Cody Snavely
Happy Monday! Hopefully, the morning after Cinco De Mayo, our readers will be ready for yet another Dodgers Notes segment as the Dodgers continue their winning this week, taking a series against the Diamondbacks and Braves.
Week recap (4/29/24-5/5/24)
Diamondbacks Recap: To kick off a week filled with competitive baseball games, the Dodgers finished off their season-long nine-game road trip in the city of Phonix in a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team that shocked them in the 2023 NLDS, eliminating the Blue Crew in three games.
However, that was last year. This is this year, and each team has made strides toward improving in 2024. Entering this Series, the Dodgers had already swept the Nationals, took two-of-three from the Blue Jays, and looked to cap off an already successful road trip. The Dodgers did that and more, taking the Series two games to one and finishing 7-2 on the long road trip.
The Series was capped off by a stellar shutout performance by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who went six scoreless innings and dropped his ERA to 2.91. The Dodgers b-their lineup kick left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
- Game One: 8-4 W
- Game Two: 4-3 L
- Game Three: 8-0 W
Braves Recap: In what was a highly anticipated matchup between two NL contenders the Dodgers swept the Atlanta Braves in three games outplaying them in almost every way. The Dodgers offense continued their hot pace with Shohei Ohtani leading the charge in all three games coming up with a game tying hit in extras in game one, and clobbering two homeruns in the series finale one which went 464 ft. dead center.
The starting rotation was equally bright as Gavin Stone, Tyler Glasnow, and James Paxton all went at least six innings which helped the Dodgers bullpen lock things down to close the game. While game one was close between the two clubs after a blown save by Daniel Hudson the Dodgers came out hot in game two with Max Muncy having a three homerun night and Ohtani going 4-for-4 with two longballs with the other Dodgers lone hit being a Teoscar Hernández solo shot on Braves left-handed starter Max Fried.
- Game One: 4-3 W
- Game Two: 11-2 W
- Game Three: 5-1 W
The return of Walker “Buetane” Buehler
The imminent return of Walker Buehler is a thrilling moment for the 2024 Dodgers and their starting rotation. His comeback promises to inject the team with added depth and a sense of familiarity reminiscent of his days as the team’s ‘young ace. ‘
Buehler, 29, is making his first appearance since June of the 2022 season, when the right-handed pitcher was placed on the 15-day IL due to a flexor strain. However, despite his best efforts to come back, he knew the inevitable was going to happen, and that was yet another Tommy John Surgery.
Prior to the 2022 season, from 2018-2021, Buehler posted a 2.82 ERA in 564 innings, striking out 620 batters with an ERA+ of 146, 3.16 FIP, and a 9.9 K/9, winning 39 games for the Dodgers in 94 starts.
However, as I stated on the Bleed Los Podcast, we cannot expect the same results as in previous years, as Buehler is in uncharted territory.
In six rehab starts, Buehler posted a 0-2 record with a 4.15 ERA, allowing 26 hits, 10 earned runs, and 21 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. However, the righty averaged around 93 MPH on his fastball, a pitch that he used to average at 96 MPH.
The Dodgers will send Buehler against a struggling Marlins team that, despite making the postseason in 2023, is already a seller, most recently trading AL/NL batting champ Luis Arráez to the division rival Padres last week.
Andy Pages needs a number change stat
When Andy Pages was called up for the Dodgers three weeks ago, I had no idea what to expect of the Dodgers’ third overall prospect.
Pages clearly showed after a strong Spring Training that he did not belong in Triple-A, putting up a 371/.452/.694 slash with five homers, three doubles, a triple, two steals, an 11% walk rate, and a 17.8% strikeout rate.
The Dodgers needed a spark in the bottom of the order at the time, as James Outman, Gavin Lux, and Chris Taylor were all hitting way under league average and showing little effort getting on base. The hope for Pages was that, at minimum, he could get on base and play above-average defense; he’s done that and more.
Through May 5th, Pages has put together a .339/.357/.600 slash line with a .957 OPS. In his last ten games of his hit streak, Andy Pages has a .419 batting average with 18 hits, 3 home runs, 9 RBIs, and 9 runs scored in 10 games.
Pages has also played exceptional defense, whether in left field, center field, or right field, and has shown the ability to hit both right-handed and left-handed pitches, prompting the Dodgers to keep him in the lineup as an everyday player.
Andy Pages has certainly made his mark and will likely stay with the club even when left-handed veteran Jason Heyward returns from the 10-day IL.
Injury Notes
The Dodgers have a plethora of players currently on the IL that we got updates about throughout the week.
Left-handed veteran Jason Heyward took his first swings since his back stiffened up at the start of the season and is gearing up for a rehab stint in the coming week.
Right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller has continued his throwing program in Los Angeles while the Dodgers were on their nine-game road trip and has begun throwing off a mound. The next step would be facing live hitters and a rehab assignment. However, Dave Roberts asserted that the longer Miller is out, the longer he will need to revamp his arm to be ready for big-league action.
Left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw also recently began throwing off the mound again as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery that will keep him out until mid-summer. Kershaw threw around 12-15 pitches and stated to Dave Roberts that he “felt great” and will continue his throwing program as usual.
The Dodgers have also activated right-handed reliever Blake Treinen off the 15-day IL prior to Sunday’s finale against the Braves. Treinen has been out recovering from bruised ribs and a lung after he was hit by a line drive on March 8th during Spring Training.
However, as one arm returns, another arm goes to the IL, as closer Evan Phillips was Treinen’s corresponding move. Phillips stated his foot got caught in the grass, leading to a grade-one hamstring strain that he and the Dodgers hope is a short stint.
As for the other arms on the IL, Dustin May has started intensifying his rehab and hopes to rejoin the Dodgers sometime this year. He will continue to work out at the Dodgers’ Arizona facility.
Emmett Sheehan and Brusdar Graterol are still shut down, and their return is still TBA.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
