Trending Up, Trending Down: Gonzalez & Greinke Continue To Lead
A rough week for the Los Angeles Dodgers has led into some days off due to scheduling and rain in Minnesota.
We take a look at the top trends for the Dodgers this past week:
Trending Up
The first baseman had another solid week, hitting .438 and leading the team offensively. Gonzalez hit a home run in three straight games, his second time with a streak of at least three games this season. While the Dodgers offense has struggled, the 31-year-old has kept on dominating.
Gonzalez now has eight home runs and 23 RBI this season to lead the team in both categories, while maintaining a .313 batting average. He has once again provided the Dodgers with a consistent bat in the middle of the order.
Once the rest of the offense catches up with Gonzalez, the Dodgers will be a force to reckon with.
Zack Greinke
Greinke was on the mound for one of the two wins the Dodgers had this past week. He had a strong outing against the Philadelphia Philles, striking out 11 in seven innings to earn the victory. The right-hander was able to help the Dodgers salvage one game in the four-game series.
Since straining his calf in the spring, Greinke has recovered nicely and sits at 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA this season and is expected to start the first game of the series against the Minnesota Twins. He has combined with the other starters to have the second-most wins by a starting rotation.
The return of Clayton Kershaw will give the Dodgers the best duo at the top of any rotation.
Paco Rodriguez
Dodger fans were a bit outraged when Rodriguez was sent down once Brian Wilson returned from the disabled list. Well, yesterday they got what they wanted when the left-hander was recalled from Triple-A and Carlos Triunfel was sent down. Triunfel spent a couple days with the team before heading back down.
Rodriguez gives the Dodgers two left-handers in their bullpen now after going some time with just J.P. Howell. The move should also ease the burden on some of the other relievers who have had to throw more than usual early in the season.
Hopefully, Rodriguez is here to stay, although Kershaw’s return next week means someone will have to go down.
Trending Down
Brian Wilson
Many believed that Wilson would return from the disabled list in top form after getting the necessary appearances he said he needed. This past week, Wilson appeared in three games for a combined 1.1 innings and allowed five earned runs.
Wilson’s ERA is now up to 14.40 and gives the Dodgers a dilemma late in games. Chris Perez could be called upon to set up for Kenley Jansen until Wilson settles in and returns to his usual self.
Don Mattingly and the Dodgers hope Wilson figures it out soon, as he was a key part of what was expected to be a strong bullpen.
Andre Ethier
Plenty of offensive players could find themselves in this spot this week, but Ethier particularly struggled in terms of hitting the ball. In 12 at-bats this past week, Ethier struck out in five of them. He had just two singles this past week and did not score or bring in any runs.
Ethier is now hitting just .211 this season and has significantly cooled off recently. The lack of a set lineup could be affecting him, but he does have the second-most at-bats of the five outfielders.
If Ethier isn’t hitting, the decision to sit him could become prominent for manager Don Mattingly.
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