Again and again, Dave Roberts has insisted his Dodgers group doesn’t have any main wants heading into Tuesday’s commerce deadline.
On Friday night time at Coors Area, nonetheless, they had been reminded of one of many largest points they've to handle.
Although the Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies for a second straight night time, prevailing 5-4 behind early two-run residence runs from Will Smith and Trayce Thompson plus a powerful seven-inning begin from left-hander Julio Urías, the sport completed a lot nearer than it ought to have been.
Tasked to guard a three-run lead on the finish, nearer Craig Kimbrel nearly blew one other save by giving up two runs within the ninth.
“We’re all the time evaluating,” Roberts stated when requested about Kimbrel after almost one other disastrous outing from the veteran. “He’s our nearer, however efficiency issues, particularly on the again finish of the sport.”
Regardless of the late dramatics, the Dodgers are 67-32. They maintained a 12-game lead within the division. And since dropping back-to-back video games in Denver final month, they've received 22 of their final 26, together with every of their final three and the primary two of this four-game collection.
“To win a pair video games” on the outset of an eight-game journey, Roberts stated, “couldn’t begin off any higher.”
Friday night time, nonetheless, nearly took a flip for the worst.
Main 5-2 because the third inning, because of Urías’ spectacular begin and a scoreless eighth from setup man Evan Phillips, the Dodgers gave the impression to be secure when Kimbrel got here trotting into the sport.
The best-hander began the inning with a groundout, gave up a single to Kris Bryant, however then struck out C.J. Cron to place the Dodgers on the cusp of a straightforward win.
Then Brendan Rodgers bounced a base hit to proper. José Iglesias drew a full-count stroll to load the bases. And Randal Grichuk drove in two with a line-drive single to left, drawing the Rockies to inside one run.
Dealing with one other full depend within the subsequent at-bat, Kimbrel threw an inside fastball that Ryan McMahon sliced the opposite means.
Off the bat, it appeared like his flare may drop close to the road in left discipline. However then, on the final second, Thompson got here flying in with a sprinting catch — his momentum carrying him into the netting in entrance of the stands after making the ultimate out.
“I really feel like I bought an excellent bead on it, was simply making an attempt to safe it,” Thompson stated. “I don’t know if it was the top of the sport or no matter, however I didn’t really feel quick working for it. Was simply making an attempt to make a play.”
Although Thompson’s catch saved the Dodgers’ win, it did little to quiet the mounting questions surrounding Kimbrel.
The long run Corridor of Famer has transformed 18 of 21 save alternatives but in addition has a 4.37 earned-run common and 1.51 walks plus hits per inning pitched.
He wanted 29 pitches to flee Friday’s jam, once more struggling to land his breaking ball and discover constant fastball command.
And had Kimbrel walked McMahon, Roberts was planning to drag him, one thing he’s already needed to do as soon as this month in the midst of a save alternative.
“I gotta have a look at the movie,” Roberts stated afterward. “However definitely, to get three outs and go close to 30 pitches, it simply isn’t ok, and Craig is aware of that.”
Requested whether or not, by way of a possible commerce or an inner candidate, the Dodgers should deal with the nearer function, Roberts stated the group is regularly evaluating.
“Nobody is aware of that greater than Craig,” Roberts stated. “We as a company are all the time making an attempt to get higher. I’ve all the time stated that. And he’s bought to proceed to work on some issues to be extra environment friendly and be more practical.
“That’s simply details.”
It appears unlikely the Dodgers will make a pricey splash for a big-name reliever within the subsequent 4 days.
Slightly, they’ve largely been linked in commerce rumors with beginning pitchers — equivalent to Luis Castillo, earlier than he was dealt by the Cincinnati Reds to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night time on this deadline’s first large commerce — or in star-studded pursuits of phenoms just like the Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto or the Angels’ reigning American League most beneficial participant, Shohei Ohtani.
For a group that's just about assured of reaching the postseason, and already appears to be gearing up for a deep October run, these are the type of strikes that might put them excessive.
However it doesn’t imply there aren’t nonetheless small cracks of their basis — with Friday highlighting one of many largest questions they’ll must reply as they coast down the stretch.
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