With a major league-best 104-58 record, a National League-high plus-190 run differential and their first pennant since 1988, the Dodgers were a juggernaut in 2017. Because most of that great roster returned this year, expectations were that the Dodgers would once again rank among the majors’ so-called super teams. Instead, as the season nears the quarter pole, Los Angeles’ record places it in company with the dregs of the league.
LA dropped to a stunningly poor 16-23 on Saturday when it lost its third straight game to lowly Cincinnati, which at 13-27 is one of just three NL teams with a worse mark. The Dodgers will have to fight Sunday to stave off an embarrassing four-game home sweep and perhaps an even larger deficit in the NL West, a division they already trail by eight games. Not only have the rival Diamondbacks gotten off to the NL’s best start (24-15), but they’ve manhandled the Dodgers in the process, winning eight of 12 matchups. The two teams won’t see each other again until the end of August, and if they maintain something resembling their current pace, the Dodgers will be out of both the division and wild-card races by then.
Given the talent on the Dodgers’ roster, it stands to reason they’ll at least push for a wild card, though they’re already 6.5 games back in a crowded race. Ten of the league’s 15 teams are over .500, and eight of those clubs have posted positive run differentials. LA is among those clubs, having scored one more run than it has allowed (168 to 167) en route to an above-.500 Pythagorean record (20-19). It seems the Dodgers have been the victims of bad luck in the win-loss department, then, and they’ve definitely had poor fortune on the injury front.
LA’s laundry list of ailments began in earnest late in spring training when elite third baseman Justin Turner suffered a broken left wrist and hasn’t subsided since then. Along with Turner – who hasn’t yet debuted in 2018 – Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Rich Hill, Logan Forsythe, Tony Cingrani and Tom Koehler are among key Dodgers who have spent time on the DL this year. Kershaw has been out for a week with a biceps issue, and it’s unclear when he’ll return. Meanwhile, the groin strain Ryu suffered earlier this month will keep him out until after the All-Star break.
The injuries to Kershaw and Ryu, not to mention the 2017 shoulder surgery young lefty Julio Urias is working back from, have dented an LA rotation that isn’t blessed with as much depth as it had during the team’s NL-winning showing last year. To their credit, Dodgers starters still rank toward the top of the majors in ERA (ninth) and fWAR (sixth), thanks in part to the much-needed emergence of rookie Walker Buehler.
The team’s relief corps has been ineffective, on the other hand, owing to closer Kenley Jansen’s shockingly rough start, a lack of help from offseason acquisitions Koehler (who hasn’t pitched) and Scott Alexander, and the loss of now-Cub Brandon Morrow in free agency. Only nine bullpens have posted a worse ERA than the Dodgers’ 4.49, while just two are short of the unit’s minus-0.1 fWAR. No Dodgers reliever has been a greater source of concern than the 30-year-old Jansen, who was utterly dominant from 2010-17 but has seen his velocity drop this year en route to career-worst numbers in the run prevention, swinging-strike, strikeout, walk and home run categories.
A revival from Jansen would obviously help key a Dodgers turnaround, as would a healthier squad. Fortunately for LA, Turner and Forsythe could return during the upcoming week to bolster a position player group that has actually managed respectable numbers thus far. The Dodgers rank middle of the pack or better in runs (14th), wRC+ (13th) and fWAR (ninth) despite having gone completely without Turner and largely without the excellent Seager, who racked up 115 plate appearances before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in late April.
The loss of Seager was and still is a devastating blow to the Dodgers, who could attempt to fill his shoes via trade (there has been Manny Machado speculation, for instance) if they’re in position to make a splash around the July non-waiver deadline. Any move(s) the Dodgers make may be partially geared toward keeping them under the $197MM competitive-balance tax threshold, which they seemingly worked to avoid during the offseason.. Thanks in part to a low-key winter in which Koehler, Alexander and a seemingly reborn Matt Kemp were their only noteworthy major league acquisitions, the Dodgers sit an estimated $10MM-plus under the CBT after blowing past it in previous seasons.
For its part, Dodgers management insists staying below the CBT isn’t a must, though that’ll be worth monitoring as the season progresses. Of course, the $197MM figure may not matter for the team come late July if it doesn’t do a 180 over the next two-plus months. There’s plenty of work ahead for the Dodgers to get back to .500, let alone firmly in playoff position, but it’s possible we’ll end up looking back on their first-quarter woes as a blip. Last year’s version did lose 16 of 17 games from late August to mid-September, after all, though they’d already banked an incredible 91-36 record prior to that slump. The current Dodgers would need to go 75-13 over their next 88 to match that pace. Not happening. But will the team rebound to earn its sixth straight playoff berth?
(poll link for app users)
under raited
If their offense still can get together they are done
allmighty
Nope
acarneglia
You lose Seagar for the season. Haven’t had Turner so far all year. Kershaw has shown the ability to be injury prone in the last couple years. A mild sophomore slump from Bellinger. Rich Hill is a year older. You also play in the best division in baseball. 2 playoff teams (Colorado and Arizona), a team that can screw around and beat anyone when healthy(Giants), and an upstart team that doesn’t know any better(Padres). Dodgers miss the playoffs this year.
bravesandcrewfan
I’d say the entire national league is the best division in baseball, but yeah, I agree.
its_happening
Dodgers will have a tough time trying to leapfrog the teams in their division. It can be done but it will be very tough.
Steven Chinwood
lol, not even the best division in the NL, that goes to the Central.
wellhitball
With 4 teams that are at least 5 games over .500, the NL central is clearly looking like the best division in all of baseball.
redsfan48
Honestly I think there’s at least 4 divisions (NL Central, AL West, NL East and AL East in no particular order) that are better than the NL West
greatdaysport
True
brucewayne
I’d say the NL Central is the toughest ! Followed by the AL East. Then maybe the NL East or West.
mack22 2
No way. Bullpen is a disaster, offense is spotty, and Roberts ain’t all that, not this year. Just hope we can stay out of the cellar
em650r
Trade Hill
Get a bat and hope another pitcher is available for trade.
fasbal1
The Dodgers will finish strong, make a deal or 2 and be there in the end. Roberts and his unusual moves at times may cost them the few games needed to secure a wild card spot.
Jordan 5
Being a die hard dodgers fan, this is tough to watch. Their bullpen is absolutely horrible and Roberts continues to throw these guys day after day when they can’t get anyone out. No one is hitting and turner being as good as he is won’t turn these guys around. Unless they make some decisive moves they will be lucky to stay ahead of,the Padres.
cousinnap
agree- the bullpen is terrible but the front office won’t get anyone worth a darn to be in the bullpen – constantly going after bargain basement castoff doesn’t do it -Friedman has got to realize this
BlueSkyLA
Of course Roberts continues to throw these guys out there day after day. What is he supposed to do, recruit relievers from the bleacher seats? The biggest reason why the Dodgers are looking at a wipeout season is the FO did nothing in the offseason and will do nothing now to fill the growing number of roster holes, because their mission is not winning, it is staying under the luxury tax threshold. This story can’t be told without that piece of vital information.
drysdale53
Totally agree. Andy and Company only want to stay under cap
Senioreditor
A lot of things went right last year and they’re not this year. The biggest issue is that the front office did not address the bullpen in the off season. They’re paying for staying under 197 and Freidman and Co are to blame. It’s a flawed team right now and I doubt a move or two will ultimately help. I suggest they look towards next season. Signing Kershaw long term may NOT be a wise decision?
Solaris601
It may be time for the Dodgers to do the unthinkable and field offers for Kershaw. Based on his health, performance, and potential opt out at year’s end, it will be difficult to calculate his value. But it would be wise for the FO to at least explore what other teams may be willing to send back in a mid-season trade.
cousinnap
don’t go overboard – the last couple of weeks he has not produced – yes a great start – but really dropped – a .240 hitter with a little pop
MB923
The Dodgers are 16-23 (obviously that’s 39 games). At one point in 2017, they went 15-24 in 39 games, but they still finished with the best record in baseball in 2017. It’s a marathon not a spring. Season is only about 1/4 over.
I don’t think there’s anyway the 2018 Dodgers come anywhere close to the record they had last year , but I still see them finishing strong. As I said, it’s a marathon.
davidcoonce74
Yeah, the injuries are killing them and Arizona looks way better than I had thought they would. The Rockies I’m not sold on – that’s an ugly run differential for a team with a winning record. – But obviously the Dodgers would need a couple hot streaks to contend. There are only two teams in the West with a positive RD (which usually correlates to w-l records) and that’s LA and Arizona, but LA is just barely positive. The pitching with Hill and Kershaw hurt isn’t anything special and losing all those bats to start the season is a blow probably no team could recover from. I wouldn’t blame this on Roberts or the Front Office though; I doubt anyone could have predicted Jansen’s shocking decline, for example, or predicted this many injuries.
Senioreditor
Kenley should have spent more time preparing for the upcoming season and less time worrying about collusion and whether or not players should strike. He wasn’t focused from the start and it shows. Just my opinion.
BlueSkyLA
Jansen was held back from working through most of spring training. This was not his choice, but the choice of management, who were concerned about his extensive use in the postseason. Maybe it would be best to stick to the facts.
cousinnap
Jansen has actually not been that bad since the first two games – ERA since then about 2.00 – so he is not really the problem – get over the bad start the rest of the staff and the line up is really weak
Senioreditor
He’s sporting a nearly 1.3 WHIP and every hit/walk now is a double since the league has learned to run at will on him. Whether or not it was managements decision to work him early it not, Kenley was not solely focused on preparations for the upcoming season and it shows.
baseball10
Kershaw will be a great trade candidate in July
thegreatcerealfamine
No, he’ll be lucky to stay off the DL. Nobody’s gonna take a chance on sending a ton of prospects for, someone who’s not only undependable in big games but health also. Let’s see if he has the biscuits to opt out.
majorflaw
“Let’s see if he has the biscuits to opt out.”
Kershaw has two years and ~70$M left on his current contract. You don’t think he could do better than that on the open market? I’d expect his agent will approach the Dodgers to discuss an extension in lieu of him exercising his opt out and they will work something out. Do the Dodgers really want to call his bluff and find out whether he has said biscuits? There’s a real downside to that approach.
brucewayne
If any team gives him a long term contract for more money, they will be sadly dissapointed . I think it will turn into another David Price like contract situation .
BlueSkyLA
I doubt that, but he does have a chronic health issue that isn’t likely to improve as his career progresses. I am sticking with my prediction that the Dodgers work out an extension with substantial performance bonuses that makes him a Dodger for life (as every single fan expects him to be). If the Dodgers allow him to go to free agency or worse yet allow him to finish out his career elsewhere after this dumpster fire of a season, we will see a mass defection of Dodger fans the likes of which we haven’t seen since the McCourt days. Many will be happy latch onto that team down the freeway where they are playing good baseball and the games can actually be watched on TV.
Senioreditor
He has a no trade clause in his current contract. I doubt he’ll be receptive to a mid season move.
jdgoat
It’ll be hard without seager and maybe a rusty Turner
gomerhodge71
Yeah. They’ll take on the Reds in the NLCS. Not.
OCTraveler
Dodger fan since 1959, so after last year’s success, this season is very hard to take.
Besides the injuries to Turner, Seager & Kershaw which would devastate most teams, I believe that two of the most contributing factors to the dreadful start that has given Roberts little flexibility were the organization’s inability to acquire one or two solid position in the off season and the decision to carry 13 pitchers instead of 12. These decisions gave Roberts a bench of only Farmer, Barnes and Hernandez and once the injuries began, the “Oklahoma City Express” started.
As for the pitching, the only bright side seems to be Buehler’s potential.and maybe one or two relievers. First suggestion would be to determine value for Baez, Jansen, and one of the three starters other than Kershaw or Buehler and see what you can get.
Finally, Roberts – not sure if you consider a move ( nobody with Dodger ties seems to be available) but make some moves and give him the next 50 games to right the ship.
davidcoonce74
Yes, the three/four-man bench is a problem for a lot of teams this season. Especially in the NL, where the anti-DH crowd likes to crow about all the “strategic advantages” the NL enjoys, although in reality 3 or 4-man benches make double-switching and pinch-hitting almost impossible. Because teams almost never use both their catchers in a game, a 4-man bench is essentially a 3-man bench, usually a left hitter who can’t field, a utility infielder who can’t hit, and a backup outfielder who can run. Those aren’t very appealing options so when half your roster gets injured, even a deep team like the Dodgers is going to suffer.
osfandan
We can package Brach and O’Day with Manny for y’all. Heck you can have Britton and Givens too for the right price.
davidcoonce74
I would guess Brach would be part of any package with Machado, as his contract ends after this season too. O’day is a bit expensive and signed through next season as well. The O’s only assets besides Machado are relievers, basically. I don’t think they’d deal Schoop while his value is low.
As far as destinations for Machado, this year and beyond, I actually don’t really think the Dodgers or Yankees are permanent destinations, although he makes tons of sense for LA in 2018. I don’t know what Texas’ finances are like, but he seems like a fit there and they could certainly use him.
javier 3
Manny Machado will not go to the Dodgers or Yankees. The dodgers won’t trade there best prospects and the Yankees infield is to full. Machado will not get traded to either of those two or sign with either of those two.
PopeMarley
Why bother with the conjecture on the Yankees, when this article is about the Dodgers. Don’t get ahead of yourself on what someone is gonna do…
cousinnap
Ditto – the FO set this up – Roberts has no where else to go except these throw aways from other teams that the FO gives him. And agree again nothing done during the off season.
Solaris601
The one good aspect to their situation is that they’re not shackled to any one player long term (aside from Jansen) so we can expect Forsythe and Ryu to be gone after this year if not sooner. Puig will be escorted into the market after the season without so much as an extension or arb offer. Hill has just one more year after ‘18 as does Kemp. It’s a pretty safe bet that the cast of characters on the field will be very different 2 years from now, but I don’t think anyone anticipated a dramatic tailspin like this so soon after the juggernaut season of 2017.
BlueSkyLA
Short of some huge strokes of luck, this season is a goner. The FO definitely isn’t going over the luxury tax threshold to fix any of the roster holes, and the “internal options” are clearly inadequate. It’s time for the front office to be honest with the fans. They should trade everybody who isn’t in the plan for next year, eat most of their salaries to maximize the returns, and make a pledge to do what it takes to field a competitive team next season. Most fans would accept that. Of course this assumes the FO gives a flying you know what about the what the fans think.
Dark14ry
Dodgers have not made an impactful trade in years. They have holes everywhere. This is more than a Machado fix, which they will not trade for. Their bullpen is a joke. They are simply not good at baseball right now.
BlueSkyLA
Last year they added Darvish, Cingrani and Watson at the deadline.
oldskool10to6
In the “go figure” department it was widely speculated prior to the start of the season that the Dodgers best player at the moment,Matt Kemp, was either to be traded or released….Dodgers don’t make playoffs to answer the articles question…FO sandbagging for 2018 off season and players not performing close to their overachieving 2017 and leaky bullpen…feel free to point fingers where you want and you wouldn’t be wrong…at least the return of Justin Turner to the lineup will help make this team watchable
Solaris601
The lack of offense so far in LA has been alarming. This team struggles to score, wastes ABs, make unproductive outs routinely, and slump collectively. This start really puts that bad month in the second half of last year in perspective. That dreadful period may not have been the outlier we thought it was. This team has needs all over the diamond, and it would be unwise for the FO to try to trade their way into contention at this point. Some of us have gone from fretting over whether or not Kershaw opts out to thinking, “Well, an opt out may not necessarily be a bad thing.” The only player on the cusp of free agency they should consider extending at this point is Grandal who has been productive amidst all the futility surrounding him. It’s not a pretty picture in LA right now, and this FO will need to set a definitive direction for this team by mid season.
Kenleyfornia74
All the Dodgers had to do to win a WS was acquire Verlander over Darvish. The only reason they chose Darvish was he was not owed any money after 2017. Going cheap cost the city a championship and if they miss the playoffs this year it will again. We better at least get 3 of Harper, Dozier , Pollock, Kershaw, Andrew Miller in Dodger uniforms next season or else ownerships and the FO true colors will be shown once again
BlueSkyLA
So you are starting to believe what I’ve been saying for weeks now?
Kenleyfornia74
I have always believed this but i wasn’t ready to give up on the season until they went 1-5 at home vs the Reds and Marlins. Thats where i drew the line.
BlueSkyLA
Fair enough I guess but I did get quite a bit of pushback when I’ve said over the last few weeks that a team can’t expect to sleepwalk into a postseason. It was silly of me to “panic” I was told.
cousinnap
been with you from the beginning
michavez22
With a FO that has a small market mentality and always trying to catch lightening in a bottle, I highly doubt they make the playoffs. The Astros won it last year and they got better by addition during the off-season. Wouldn’t doubt or blame Kershaw to opt out and leave to play in Texas.
The Pen is horrible and it still baffles me that Baez is still employed. They let Watson and Morrow go and both are having a great year so far. Is it time to “sell high” or on whatever Puig has produced this year and get what you can… maybe.
Ninth 3 Year Plan
Meh, they’ll get Turner, Forsythe, & Kershaw back, Puig will start hitting and the doyers will have some belligerently fortunate 30-5 stretch…….fml
Caseys.Partner
The Dodgers need Manny Machado now. They’ll be buried if they wait until July 31st.
osfandan
Sounds like the Orioles could really improve the Dodgers.
cousinnap
I’ve been right with you
stubby66
Sure is funny how all those people saying that Kemp is washed up are being very quiet now. Think they need to swallow their pride and give him his props for getting into shape and rebounding
Kenleyfornia74
Kemp sure has been a major brightspot but they would still dump his contract in a second to anyone willing to take on the money
BlueSkyLA
Sigh. Sorry, but this comment really bugs me. Why in the world would any fan root for ownership to save money? We should be wanting them to eat the entire contract to maximize the trade return.
Kenleyfornia74
No one is trading anything for Kemp. I want them to dump all his money because he just isnt worth what he gets paid. Its not about saving money. I love how well he has played this year but we all know It wont hold. Besides if Kemps money were to disappear then they would actually make some moves
BlueSkyLA
Of course Kemp isn’t worth his contract, but that’s totally irrelevant, because the Dodgers can make it disappear by… paying it. Make him free of cash obligation to a team in need of a DH and he brings something back for sure. Not a big haul, maybe, but a good relief arm is hardly unrealistic.
Otherwise you contradict yourself because you seem to think that while Kemp isn’t worth his contract that there’s some sort of chance someone will take that money off the Dodgers’ books. Clearly nobody would unless the Dodgers throw in some prospect(s) of their own to offset, which I certainly would not want to see them do.
Eventually you will come around to the realization that this season is a lost cause. Then you will see what I am saying about what they need to do to prepare for next year. I guess you’re not there yet.
Kenleyfornia74
No one is trading anything for Kemp but who said they have to get anything for him. I am perfectly fine with getting some insignificant piece back if that means the money goes away. They would have to toss in a prospect but its none of the top 5 guys. Realistically trading him in the offseason is far more likely
BlueSkyLA
Your proposition is mutually exclusive. Even by your own terms what you describe here is an impossibility. I’m pretty sure you are not getting the implications of the Dodgers eating his contract in full to get something back for him. Once again I am puzzled by your rooting for ownership to save money.
Kenleyfornia74
Your overthinking it. If the Dodgers can tie a prospect to Kemp and get a team to take on the money then do it. Thats it. It wont take a crazy prospect package to get a team to take Kemp if he keeps hitting like this. Its not about ownership saving money. While that would be a result its not the idea. Its to give them more luxury tax room so they could actually make a move. 23 more million off the books for 2019 would be huge
BlueSkyLA
I am not overthinking it, I am simply thinking it. They are not going to make any moves this season, nor should they. This season is over. It is done. The fat lady is singing, even if you aren’t hearing it yet. What happens for the next few months is all about next year, when the luxury tax will be reset. That was Friedman & Co’s main goal for this season, and the only one they’ve accomplished. So for next year we should expect ownership to take a big dive into the free agent market. Get rid of everybody who doesn’t fit in for next year for whatever prospects they can wrangle. If they don’t, this Dodger fan is done.
atlho
if their division collpases they might, but there are too many good teams vying for wild cards in the NL for them to sneak in.
migg
They finished last year 13-22 (obviously not including the play-offs), they start this year 16-23.
I guess there’s two things to make out out it
They either are not good since last late August or they showed last year, that you can have the best record in baseball despite 6 terrible weeks.
madmanTX
At least they have Yu Darvish. Oh wait…
Kenleyfornia74
And his 6 ERA.
champion1701
Dogturds do what dogturds do, choke.
cjsk49er
Duds since 1988 and counting! Lmao
1988wasalongtimeago
Dodgers are my team. They look uninspired. They were swept by the Reds?!?!?!? They will not make the playoffs. Machado comes to the Dodgers via free agency.
WarrenSpahn
Everyone says the bullpen is the problem, but the starting rotation is in flames. Kershaw has chronic problems now. Rich Hill is done. He should never get another start. He’s just flipping up BP. Ryu tore his groin muscle off the bone (wow). Wood has been ok. Buehler could be really good but he has had arm problems and is one max-effort pitch away from another TJ. Stripling isn’t there and may never be a legit starter. Maeda is inconsistent and can’t go more than 5 innings. this is a very weak and depleted staff.
cousinnap
couldn’t agree more the whole staff is a mess – did not see Ryu was that serious – all the hype about depth was a bunch of garbage – just having numbers doesn’t do it you need quality not just quantity – look at all the money thrown on all those garbage pick up by this FO
BlueSkyLA
News flash: Kershaw has had chronic back problems for a long time now. He’s missed time to it in three of the last four seasons. The hurt that landed him on the DL this time is actually not chronic, at least not yet. Hill started last season miserably too but finished strong. Buehler nobody knows yet but to suggest that because he’s had a TJ he’s going to need another is kind of silly. We should know that isn’t the way it works. Striping is supposed to be strictly a long reliever and swingman. Last year they had depth, this year, not.
And yes, the bullpen is still the biggest issue. One of the worse in baseball.
RedRooster
They should trade Kershaw for a haul then re-sign him. Similar to what the Yankees did with Aroldis Chapman.
cousinnap
right now his trade valuer is way-way down
cousinnap
That “depth” was just a castoff collection of warm bodies
sfg415sfc
Time to fire Mattingly. Oh.