Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers are fresh off an embarrassing showing in Philadelphia, where they were swept and outplayed in every fashion by the Major League-leading Phillies squad. The Dodgers head to Detroit to kick off a three-game series, concluding their six-game road trip and the first half of play before the 2024 Major League Baseball all-star break.
The Dodgers have been playing a lousy brand of baseball for the better half of two months. Since May 15th, they have a 26-24 record, a 19-15 record since June 1st, a 12-10 record since June 15th, and only three wins in nine July games.
The starting rotation is stretched thin, the offense has been widely inconsistent, and the bullpen, which has been overworked in recent weeks, has seen them drop their top ERA spot in the National League.
The Dodgers’ series sweep in Philly was a tough blow. With only three games left until the break, it’s hard to imagine much fight from a team that is clearly in need of rest. The Dodgers desperately need a break to regroup and come back stronger.
The Tigers have been playing well over their last ten games, collecting seven wins over that stretch. However, entering the 2024 season, the Tigers had higher expectations, with some MLB insiders picking them as a sneaky pick to win the weak American League Central.
It has not gone according to plan this season. Despite playing well this past week, the Tigers are still in fourth place with a 45-49 record, four games under .500, and thirteen games out of the first-place Cleveland Guardians.
In this matchup, the Dodgers will have the opportunity to see a couple of potential deadline adds, one of which is American League Cy Young frontrunner Tarik Skubal, who was reported a few weeks ago that could be moved if the Tigers are blown away with an offer from a team like the Dodgers and Orioles mentioned.
Pitching match-ups
Game One: James Paxton (LHP) (7-2, 4.24 ERA) vs Tarik Skubal (LHP) K10-3, 2.37 ERA)
Game Two: Justin Wrobleski (LHP) (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs Keider Montero (1-2, 4.64 ERA)
Game Three: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game Times
Game One: 3:40 PM PT, SNLA, Bally Sports Detroit
Game Two: 10:10 AM PT, SNLA, Bally Sports Detroit, MLB Network (out-of-market)
Game Three: 10:40 AM PT, SNLA, Bally Sports Detroit
Who’s in & who’s out?
It was a busy few days in Philadelphia for the Dodgers transaction page as the team made plenty of roster moves over those three games.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced prior to Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia that right-handed starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow would be placed on the 15-day injured list with back tightness.
Glasnow, who is approaching his career-high innings mark, gets a much-needed extended break. The righty has shown signs of fatigue in his last few starts, allowing more hits and home runs and not going as deep into games.
Roberts stated that the stint on the injured list is not to be considered long, and the righty will rejoin the Dodgers rotation shortly after the all-star break.
Right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller was also optioned down to Triple-A OKC after a horrible start his last time out. The righty gave up nine runs on ten hits, including a grand slam to former Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner, which opened the floodgates to a nine-nothing lead at that point.
Since Miller’s activation off the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation, the righty has not looked right, allowing more walks than strikeouts and now having a season ERA over eight. Dave Roberts stated that Miller will work with Dodgers minor league pitching coordinator Rob Hill for an extended period before rejoining the Dodgers, hopefully at some point this year.
With those moves, the Dodgers recalled right-handed pitchers Michael Peterson and Ricky Vanasco to help the bullpen eat some innings, especially with a bullpen game planned for Sunday’s first-half finale.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have fourteen players on the injured list, one of the highest totals in baseball, and it is a huge reason why the team is playing like a mediocre ballclub.
Entering the break, the Dodgers have Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Jason Heyward, Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Emmet Sheehan, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ryan Brasier, Connor Brogdon, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove and Joe Kelly all on the shelf.
The Tigers are doing much better on the injury front, recently activating shortstop Javier Baez from the 10-day injured list after missing the previous five weeks with a back issue.
Outfielder Parker Meadows, however, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, and the team recalled Akil Baddoo from Triple-A in his place.
On the pitching side, the Tigers will be without former top prospect Casey Mize. The righty is still on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain but hopes to return after the all-star break.
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