The Dodgers just lost another game on the road and it was not a good one. The first of a ten game road trip showed the Dodgers' weaknesses. Last year, every time Clayton Kershaw took the mound the Dodgers felt confident they would win. However, this year it is much different. Kershaw did not pitch his best game, but still gave the Dodgers a chance to win the game. Yet, the Dodgers offense continued to struggle even after scoring ten runs the night before. The Dodgers only runs were solo home runs by Kike Hernandez and Joc Pederson. The offense has been largely made up of solo home runs and it is not working for the Dodgers. The final score was 4-2 and unhappiest of all was Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw allowed three runs in seven innings, the first two on a home run by Kris Bryant after a pitch that just missed being called strike three. Kershaw was upset after his last start in which he got little support so it will not be surprising to hear him vent about this game as well.
The Dodgers scored first in the third inning and the Cubs starting pitcher left injured shortly afterward, but the Dodgers could not get their offense going the rest of the game. With the Dodgers scoring two runs or fewer all too often nowadays they cannot be satisfied with the status quo. Either the Dodgers need to acquire another large bat to put in the middle of the lineup, they need to bench players who are struggling or something they should have done a long time ago, fire the manager Don Mattingly. The Dodgers have not done well on the road and with their next nine games coming on the next nine days, they are going to need to get some offense or they will not be returning home in first place.
One of the few positive notes for the Dodgers is that they activated reliever Joel Peralta of the Disabled List on Monday and fellow pitchers Brandon League, Paco Rodriguez, Pedro Baez and Brandon Beachy are all rehabbing in the minor leagues and could be activated in the near future.
