The Los Angeles Dodgers made four acquisitions before the trade deadline.
The LA Dodgers made a few key moves prior to the trade deadline, bringing in relief pitcher Mike Kelly and utilityman Enrique Hernandez, both of whom were part of their 2020 World Series-winning team. They also grabbed starting pitcher Lance Lynn and shortstop Amed Rosario in trades.
The Atlanta Braves have been on fire this season, leading the National League with a 65-38 record. The Dodgers are the second-best team in the NL with a 58-44 record, even though their injured pitching staff has taken a toll on their performance. The Cincinnati Reds have been a surprise team this year, and they're fighting to win the NL Central title thanks to a streak of 10 straight wins in June.
The Braves and Dodgers are both going all-out at the deadline, trying to boost their rosters for a successful postseason run. The Braves are aiming for their second World Series win in three years, while the Dodgers want to reclaim their championship throne after a disappointing exit in the 2022 playoffs.
Dodgers' Pitching Woes
The Dodgers' starting rotation is a mess. Dustin May had to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, Clayton Kershaw is on the IL, and Walker Buehler is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Noah Syndergaard was a bust, and Julio Urias has been hit-or-miss.
The Dodgers relied on a trio of rookies – Michael Grove, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan – who all delivered strong performances. The team needs more reliable arms, especially veteran pitchers for the playoffs.
The Dodgers let go of Syndergaard, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason. Syndergaard's time with the Dodgers ended with a 1-4 record, a 7.16 ERA, and a 1.45 WHIP in 12 starts. He was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in search of a fresh start.
The Dodgers replaced Syndergaard with righty starter Lance Lynn, acquired from the White Sox. Lynn hasn't been doing well this season with a 6-9 record in 21 starts. He has a 6.47 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP, as well as giving up a league-leading 28 home runs. Roberts is hoping Lynn can help them through August.
The Dodgers are still looking for starting pitchers, which is why there have been many speculations about them having their eye on Justin Verlander from the New York Mets.
Bringing Back Hernandez and Kelly
The Dodgers acquired Hernandez in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, trading two relief pitchers, Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman, in return. Roberts plans to platoon Hernandez at second base and might also use him in the outfield.
Hernandez had been with the Dodgers for six seasons and was a fan favorite. This year with the Red Sox, he had a .222 batting average.
The Dodgers also added another player from their 2020 championship team, Kelly. He had spent three seasons with the Dodgers between 2019-21.
Kelly dealt with several injuries this year, including a strained groin and elbow inflammation. He showed up in 35 games with the White Sox and had a 1-5 record, a 4.97 ERA, and a 1.31 WHIP.
Roberts said, "I would argue that Kelly's stuff – the velocity, the curveball – is even better than it was when he was with us. He's a guy, like most players, when they're in a winning environment, they thrive."
The Dodgers traded outfielder Trayce Thompson, along with minor league pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure, to the White Sox for Kelly and Lynn.
Dodgers' Betting Chances
The Braves are pegged as the favorites to win the 2023 World Series at +330 odds, and the Dodgers are close behind at +500 odds on DraftKings' futures board.
The Braves are also favored to win the NL pennant at +160 odds, while the Dodgers come in at +240 odds.
The Dodgers have a 13.4% chance to win the World Series, according to FanGraphs, with the Braves being the only team with a higher probability of winning with a 24.8% chance.
Over the past decade, the Dodgers have dominated the NL West, clinching nine division titles. They've been nothing short of remarkable, winning 104 or more games on four separate occasions, but despite their impressive regular season performances, they've failed to clinch a World Series victory in those years.
Last year, they set a franchise best by winning 111 games. However, in the NLDS, they were defeated by the lowly San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers currently sit two games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West standings, and are clear favorites to win the division for a tenth time in the last 11 years. The odds of them doing so are staggering: -500. The Giants, on the other hand, are priced at +650 to win the division for the second time since 2021. As per FanGraphs, the odds of the Dodgers winning the division stand at a whopping 78%, while the odds of the Giants claiming the title are only 11.8%.
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Source: www.casino.org
