Here’s your weekly Dodgers recap. This time around, baseball writers Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris reflect on the past week, award some titles, and take stock of the ongoing season.
Pitcher of the Week
Justin Roblewski (1 start, 6 innings, 0 runs this week, 5-0, 1.25 ERA)
So, can the Dodgers really afford to let Justin Robleski go?
This 25-year-old has been crucial, especially given Blake Snell’s return from the injured list, which is likely after his rehab this weekend. If Tyler Glasnow is healthy enough to pitch, one of Robleski, Emmett Sheehan, or Roki Sasaki might find themselves out of the rotation.
Sure, Sheehan and Sasaki meet the ‘traditional’ starter criteria—bigger frames and stronger arms—but Robleski has a rock-solid 0.56 ERA in his five starts this season.
He secured his latest win Sunday against the Cardinals, going six innings without allowing a run, thereby stopping the Dodgers’ four-game losing streak. The offense wasn’t particularly striking, though; they won 4-1, marking six games without a home run.
Interestingly, Robleski became the first Dodgers pitcher in a quarter-century to pitch six shutout innings without a strikeout. Analysts are understandably skeptical about his pitch-to-contact strategy, wondering if it might backfire.
“I’m just trying to get outs,” Robleski commented. “But I figured it out, which is what counts.”
Whatever happens with Snell and Glasnow, Robleski seems to have secured his place for now.
“Every time he starts, it’s a win for us,” manager Dave Roberts noted. “That’s what truly matters.”
Player of the Week
Andy Pages (10-of-25, 3 HR, 8 RBI this week, .336 average, .945 OPS, 8 HR, 33 RBI)
With a lineup that’s packed with stars, could Pages be the most pivotal hitter on the team?
This year, when the Dodgers have achieved 23 wins, he’s managed eight home runs and 32 RBIs, boasting a staggering 1.097 OPS. In contrast, during their 14 losses, the stats show zero homers, just one RBI, and an OPS of .680.
When Pages drives in runs, the team stands at 13-1; without his contributions, they’re just 10-13.
So, do the Dodgers really depend on Pages? This week, he made a strong comeback after a lackluster spell. He had been batting .221 with a .556 OPS over the previous 19 games but lit it up with three hits in both Tuesday and Wednesday’s games.
In one game, he blasted three home runs. Need I mention the outcome?
“I have a lot of confidence in what I’m doing,” Pages said through an interpreter following Wednesday’s game, “and I believe this approach will deliver results.”
He mentioned that this refined strategy initially helped him hit over .400 in his first series of games but faced scrutiny during a recent dip in form. “I felt I was connecting but not always finding gaps,” he added.
His solid hitting continued, establishing an eight-game hitting streak that could substantially boost the Dodgers’ offensive efforts.
This Week’s Outlook
Mike Sirota (7-for-14, 4 HR, 6 RBI this week, .329 average, 1.157 OPS, 6 HR, 15 RBI in High-A this season)
Sirota had a remarkable doubleheader against the High-A Great Lakes Loons, hitting three home runs and getting on base in six out of eight appearances.
It’s a display that highlights his potential as the versatile outfielder the Dodgers nabbed from the Reds in exchange for Gavin Lux a while back.
Last year, Sirota posted a .333 batting average with 13 home runs before a knee injury cut his season short in July. He’s picking up where he left off, emerging as a standout in the Dodgers’ deep farm system.
This Week’s Future Dodger
(Occasionally audacious, sometimes not, when speculating about potential future Dodger targets.)
Tarik Skubal, Tigers (ETA: 2027)
I’ve mentioned Skubal before, and it seems time for an update.
Initially, it looked promising for a trade as the Tigers are likely to be out of contention come the deadline. However, Skubal has recently had elbow surgery and may not return in time to be dealt.
Interestingly, this might just increase his chances of being signed by the Dodgers. If Skubal isn’t at his peak post-recovery, other teams may shy away from offering the lucrative deal anticipated before his injury. The Dodgers could snag him on a shorter contract with an attractive average annual rate instead.
This Week’s Question
Have the Dodgers come out of their offensive rut?
Hopefully, yes. They’ve snagged three wins out of their last four games on the road, averaging over six points per game, thereby breaking a rough 5-9 slump that saw them averaging just four.
This slight resurgence involved matches with multiple 10-hit games, which matched their total from the previous 14-game stretch. They finally started hitting home runs again, scoring five in three consecutive games in Houston, a stark contrast to merely three across the prior 12 games.
The real test will, of course, come this weekend in the series against the Braves, the top team in the MLB right now. The Dodgers will face off against former Cy Young winner Chris Sale, former All-Star Spencer Strider, and up-and-coming star Bryce Elder.
This challenging matchup could finally clarify whether the Dodgers are back to their offensive best.
