The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on fire this season! After the Shohei Ohtani trade, many pegged them to be the favorites to win the World Series. So far, they’re living up to the hype and then some. Much has been made about Los Angeles’ dangerous hitting group, and for good reason. A lineup with Mookie Betts, Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman as their 1-2-3 is a nasty lineup to face.
However, it’s not just their hitting that’s been electric. There were questions about how the Dodgers’ pitching would hold up to start the year. They had plenty of talented arms, but a lot of them were sidelined due to injuries. In their absence, two names have stepped up to compete for the “ace” role. Veteran Tyler Glasnow and rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto have been insane this year, dominating every batter they face.
On Friday, Glasnow made another start for the Dodgers, this time against a familiar foe in the San Diego Padres. Facing another star in Michael King, Glasnow went to work, striking out 10 while only giving up one run. That one run ended up being the difference-maker, unfortunately. Still, you can’t ask from a better performance out of Glasnow.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Robert made sure to give Glasnow his praise. Here’s what he had to say, per SportsNet LA.
“Tyler, he’s on some type of a run right now… What he’s done for us this last month and a half is pretty spectacular. The strikeouts, he doesn’t walk guys. He’s just in control from pitch. He makes pitches when he needs to… I do think that physically and mentally he’s in a good spot.”
With his ten strikeouts, Glasnow continues to lead the league in punch-outs with 73. As Roberts mentioned, his command has been excellent this season.
Dodgers fail to get Glasnow a win
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the Padres had a pitcher who can go toe-to-toe with Tyler Glasnow. Michael King somehow was better for San Diego. Against the aforementioned feared batting order, King was phenomenal. He had 11 Ks, allowing just two hits and no runs. A statline like that is always impressive. Against Los Angeles’ dangerous hitters? It’s almost an act of God.
In the end, it was the Dodgers that blinked first. With the game tied at the bottom of the ninth, Michael Grove threw a meatball at Luis Arraez. That was all he needed. Arraez’s single scored Luis Campusano from second base, leading to a walk-off win in the former’s home debut. The Padres made sure that King’s legendary effort would not go to waste.
That being said, the Dodgers are going to be just fine this season. They’re still on top of the NL West at 26-14 and well within striking distance of the first seed. The team won’t be excellent all season long, there will be off days. It’s how this team bounces back from this loss that matters. They have two more games against the Padres in this series. How will Dave Roberts and co. to this new-look Padres roster?
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