Welcome to California Post Weekly Dodgers Recap
This week’s question
Will a Padres rematch spark outrage?
About a year ago, tensions between the Dodgers and Padres escalated significantly after multiple bench-clearing incidents during a tight series at Dodger Stadium. That rivalry seems poised for another eruption this weekend.
The Padres, currently in second place, are visiting Dodger Stadium as the first-place Dodgers prepare for another intense series, similar to last year. This marks the second consecutive weekend after the Dodgers clinched a series win in San Diego. Last Sunday, five batters were hit, which included Fernando Tatis Jr., a key figure in last year’s conflicts.
Honestly, I didn’t feel much rage during those events. Also, former Padres manager Mike Shildt, who clashed with Dave Roberts during that infamous June melee, is now a non-factor.
Another major point to consider is that the Dodgers have established a strong 12-game lead in the NL West, making it look like they’ve got the division almost locked down.
However, for the Padres, this four-game trip to Chavez Ravine might be their best chance to claim stake in the divisional race. This could intensify the matchups and emotions that accompany such a quick rematch.
“Every series is treated as important,” Roberts mentioned ahead of the series. “But, of course, we want to win this one.” That’s the ultimate aim.
Player of the week
Tommy Edman (.366 batting average, 1 home run, 8 RBIs in 12 games since returning from ankle surgery)
Many may have overlooked the significant effect a fit Edman could have, given his struggles with an ankle injury last season.
Just recently, he reminded us all of his skill set after missing the start of this year. Edman posted remarkable statistics, with a .435 on-base percentage, and also showcased power, hitting two doubles, one triple, and a 428-foot home run, his longest since 2021.
His .971 OPS is only surpassed by Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts among Dodgers players since he returned.
“We need to keep a solid approach, situation by situation,” Edman said after a stellar game with four hits and four RBIs. “I think I’ve remained consistent thus far.”
Edman’s switch-hitting abilities are perhaps the best they’ve ever been, with an impressive batting average over .350 from both sides. In prior seasons, his left-hand swing seemed weak, but he’s hitting 10-for-27 from that side this year.
“It feels like a rare moment where both swings are working,” he reflected, “which is nice because maintaining them throughout the season can be tough.”
Pitcher of the week
Emmett Sheehan (5 innings against the Padres, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts, 4 wins, 5 losses, ERA 5.08)
Sheehan solidified his role in the starting rotation with a solid outing in San Diego, showcasing a potential new pitch that may have elevated his performance.
Having worked on a new curveball grip with his pitching coach in recent bullpen sessions, he perhaps delivered one of his better outings in months, effectively utilizing the pitch.
This new version of the curveball is noticeably harder and drops less than before, making it trickier for batters to discern and lay off.
Despite throwing mostly fastballs, he had impressive whiff rates, indicating a significant shift from earlier in the season where his whiff rate was much lower.
“Changing speeds is crucial to keep hitters guessing,” Sheehan noted, “and perhaps it’ll help turn around a tough season.”
This week’s outlook
Eduardo Quintero (Batting average .294, 5 home runs, 37 RBIs, OPS .834 at High-A Great Lakes this year)
Quintero started slowly upon promotion to High-A, batting just .195 in April, but he’s rebounded strongly since then, hitting .372 in May and .333 in June, even notching a grand slam recently.
The 20-year-old is steadily climbing the ranks in the Dodgers’ outfield pipeline, particularly with depth at the position now becoming an asset. This could lead to trade opportunities as the deadline looms.
This week’s Future Dodger
(considering potential future acquisitions)
Sonny Gray, Red Sox (ETA: August)
While Tyler Glasnow begins to pitch again, his recovery has been puzzling. The Dodgers benefitted from having all their top starters healthy for last year’s postseason, but they can’t count on that happening again.
If the team doesn’t want to rely on starters like Aroki Sasaki or Justin Robleski in October, they’ll need to keep an eye on available starting pitchers.
On the trade market, Tarik Skubal stands out, though his cost will be steep, while Gray, boasting a 9-1 record and 2.69 ERA, could serve as an enticing replacement. His contract includes a mutual option for next year and a potential buyout, making him a feasible option if the Red Sox adjust expectations. For the Dodgers, it’s essentially just a financial consideration.
