Welcome to the California Post’s weekly Dodgers summary. It’s that time again when baseball writers Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris reflect on the past week, hand out some awards, and evaluate how the season is shaping up.
This week’s question
Who will step up following Hernandez’s injury?
For the first two months of the season, the Dodgers really only faced a notable player injury when Mookie Betts was out for five weeks due to an oblique strain.
Then, just as things seemed to be looking up, both Quique Hernández and Teoscar Hernández sustained injuries, resulting in a revamped lineup.
Quique is likely to be out for several months because of an oblique strain, while Teoscar is anticipated to miss a few weeks with a hamstring issue.
This raises a crucial question: Who will capitalize on the openings created by these injuries?
One player to keep an eye on is Alex Cole. He will see considerable playing time in left field, but the Dodgers seem to want to use a platoon to cover for Teoscar. This presents Cole with a chance to prove he’s more than just a backup outfielder, especially after he was acquired at last year’s trade deadline.
In limited appearances this season, Cole has shown promise, boasting a .283 batting average along with four doubles and 10 RBIs, having more walks (11) than strikeouts (8) in 53 at-bats. His discipline and hitting capability, underscored by low swing-and-miss rates, make him an intriguing prospect for an expanded role.
If he can maintain his performance in a larger capacity, it could ease the impact of Teoscar’s absence—he had been one of the team’s standout hitters lately—and earn Cole more at-bats, especially as the team examines how to distribute playing time between Teoscar and lefty Ward, who is eyeing a minor league call-up.
There’s also room for Alex Freeland, who was brought back to the majors to fill in for Quique earlier this week.
Freeland, a former highly-rated prospect and switch hitter, is in his second MLB season and aims to improve on his .235 batting average and .646 OPS after making it onto the opening roster from spring training.
Despite those figures not being sufficient to keep him in the majors when Betts returned, he’s back and expected to receive substantial at-bats at second base after impressing team officials at Triple-A with four home runs in just 11 games.
Player of the week
Andy Pages (10 hits in 28 at-bats this week, 3 home runs, 4 doubles, 8 RBIs, .297 average, .883 OPS, MLB-leading 50 RBIs this season)
This award might need to be renamed for Pages at this rate.
The 25-year-old has dazzled, leading the Dodgers with 13 home runs and becoming the first player this year in the majors to reach 50 RBIs.
Throughout the season, he’s found himself ranking eighth in the National League for batting average and 11th in OPS.
As the All-Star Game approaches, he’s prepping for his first appearance while hoping not to repeat last year’s slump that cost him a selection.
Pitcher of the week
Tanner Scott (4 scoreless innings this week, 7 strikeouts, 1 save, 1.14 ERA this season, 5-for-5 saves)
The Dodgers’ impressive bullpen streak might be coming to an end, but Tanner Scott’s scoreless run remains intact.
The rejuvenated left-hander has not allowed a run in his last 12 outings, having given up just four hits and two walks while striking out 19 batters out of 44 faced.
He’s emerging once more as one of the top relievers, having turned around from a disappointing debut season after inking a $72 million contract. His 1.14 ERA ranks him in the top 10 among eligible relief pitchers this season, and his strikeout rate of 42.9% in May was one of the best in the league for that month.
This week’s outlook
River Ryan (6 innings, 0 runs, 8 strikeouts, 2.05 ERA this year as a AAA starter this week)
Not the best week for the Dodgers’ farm system, especially since former first-round pick Kendall George faced a strange injury while dodging the team’s bat dog at Double-A Tulsa.
However, in Triple-A, River Ryan is taking another step toward making a return to the majors.
On Thursday, he pitched six innings for the first time in his career, allowing no runs and striking out eight batters, possibly delivering his best performance yet.
This was just Ryan’s fifth start since returning from Tommy John surgery (he also dealt with a hamstring problem in April). Yet, he has already posted a 1.33 ERA in his initial four starts this season, hinting at his potential to return to the big leagues.
With the Dodgers currently having a full rotation but facing a congested schedule of 19 games in 20 days, perhaps Ryan will get his chance to provide innings and help manage the workload.
This week’s Future Dodger
(A mix of speculation, sometimes wild, regarding possible future acquisitions for the Dodgers.)
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (ETA: 2029)
The Mets have a knack for turning things awry, making McLean’s recent struggles puzzling. The rookie right-hander had a rough time in May with a 6.92 ERA, particularly after his last two starts where he allowed 16 runs (13 earned) over just nine innings.
McLean could find himself at a crossroads, where one path could lead him to an All-Star selection, while the other may find him labeled as a reclamation project. If he ends up on the latter path, the Dodgers might just be willing to give him a shot. They were patient with Dustin May and didn’t give up on him until his sixth season. The Mets may invest in helping McLean find success, but his case is definitely one to monitor.
