Trending Up, Trending Down: Chase Utley Trade Paying Dividends
As the calendar changed from August to September, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered their most crucial week of the season with seven combined games against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.
When the Giants arrived to Dodger Stadium on Monday, they trailed the Dodgers by just 3.5 games in the standings. When they departed on Wednesday, their deficit increased to 6.5 games.
Los Angeles then proceeded to take three of four games at Petco Park against the Padres, separating themselves from the Giants by another game.
Ending the week with a 6-1 record, let’s analyze which Dodgers found success and those that couldn’t put anything together during the seven-game span.
Trending Down:
Yasmani Grandal: For the third consecutive week, Grandal failed to record a hit, and hasn’t since Aug. 16.
Though he went hitless in 15 at-bats (five starts), he did draw four walks and was hit by a pitch. However, he also struck out six times. During the slump Grandals’ slash line fell to .253/.367/.434.
Adrian Gonzalez: It was a tough last week for Gonzalez, despite homering on Friday night.
Starting in all seven games, he recorded just six hits in 24 at-bats (.222 batting average) and drew an additional six walks (one intentional). Not all was bad, however, as he picked up six RBIs and produced a walk-off single in the 14th inning on Monday. For the season, his slash line remains solid at .279/.354/.498.
Mat Latos: Making his fifth start as a Dodger, Latos’ struggles continued.
In just four innings against the Padres, he allowed eight hits and four earned runs while striking out three. Since being acquired from the Miami Marlins, he has allowed 17 earned runs in 23.1 innings pitched, amounting to a 6.56 ERA.
CONTINUE READING: Chase Utley Joins Mainstays Zack Greinke And Clayton Kershaw
