Despite Many Setbacks, The 2021 Dodgers Are Having An Excellent Year
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been plagued by injuries and unfortunate mishaps this season, and the fact that they are still competing is miraculous.
First, the team lost Dustin May to Tommy John surgery. Cody Bellinger went down with a broken ankle not long after. Corey Seager followed suit, breaking his hand. The cherry on top was the dismissal of Trevor Bauer, who allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman.
This was only the beginning. Clayton Kershaw went down with elbow inflammation in mid-July and did not return until September while an underperforming Mookie Betts revealed he had an injured hip. The defending champs simply could not catch a break.
Yet, the squad has powered through and remains one of the best teams in baseball, holding a 75-46 record as of August 19. This record is the second-best in all of baseball, though the Dodgers are still in second place behind the red-hot San Francisco Giants.
To mend their misfortunes, the team has added key pieces, either in trades or via the farm system. Their first move is underrated, as the Dodgers swooped in to grab Albert Pujols for almost nothing after the Angels DFA’ed him. He became a key piece of the clubhouse, offering bear hugs after home runs while also batting .265 with nine home runs as of August 19th.
Young bullpen pieces have stepped it up as well. Blake Treinen and Phil Bickford have become an epic duo and a bridge to closer Kenley Jansen. Treinen in 52.2 innings has a 1.88 ERA with a 2.60 FIP and a 0.930 WHIP. Bickford has a 2.02 ERA with a 2.67 FIP. Treinen has not allowed an earned run since June.
With the Giants also making moves to improve their roster and a lack of starting pitching still an issue, a trade at the deadline was vital. As a result, the Dodgers traded for superstar pitcher Max Scherzer and talented infielder Trea Turner. Turner filled the void of a leadoff man while Mookie continues to nurse his hip, and Scherzer already has two wins in both of his starts with the team.
With 41 games left, there is little room for error, as the Dodgers sit three games behind the Giants. The grind is real, but they have a chance at repeating if they can catch San Francisco.
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