Week 25: Mookie Betts, Jack Flaherty create divisional distance

09/08/2024 10:42 PM

Dodgers won four of six games against the D-backs, Angels, and Guardians, and now lead the NL West by six games. A look back at the week that was.

LOS ANGELES — It was technically a three-city week for the Dodgers, who finished up a wraparound series in Phoenix before returning home-adjacent in Anaheim then playing at Dodger Stadium over the weekend.

It was a painful week for the team as well, losing innings-leader Gavin Stone to the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Stone is in limbo now and won't throw for the next week or so before determining what's next, let alone his potential postseason availability. Teoscar Hernández was hit in the foot by a pitch that looked certain to at least land him on the injured list. But instead, all scans were negative and thus far has only missed two full games plus most of Friday after getting hit. He could potentially play by Tuesday this week, if not Monday.

But with those setbacks the Dodgers still found a way to win four of six games against the D-backs, Angels, and Guardians, and ended the week with a larger lead in the National League West then when they started, with a 12th consecutive playoff appearance and 11th division title since 2013 becoming more and more likely by the day.

Batter of the week

Mookie Betts was instrumental to the Dodgers offense all week, going 9-for-22 with six extra-base hits. He hit the game-breaking three-run home run in the 10th inning on Tuesday, and started the scoring Sunday after leading off an inning with a triple. Betts is now four weeks back off the injured list after missing eight weeks with a broken left hand. He's back in his familiar haunt in right field, and hasn't skipped a beat at the plate.

"I'm not surprised given the person and the player, but given the time off, it's hard to imagine getting hot from the outset. He's in playoff mode, he's taking great at-bats. He's really taking to right field, and made another great play out there [Saturday] night," manager Dave Roberts said. "Guys are following his lead, seeing what Shohei's doing, what Freddie is doing, and everyone else is sort of following suit."

Pitcher of the week

Jack Flaherty bookended the week with wins in games that clinched series wins for the Dodgers, beating the Diamondbacks on Monday in Phoenix, then pitching scoreless baseball into the eighth inning on Sunday to beat the Guardians, the latter in 103-degree heat.

"It was just another challenge. It was fun. You need a little preparation beforehand, make sure everything is moving and hydrated," Flaherty said Sunday. "Pretty sure everyone else was hotter than I was out there."

Week 25 results

4-2 record
30 runs scored (5.00 per game)
23 runs allowed (3.83 per game)
.619 pythagorean win percentage

Year to date

86-57 record
713 runs scored (4.99 per game)
594 runs allowed (4.15 per game)
.583 pythagorean win percentage (83-60)

NL West lead: 6 games over San Diego, 6½ over Arizona

Miscellany

The defensive play of the week was, well, a slam dunk. In a scoreless game in the fourth inning of Sunday's 103-degree scorcher, the Guardians had a runner on first base with nobody out. Bo Naylor lined a ball 90.7-mph off the bat ticketed toward left field, with an expected batting average of .540 per Baseball Savant.

But Max Muncy had other ideas.

Muncy not only leaped to catch the liner, but also threw to first base to nail José Ramírez, who was by then already at second base.

"Muncy and I have an inside joke because he swears he can dunk a basketball, and obviously he's a bigger guy," manager Dave Roberts said. "But I told him I believe he can dunk a basketball now. He got up there pretty good."

Transactions

Monday: Michael Petersen was called up as the fresh arm in the bullpen while Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Triple-A after his spot start.

Friday: Gavin Stone was placed on the injured list, and Justin Wrobleski got called back up.

Friday: Landon Knack was called up to start, and Petersen was optioned.

Sunday: Nick Ramirez found his way back for a sixth stint in the majors with the Dodgers this season. Wrobleski was optioned and Petersen designated for assignment.

Game results

• Monday: Dodgers 11, D-backs 6
• Tuesday: Dodgers 6, Angels 2 (10 innings)
• Wednesday: Angels 10, Dodgers 1
• Friday: Guardians 3, Dodgers 1
• Saturday: Dodgers 7, Guardians 2
• Sunday: Dodgers 4, Guardians 0

Previous reviews: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24

Up next

The Dodgers run the Jody Davis gauntlet, hosting the Cubs for three games before hitting the road to face the Braves. The series in Atlanta is a wraparound, with the fourth game on Monday, September 16.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his return to the mound on Tuesday, albeit in an abbreviated start this time out. Brusdar Graterol is expected to be activated during the Cubs series as well.

Two of the games against the Braves are exclusive national telecasts, with Friday on Apple TV+ and Sunday on ESPN. Tuesday against the Cubs is on TBS non-exclusively, and that broadcast won't be available locally.