The Dodgers pitching woes continued on Monday night, falling behind 7-0 early and giving up nine runs in a loss to the Diamondbacks. They’ve given up nine or more runs four times in the last 10 games.
Arizona hit three home runs on Monday, giving the Dodgers 31 home runs allowed through 17 games in May, matching their total for the first 31 games of the season through the end of April. Those 31 home runs are the most allowed in the majors in May, tied with an Orioles team that is playing so badly that they just fired their manager.
“It’s not the staff we thought we’d have this season, but I feel that what we still do and have done in the past with injuries, we’re not doing,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters after Monday’s loss, as shown on SportsNet LA. “I say that in the sense of getting ahead of hitters and keeping the ball in the ballpark.”
It’s difficult to survive a long stretch by relying so heavily on a bullpen that leads the majors in appearances and innings, even if the Dodgers have the hardware from last October as proof that it is at least possible. It’s just a hard way to live.
With so many starters and relievers on the injured list, there’s no cavalry expected in the immediate future, outside of maybe Michael Kopech back in the bullpen perhaps by next week depending on how his rehab assignment progresses in Triple-A. Outside of a few fresh-arm reliever call-ups, for the next couple of weeks the Dodgers pitching staff pretty much is what it is.
Only three times in 17 games has a Dodgers pitcher logged more than five innings, including two of them by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who starts Tuesday night.
Tuesday game info
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks
- Stadium: Dodger Stadium
- Start time: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
