Trending Up, Trending Down: Grandal Struggles, Kershaw & Greinke Surge
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the final week of the regular season with a magic number of two to clinch the National League West as they traveled to San Francisco for the last time in 2015.
After dropping the first game of the series in extra innings, they rebounded nicely on Tuesday and locked up their division for the third consecutive year. Splitting the series 2-2, Los Angeles returned home to close out the regular season against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers swept the three-game series and in the process, clinched home-field advantage in the National League Division Series, with help from the Washington Nationals.
With a 5-2 week, let’s look back at which players succeeded and those that didn’t during the seven-game span.
Trending Down:
Mike Bolsinger: In one start against the Giants last week, Bolsinger’s struggles in September continued.
In just 3.1 innings pitched, he allowed six baserunners (four hits, two walks) and three earned runs while striking out seven batters.
Though the strikeout total was encouraging, he gave up his eighth home run of the month, which to no surprise, contributed to an increase his ERA and FIP to 3.62 and 3.92, respectively, on the year.
Chase Utley: Appearing in five games (four starts), Utley couldn’t find a rhythm.
Over 17 plate appearances, he reached base just twice (one single, one walk). With the rough week, his batting average as a Dodger dipped to .202.
Yasmani Grandal: Getting four starts last week (five games), Grandal failed to record a hit.
In 17 plate appearances, he reached base three times, all via walk — amounting to a .176 on-base percentage. Since Aug. 1, his on-base-plus-slugging saw a steep decline from .915 to .756.
Continue Reading: Dodgers Trending Up As Postseason Arrives
I’ve had it with Grandal’s lack of hitting, but he still has been good behind the plate.