Monday, May 19, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
Baseball season is more than a quarter of the 2025 season done. The word that comes to my mind about the Los Angeles Dodgers is inconsistent.
Yes, the Dodgers have had so many pitching injuries. During the offseason, Andrew Friedman tried to stockpile pitchers. Tanner Scott is the only healthy new arrival. Good news for the Dodgers is none of the injuries are season-ending.
Shohei Ohtani will return to the starting rotation after the All-Star break. The Dodgers have been slow-playing Ohtani because they want him healthy. They can’t send him out on a rehab assignment to build up as a starter since he’s the true power hitter on the team.
On Saturday, Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound after his toe and knee surgeries. Well, he struggled with command, but it will improve.
Dustin May and Landon Knack must improve or be replaced in the rotation. If the Dodgers had healthy starters, May and Knack would be demoted to the minor leagues.
The overused bullpen is showing fatigue. The relievers are less effective because they have been used daily. The Dodgers have an excellent bullpen on the IL. The relievers should be off the IL around the All-Star break.
The Dodgers’ offense has been inconsistent. With a .271 batting average, the Dodgers have the top one in the major leagues. The emergence of Andy Pages has saved the team offensively while Max Muncy and Michael Conforto slumped. Mookie Betts hasn’t produced the way that we have grown accustomed to, but he is still recovering from his stomach illness in March.
Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani have performed as expected.
The defense has been good but not great. Mookie Betts isn’t the problem at shortstop. His improvement at shortstop over is amazing. Max Muncy is decent at third base but nothing to write about. Before the Dodgers designated Austin Barnes for assignment, they couldn’t throw out a potential base stealer.
Hyeseong Kim has changed the complexion of the team. He plays with pure joy. His amazing speed can change any game at any time. The Dodgers should play Kim every game.
Though the Dodgers have the best record in the National League, they haven’t played their best yet during the 2025 season. The pitching injuries are troublesome.
