Hello, and welcome to a different version of Dodgers Dugout. My title is Houston Mitchell. For the primary time in what looks as if ceaselessly, the Dodger lineup is at full power, lacking solely Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor, each of whom may very well be again quickly.

Earlier than we get to Jason Heyward, let’s discuss one thing that many, many readers have requested.

We’re within the dwelling stretch now, because the Dodgers have solely 34 video games remaining. They’re holding off a livid cost from the Padres and Diamondbacks for the division title, so it’s attainable the Dodgers may end third within the division.

They greater than seemingly will make the postseason even when they end third, as they’ve an even bigger lead for the ultimate wild-card spot than they do for third place within the West. In addition they are nearer to having the very best file within the NL than they’re to the ultimate wild-card spot. It’s only a loopy NL West proper now.

There’s no manner of telling who will win, in fact, that’s why they play the video games. However who has the simplest schedule the remainder of the best way?

Let’s have a look (the asterisk denotes a staff that may make the postseason if the season ended right this moment):

Dodgers
34 video games remaining

House (18)
vs. Tampa Bay, 3 (Tampa Bay is 64-63)
vs. *Baltimore, 3 (74-55)
vs. *Cleveland, 3 (73-54)
vs. Chicago Cubs, 3 (63-65)
vs. Colorado, 3 (47-81)
vs. *San Diego, 3 (72-57)

Highway (16)
at *Arizona, 4 (72-56)
at Angels, 2 (54-74)
at *Atlanta, 4 (67-59)
at Miami, 3 (46-81)
at Colorado, 3 (47-81)

The Dodgers have 4 off days remaining. They shut the season with three video games at dwelling in opposition to San Diego, adopted by three video games at Colorado.

San Diego
33 video games remaining

House (15)
vs. New York Mets, 3 (67-61)
vs. Detroit, 3 (62-66)
vs. San Francisco, 3 (65-64)
vs. *Houston, 3 (69-58)
vs. Chicago White Sox, 3 (31-97)

Highway (18)
at St. Louis, 4 (63-64)
at Tampa Bay, 3 (64-63)
at Seattle, 2 (64-64)
at San Francisco, 3 (65-64)
at *Dodgers, 3 (76-52)
at *Arizona, 3 (72-56)

The Padres have 5 off days remaining. They shut the season with three video games on the Dodgers adopted by three video games at Arizona.

Arizona
34 video games remaining

House (18)
vs. New York Mets, 3 (67-61)
vs. *Dodgers, 4 (76-52)
vs. Texas, 2 (59-69)
vs. *Milwaukee, 3 (73-54)
vs. San Francisco, 3 (65-64)
vs. *San Diego, 3 (72-57)

Highway (16)
at Boston, 3 (67-59)
at San Francisco, 3 (65-64)
at *Houston, 3 (69-58)
at Colorado, 3 (47-81)
at *Milwaukee, 4 (73-54)

The Diamondbacks have 4 off days remaining. They shut the season with six dwelling video games, three in opposition to San Francisco, three in opposition to San Diego.

What does all this imply? To cite an incredible swordsman, “Let me clarify. No, there’s an excessive amount of. Let me sum up.”

The Dodgers have 11 collection remaining. 5 are with groups that may at present make the postseason. Six are with groups which are .500 or higher. The cumulative won-loss proportion of the remaining groups: .483.

The Padres have 11 collection remaining. Three are with groups that may at present make the postseason. Eight are with groups which are .500 or higher. The cumulative won-loss proportion of the remaining groups: .496.

The Diamondbacks have 11 collection remaining. 5 are with groups that may at present make the postseason. 9 are with groups which are .500 or higher. The cumulative won-loss proportion of the remaining groups: .523

The Dodgers face Cleveland and Baltimore, who’re each battling (together with the Yankees) for the very best file within the AL. Arizona has the hardest opposition, day in and day trip, the remainder of the best way. I’ve a sense it should come all the way down to the ultimate three video games of the season, with San Diego at Arizona and the Dodgers at Colorado. And being in Denver, meaning the Dodgers should use a whole lot of relievers simply earlier than the postseason begins.

Roster notes

The large information occurred Thursday. The Dodgers activated Chris Taylor and designated Jason Heyward for project. This transfer induced a whole lot of consternation amongst followers on-line. However within the absence, thus far, of an official clarification, let’s attempt to determine the reasoning.

Heyward can play solely proper and left. These positions are taken. Taylor can play a number of positions, together with middle. Heyward’s contract is up on the finish of the season. Taylor has one yr and $15 million left on his. Kevin Kiermaier is a four-time Gold Glove in middle. Kiké Hernández can play a number of positions. None of those guys are hitting very nicely this season. In 43 postseason video games, Heyward hit .148.

All these issues add as much as Heyward being the odd man out.

Heyward did deliver sure intangibles nevertheless. He was a left-handed hitter. Nicely revered within the clubhouse. Labored onerous and set an instance for the youthful gamers.

“You see him each day coming in working, serving to the youthful guys out, his complete routine, how skilled he’s,” catcher Will Smith mentioned final yr as reported on this story on Heyward’s launch by Jack Harris. “That rubs off on guys.”

Will this come again to harm the Dodgers? You by no means know, however I maintain coming again to 1 thought: In case your World Collection title hopes relaxation on the final place participant in your roster, then you’ve got greater issues. The Dodgers are nonetheless in the identical boat as final week, and the week earlier than that and….. they want the fitting guys to get scorching within the postseason. It doesn’t matter if Heyward or Taylor is on the staff if the highest of the lineup goes one for 41.

In different information… On the day the earlier e-newsletter got here out, the one which talked about all of the arm accidents, the Dodgers put Tyler Glasnow on the IL due to a sore elbow. Glasnow has already pitched extra innings this season than any earlier season and has had Tommy John surgical procedure, so the transfer is believed to be precautionary. Glasnow mentioned he really felt wonderful the day he was placed on the IL.

“The impetus of placing him on the IL is so we don’t have to fret about how we handle him transferring ahead,” Dave Roberts mentioned. “He was preventing tooth and nail to make the beginning, however we’ve been very constant so far as getting guys prepared for the stretch run, and he’s an enormous a part of ending this season off the fitting manner.

“If he have been to have made the beginning, I might’ve been on pins and needles from the primary throw, and I don’t suppose that’s good for him or good for the staff. We made the fitting resolution. Tyler was actually disenchanted as a result of he wished to take the baseball, however I believe as a corporation this was one thing we needed to do.”

Bobby Miller changed Glasnow on the roster.

The Dodgers additionally put Austin Barnes on the IL due to a damaged toe and recalled Hunter Feduccia from the minors. Barnes is predicted again as quickly as he’s eligible.

Lastly, Max Muncy and Tommy Edman have been activated from the IL. Muncy homered has hit the quilt off the ball his first three video games again. To make room, Nick Ahmed was designated for project and Andy Pages was despatched to the minors.

Ahmed did what he was requested to do: Maintain down the fort at shortstop till Miguel Rojas returned. And with Edman on the roster, Ahmed was going to get virtually no enjoying time. Pages by no means discovered a constant groove as a hitter and his protection is common at finest. With Kiermaier and his Gold Glove protection in middle and with Mookie Betts again in proper, there was not a great place for Pages.

Justin Turner returns

Justin Turner made his long-awaited return to Dodger Stadium on Monday as a member of the Seattle Mariners. He signed as a free agent after the 2022 season when the Dodgers confirmed little curiosity in bringing him again. Performed nicely for Boston, then signed with Toronto earlier than this offseason, and the Blue Jays despatched him to Seattle on the commerce deadline. Within the 9 years of this text, there is no such thing as a one who has generated extra constructive feedback than Turner, making him simply the most important fan favourite since 2015.

Turner was honored earlier than the sport. Turner’s spouse, Kourtney, and son Bo joined him behind dwelling plate for a video of his profession highlights as a Dodger earlier than the staff introduced Turner with a $10,000 test for his basis in addition to three framed photographs of him in motion.

“What’s up, L.A.?” Turner mentioned to the gang. “I simply wished to say from the underside of my coronary heart. Thanks guys a lot for 9 of essentially the most unbelievable years of my life. From prime to backside — possession, entrance workplace, workers, gamers, you guys made this some of the particular instances. And I can’t say thanks sufficient. This time on this uniform meant the world to me. And Dodger followers — you guys are really superb and can all the time have a particular spot in my coronary heart. So thanks.”

Dave Roberts, on whether or not Turner may change into a supervisor in the future: “He’s in all probability the neatest participant I’ve ever had, understanding all of the sides of the sport on the sphere, off the sphere, duty as knowledgeable athlete. Being a discipline supervisor is one thing that’s on his radar. He and the group have an enormous respect and admiration. It looks as if a no brainer for me.”

I used to be all set to put in writing about how the Dodgers ought to discover a option to deliver him again subsequent season, whether or not it’s as a participant as coach. As a participant, logically it is unnecessary as a result of he can actually solely play first or DH these days, and people two positions are taken. But when there’s a manner…. After all, because of this GMs should make choices with their mind and never their coronary heart.

Anyway, Invoice Plaschke wrote about how the Dodgers ought to deliver him again, so I don’t have to put in writing it. Go learn it right here.

Random ideas

—It’s time to close Walker Buehler down for the season. Can’t give away that many runs originally of video games and it’s time to seek out the postseason rotation (trace: Buehler’s not a part of it.)

—Some questioned what the large deal is about Muncy coming again, since he hits .220. Muncy’s worth doesn’t reside in his batting common. He has a whole lot of energy, and attracts a whole lot of walks, so he will get on base extra typically than others within the lineup with a better batting common. The worth of a participant doesn’t lie solely in a single stat. I can pull out a stat on virtually any participant and make him look nice or horrible. It’s the general image that counts. Muncy does issues that make up for his low batting common. Is it higher to have a participant that does every part nicely? After all, however these gamers include a hefty price ticket. At $12 million, Muncy is an efficient participant to have.

—Charley Steiner returned to the printed sales space for a few innings lately. He’s nonetheless recovering from a number of fractures in his again and is enjoying it by ear so far as how a lot he can contribute the remainder of the best way.

This could’t be attainable

On this grim, brutal, miserable, downhearted, unhappy season, the place nothing has gone proper and the place a proportion of the fan base has written to say “They will’t presumably win it this yr,” right here’s a take a look at the very best data in baseball. I imply, the Dodgers have to be down round fifteenth proper?

Dodgers, 76-52
NY Yankees, 75-53
Philadelphia, 74-53
Cleveland, 73-54
Milwaukee, 73-54
Baltimore, 74-55
Arizona, 72-56
Minnesota, 71-56
Kansas Metropolis, 71-56
San Diego, 72-57

That may’t presumably be proper, can it? The Dodgers have the very best file in baseball? Absolutely, the Avengers have used some Pym Particles and introduced us into another alternate actuality, proper? Scott Bakula goes to Quantum Leap into somebody’s physique and repair this. Captain Kirk and the Enterprise are going to slingshot across the solar and repair this apparent mistake. Please, be happy to insert your individual time journey/parallel earth story line right here.

The final two weeks

How the Dodgers hitters and pitchers have fared the final two weeks (by means of Wednesday):

Amed Rosario, 1 for 1
Max Muncy, 4 for 10, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 6 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 Okay’s
Miguel Rojas, .353/.389/.412, 34 at-bats, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 Okay’s
Kevin Kiermaier, .310/.310/.517, 29 at-bats, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 homer, 5 RBIs, 1 stroll, 7 Okay’s
Gavin Lux, .306/.346/.633, 49 at-bats, 4 doubles, 4 homers, 9 RBIs, 3 walks, 12 Okay’s
Mookie Betts, .300/.349/.525, 40 at-bats, 3 doubles, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, 3 walks, 10 Okay’s
Freddie Freeman, .298/.353/.447, 47 at-bats, 4 doubles, 1 homer, 3 RBIs, 4 walks, 9 Okay’s
Will Smith, .242/.366/.424, 33 at-bats, 3 doubles, 1 homer, 5 RBIs, 5 walks, 6 Okay’s
Andy Pages, .235/.350/.588, 17 at-bats, 3 doubles, 1 homer, 3 RBIs, 3 walks, 3 Okay’s
Teoscar Hernández, .234/.294/.340, 47 at-bats, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 6 RBIs, 2 walks, 6 Okay’s
Kiké Hernández, .222/.250/.361, 36 at-bats, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 6 RBIs, 2 walks, 6 Okay’s
Shohei Ohtani, .200/.279/.546, 55 at-bats, 2 triple, 5 homers, 7 RBIs, 6 walks, 14 Okay’s
Jason Heyward, .200/.200/.467, 15 at-bats, 1 double, 1 homer, 4 RBIs, 4 Okay’s
Tommy Edman, 2 for 11
Nick Ahmed, 2 for 11
Austin Barnes, 0 for 12
Workforce, .260/.316/.470, 28 doubles, 3 triples, 20 homers, 36 walks, 107 Okay’s, 5.15 runs per video games

Pitching

Evan Phillips, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 save, 6 IP, 3 hits, 1 stroll, 8 Okay’s
Michael Kopech, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 saves, 5.1 IP, 1 stroll, 7 Okay’s
River Ryan, 0.00 ERA, 4.2 IP, 4 hits, 4 Okay’s
Ryan Brasier, 0.00 ERA, 2.2 IP, 1 Okay
Gavin Stone, 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 12 IP, 5 hits, 2 walks, 16 Okay’s
Clayton Kershaw, 2-0, 0.77 ERA, 11.2 IP, 7 hits, 3 walks, 8 Okay’s
Alex Vesia, 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 3 hits, 3 walks, 6 Okay’s
Joe Kelly, 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 4.1 IP, 3 hits, 3 walks, 6 Okay’s
Brent Honeywell, 0-1, 2.25 ERA, 4 IP, 3 hits, 1 stroll, 2 Okay’s
Landon Knack, 2.25, 1 save, 4 IP, 3 hits, 2 Okay’s
Tyler Glasnow, 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 5 hits, 1 stroll, 4 Okay’s
Anthony Banda, 3.00 ERA, 6 IP, 6 hits, 1 stroll, 9 Okay’s
Jack Flaherty, 2-0, 4.41 ERA, 16.1 IP, 18 hits, 4 walks, 22 Okay’s
Justin Wrobleski, 1-0, 7.20 ERA, 5 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 3 Okay’s
Walker Buehler, 7.36 ERA, 7.1 IP, 11 hits, 7 walks, 4 Okay’s
Michael Grove, 7.71 ERA, 2.1 IP, 2 hits, 3 walks, 3 Okay’s
Bobby Miller, 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 4.2 IP, 8 hits, 1 stroll, 1 Okay
Blake Treinen, 9.00 ERA, 1 IP, 3 hits
Daniel Hudson, 0-1, 9.53 ERA, 2 saves, 5.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 walks, 2 Okay’s
Workforce, 10-3, 3.21 ERA, 6 saves, 115 IP, 95 hits, 34 walks, 108 Okay’s

OPS+

OPS+ measure a participant’s on-base plus slugging proportion in opposition to the remainder of the league, with an adjustment made for a participant’s dwelling park. A participant with an OPS+ of 100 is a league common hitter. A participant with an OPS+ of 110 is 10% higher than common; 90 means 10% worse than common, and many others. Listed below are the Dodgers this season (minimal 30 at-bats).

Shohei Ohtani, 174
Mookie Betts, 151
Freddie Freeman, 147
Max Muncy, 139
Teoscar Hernández, 127
Will Smith, 114
Miguel Rojas, 106
Miguel Vargas, 106
Gavin Lux, 100
Andy Pages, 95
Kevin Kiermaier, 92
Jason Heyward, 91
Cavan Biggio, 80
Austin Barnes, 73
Kiké Hernández, 70
Chris Taylor, 55
Nick Ahmed, 52
James Outman, 48

Up subsequent

Friday: Tampa Bay (*Tyler Alexander, 5-3, 5.17 ERA) at Dodgers (Bobby Miller, 1-3, 8.02 ERA), 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, 1020 KTNQ

Saturday: Tampa Bay (Taj Bradley, 6-8, 3.55 ERA) at Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 2-2, 2.63 ERA), 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, 1020 KTNQ

Sunday: Tampa Bay (Shane Baz, 1-2, 3.48 ERA) at Dodgers (Gavin Stone, 11-5, 3.44 ERA), 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, 1020 KTNQ

*-left-handed

In case you missed it

Dodgers designate Jason Heyward for project to clear roster spot for Chris Taylor

‘Not superb.’ As Dodgers wait on pitching reinforcements, October questions linger

Hernández: The Dodgers hope Walker Buehler can pull off the not possible, however he’s struggling

Plaschke: Gone however by no means forgotten: Dodgers ought to deliver Justin Turner dwelling

Freddie Freeman has hairline fracture, however he gained’t miss video games for Dodgers

After lackluster Octobers, Dodgers see advantages to being in an NL West dogfight

Shohei Ohtani’s 112-mph homer a slump-buster? Dodgers hope so in tight NL West race

Why Tyler Glasnow felt obligated to say one thing about his sore elbow

Kevin Kiermaier and Michael Kopech discovering new life with Dodgers

And at last

The Dodgers’ video tribute to Justin Turner. Watch and pay attention right here.