The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated a hard-fought win over the New York Mets before boarding their flight to St. Louis on Thursday. Tanner Scott’s reliable pitching helped seal the victory, indicating that the changes he and the coaching staff have implemented may be taking effect positively.
In additional good news, the Dodgers bullpen is set to receive reinforcements, as both Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates are expected to be activated from the injured list this weekend. Both players reported feeling good following their recent outings, and if all goes well, they will rejoin the team in St. Louis.
The team is nearing the conclusion of a challenging stretch in their schedule, which unfortunately coincided with a depleted pitching staff. They managed a respectable 7-6 record against the Mets, Guardians, and Yankees during this stretch, an impressive feat considering the circumstances. They are now gearing up for a three-game series in St. Louis, followed by another series in San Diego before taking a much-needed day off.
Earlier this season, discussions swirled about the possibility of the Dodgers trading for Nolan Arenado, especially as he expressed a desire to play in Los Angeles. However, Max Muncy’s recent performance has quelled some of those concerns. Muncy is currently hitting .273 over his last 15 games, with six home runs, while Arenado is batting only .228 overall and has struggled recently with a .190 average in his last 15 games. Muncy’s defensive contributions also show he has a significant advantage in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), currently sitting at 1.5 compared to Arenado’s 0.5.
In a related note, there has been attention drawn to how Muncy is seeking advice from fellow teammate Mookie Betts to enhance his fielding skills, signaling a commitment to improvement.
The St. Louis Cardinals will enter the series with a record of 34-28, sitting five games behind in the NL Central. They are set to send Sonny Gray, who has a 6-1 record and a 3.65 ERA, to the mound. Interestingly, Gray is nicknamed “Pickles.”
To address their pitching needs, the Dodgers will call up Justin Wrobleski from the minors for a starting role. Wrobleski has had two major league outings this season, with a record of 1-1 and an ERA of 8.00, having allowed eight earned runs in one outing earlier this season. However, he showed promise by allowing just one hit over four innings against the Athletics in May.
As both teams gear up for the upcoming games, fans can look forward to a highly competitive series packed with exciting matchups.