The Dodgers’ 9 game road trip ends with three games against the Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. This marks the Dodgers’ first games at Globe Life Field since winning the World Series in 2020 at the ballpark. The last time the Dodgers were at Globe Life Field was October 27, 2020, when they posed for the following:
For that series , Corey Seager was crowned WS MVP. Now he is donning this uni:
I do not know how the Dodgers would have justified a $325MM 10 year contract for Seager, but they sure would not be worried who was playing SS. He was home grown and should have remained a LAD. Seager was my favorite Dodger, and he remains a favorite even though he is playing for Texas.
However, as is par for the course, Seager has missed time due to an injury. He missed six weeks this year already due to a hamstring strain.
LAD last played Texas in 2021, however that was in LA. The last time they played each other in the regular season in Texas was 2020. The Dodgers are 20-13 all-time against the Rangers, including 11-7 in Texas.
At the beginning of the year, I thought that Texas would be a Wild Card Playoff team. Instead they have arrived a year early and are one of the AL favorites for the WS. They have the 3rd best winning percentage in the AL, and 4th in MLB.
Texas is an offensive juggernaut. As a team, they are slashing .274/.342/.462/.804. That is the best batting average and OBP in MLB and second in SLG and OPS to Atlanta.
OTOH, the Dodgers are not too shabby with their own offensive plaudits. They have a slash line of .244/.332/.450/.782. The Dodgers rank #19, #6, #3, #3 respectively.
Texas is the #1 team WRISP (BA/SLG/OPS) and #2 (OBP). Again, the Dodgers are highly ranked in this split as well. #9, #1, #6, and #2 respectively.
Texas has an overall team ERA of 3.92 (#11), with the Dodgers at 4.40 (#20). For starters, Texas has the 2nd best ERA in MLB with 3.63. The Dodgers’ starters ERA is 4.54 (#17). It behooves the Dodgers to get to the Rangers’ bullpen. The reliever ERA for Texas is 4.42 (#24), while the Dodgers is 4.21 (#19). Texas recognizes that their bullpen is their biggest weakness, and they have already worked on shoring it up with the Aroldis Chapman trade with KC. They have indicated they are not done.
Texas had 6 All Stars, including 5 starters:
- C – Jonah Heim (Voted as starter)
- 2B – Marcus Semien (Voted as starter)
- 3B – Josh Jung (Voted as starter)
- SS – Corey Seager (Voted as starter)
- RF – Adolis Garcia (Not voted as a starter, but chosen my manager)
- SP – Nathan Eovaldi
Starting Lineup:
- Jonah Heim – C – .287/.341/.494/.835, 14 HR, 66 RBI
- Nathaniel Lowe – 1B – .280/.367/.435/.802, 10 HR, 48 RBI
- Marcus Semien – 2B – .275/.344/.448/.792, 13 HR, 59 RBI
- Josh Jung – 3B – .272/.323/.485/.808, 19 HR, 58 RBI
- Corey Seager – SS – .346/.408/.615/1.023, 14 HR, 57 RBI
- Travis Jankowski – LF – .331/.424/.426/.850, 1 HR, 20 RBI
- Leody Taveras – CF – .288/.334/.468/.802, 11 HR, 43 RBI
- Adolis Garcia – RF – .259/.330/.511/.841, 24 HR, 80 RBI
- Ezequiel Duran – DH – .297/.335/.517/.852, 13 HR, 37 RBI
- Nathan Eovaldi – 123.2 IP, 2.69 ERA, 1.01 WHIP
- Jon Gray – 103.1 IP, 3.31 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
- Andrew Heaney – 91.1 IP, 4.43 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
- Martín Pérez – 96.2 IP, 4.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
- Dane Dunning – 99.0 IP, 2.82 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
These starters (position and pitcher) were acquired via:
- Signed as amateurs (2) – Jung (Draft) and Taveras (IFA)
- Trade (5) – Heim (Oakland), Lowe (Tampa Bay), Garcia (St. Louis), Dunning (CWS), Duran (NYY)
- FA (7) – Semien, Seager, Jankowski, Eovaldi, Gray, Heaney, Pérez
Friday, 5:05 p.m. PT – Tony Gonsolin vs. Andrew Heaney (L)
Saturday, 1:05 p.m. PT – Bobby Miller vs. Dane Dunning
Sunday, 11:35 a.m. PT – Emmet Sheehan vs. Martín Pérez (L)
The Dodgers will get an opportunity to see how they will fare against LHP from a contending team. At least they are fortunate to not have to face CY contender, Nathan Eovaldi.
This is a series, I have been waiting on for quite a while. Let the series begin.
07-20-2023 – MiLB Game Summary Report
El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 12 – OKC 6
El Paso’s Brandon Dixon hit a 3-run HR in the 3rd off OKC starter Ryan Pepiot for a 4-1 lead. The Chihuahuas scored 6 unearned runs in the 5th to break it open.
Pepiot is still a ways off from rejoining the LAD rotation. 2.2 IP, 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR.
Key Performers:
- Drew Avans – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (11)
- Ryan Ward – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (11)
Tulsa Drillers 8 – NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) 2
Nick Nastrini started and complete 5.1 innings. He threw 89 pitches (60 strikes). His pitching line was – 5.1 IP, 2 runs, 8 hits, 2 BB, 8 K. Four Drillers relievers completed the final 3.2 scoreless and hitless innings. They allowed 2 BB and 8 K.
Key Performers:
- Jorbit Vivas – 2-5, 2 runs, double (20)
- Eddys Leonard – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (11)
- Diego Cartaya – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8), HR (12)
- Yusniel Diaz – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, double (9)
Great Lakes Loons 3 – Lansing Lugnuts (A’s) 1
Four Loons pitchers combined for the 3-1 victory. Chris Newell supplied two SF for 2 runs.
Key Performers:
- Ronan Kopp – 3.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 BB, 4 K
- Jerming Rosario – 4.0 IP, 0 runs, 6 hits, 2 BB, 4 K
- Benony Robles – 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K, save (9)
- Taylor Young – 2-5
- Kenneth Betancourt – 2-4
- Doubles – Max Hewitt (3), Damon Keith (18)
Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 18 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0
Let’s just leave it at that.
Nathan Eovaldi came up through the Dodgers farm system and played w LA. I know you can’t keep every player but it hurts a little to see “one that got away” having such a good career.
Back in the stadium where they won their last title. Good Vibrations.
A few Dodgers talking about the ‘20 Championship. Their take: It was strange, with no real celebration.
Sheehan, Grove and Miller won’t make it to October without some down time. We will likely need everyone to get to post season, but once there we can go with 4 starters. Who those 4 will be? Stand by.
Muncy will likely be back. I still believe he has a few more hot streaks in him.
I’m neither happy for or nostalgic about Bellinger. He got injured on a careless celebration and suffered two horrible years afterward. He’s another former Dodger (they are all over the league) that I figured would land with Yankees anyway.
The team is 8-2. I think that’s a roll. This series will be a challenge. Texas is good, they are 7-3 and 33-18 at home.
Betts – RF
Freeman – 1B
Smith – C
JDM – DH
CT3 – LF
Muncy – 3B
DeLuca – CF
Rojas – SS
Yonny Hernandez – 2B
At least Muncy is batting 6th.
In the meantime, Bellinger is up to .317/.371/.542
Wow….
JD, please, you don’t slide worth a sh*t. Don’t force yourself to have to do it. Base to base Sluggo.
Update at OKC – Noah Syndergaard – 3.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, 2 KK, 43 pitches/32 strikes. My guess is that he will be one of the two SP needed at the break.
Asking trade simulator: Muncy, Barnes and Grove to the Yankees for ???
Good game for the Dodgers so far.
Nice win. But, our pitchers are still walking too many.
Jeff, FYI, you know I respect your opinions and this site. However I dont take any joy criticizing any Dodger. I only do it when they deserve it and last I checked Barnes is hitting .099. That makes Mario mendoza look like a hall of famer. But honestly I don’t feel sorry for Barnes. I want him to succeed because he’s a Dodger and I root for the Dodgers. But im sure these players can take some criticism. If they can’t then they should choose a different line of work. To be honest nobody should feel sorry for any of them when they are making millions of dollars per year and other people are sleeping on the streets.
I only make snyde comments to people that put me down like Patch and Mark. Those guys are bullies and I’m merely defending myself. Should I turn the other cheek? Or should I defend myself? At least Mark has the guts to write and uses his real name, unlike Patch who hides behind his screen moniker and has no site of his own last I checked.
We’re all Dosger fans here and shouldn’t be bullying anyone for disagreeing about baseball strategies.