ohtani displayed before his performance began to trend positively. That’s why Tucker’s play in Sunday’s series win over the Brewers was one of the most encouraging developments of the weekend.
“I feel like my approach and swing have improved a lot lately,” Tucker shared with reporters in Milwaukee.
His quality of play matched how he felt, particularly during the last game of the series, where the Dodgers won 5-1. Tucker kicked off the game with a two-run triple in the fifth inning and also managed a double.
This game illustrated that the Dodgers don’t necessarily need both players to excel at the same time. Having both be a threat simultaneously is quite enough.
Recent victories over championship rivals like San Diego and Milwaukee indicate that their offense is beginning to click, with Freddie Freeman noting that many hitters are rediscovering their swings and playing with less mechanical thought.
“I think players are gaining more confidence, identifying pitches to hit while letting the bad ones go,” Freeman mentioned. “A lot of players feel better about themselves, which often leads to better pitch selection.”
Ohtani and Tucker exemplify this resurgence well.
Though Ohtani hasn’t been as dominant as in previous seasons with the Dodgers, he has still been getting on base. In his last ten games, his batting average is an impressive .432 with an on-base percentage of .551.
This alone could shift the dynamics. When Ohtani plays with discipline, he commands respect. Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat seemed intimidated, issuing him a four-pitch walk at the game’s start.
This walk allowed the Dodgers to mount a scoring opportunity, with Ohtani reaching third base thanks to Tucker’s double. Andy Pages was up next but couldn’t capitalize.
Later, when a wild pitch from Sproat with two outs and the bases loaded allowed Ohtani to advance, it set the stage for the Dodgers to score their first run, which Teoscar Hernandez converted.
With Mookie Betts and Freeman on base in the fifth inning, Brewers manager Pat Murphy replaced Sproat with lefty Shane Drohan. That didn’t matter. Tucker, as a left-handed hitter, sent a triple into right field.
“I feel like I’m making solid contact with good or near-good pitches. Overall, I think my at-bats are improving when it comes to not chasing,” Tucker noted. “Whenever they cross the plate, I feel more capable of making contact.”
Tucker’s batting average sits at .251, but his OPS has seen a jump from .684 to .767 in just three weeks.
For batters, this feels like the dawn of a new chapter. And for teams hoping to contend with the Dodgers, this is often where they meet their end.
The Dodgers currently lead the Padres by a game and a half in the National League West, having taken two of three games recently. Manager Dave Roberts’ squad is known for translating a slight lead in the standings into something much more substantial in a matter of weeks, and it could certainly happen again.
The schedule looks favorable. The Dodgers are set to kick off a three-game series at home against the last-place Rockies on Monday, with several other weaker opponents lined up through the end of June. The only notable exceptions are the Rays, whom they will face June 15-17, and the Padres again from June 26-28.
The Dodgers have also been pitching well, with their bullpen extending a franchise record of scoreless innings to 38.
After eight weeks into the season, their two highest-paid players are finally performing like their contracts reflect.
With Ohtani and Tucker, who collectively earn $130 million this season, significantly contributing, the Dodgers remain the top team. If both of them find their rhythm, it could spell big trouble for anyone else. They might just return to a place where championship aspirations seem almost inevitable.
