This week’s takeaways focus on the streaking Blue Jays, the ungratefully dead Phillies, and a Dodgers’ team in turmoil.
Toronto Blue Jays: 61-52
We just discussed the Blue Jays last week, but they haven’t lost since, and well - that’s pretty good. They’ve reeled off eight straight wins, and have won 11 of their last 12. They sit 1.5 games back of the Yankees for the division lead, and have wrestled the wild card lead from Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. As mentioned last week, Price has had a substantial effect, but the acquisitions of Hawkins and Lowe as a bridge to Osuna shouldn’t be overlooked. The Blue Jays were always good at getting leads - and they’re even better now. The big difference though, is they can hold those leads.
Philadelphia Phillies: 45-67
The Phillies are no longer holders of the worst record in baseball, as the dark horse World Series contender Marlins are a game behind them. They’re 16-5 since the All-Star Break, and have lost Cole Hamels in that time. Maikel Franco looks like a budding star, slashing .278/.339/.483 entering Sunday’s contest and playing a passable third base. Rule-5 pick Odubel Herrera has been a bright light on offense as well, and Ken Giles has eased into the closer’s role comfortably since Jonathan Papelbon’s departure. This team obviously can’t contend this year, but it’s nice to see some of the building blocks of the future getting settled and producing.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 62-49
If anyone can call a three-game lead in the division and a 62-49 record a disappointment, it’s the Dodgers. They dropped all three games in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and while there’s no shame in losing to the Pirates, you could make the case they should have won all three. While the offense has slumped here and there, the consistent issue for the Dodgers throughout this season has been the bullpen. Kenley Jansen and J.P. Howell continue to do their parts, but everyone else has been suspect. Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan were acquired at the deadline in an effort to revamp the bullpen and provide more options to manager Don Mattingly. Johnson seems to have reverted to his 2014-form since the acquisition, though no one seems to have told Mattingly. Johnson will be the scapegoat after Sunday’s meltdown, but the onus is on Mattingly to be proactive when a reliever is missing like Johnson was. The Dodgers will need to find a way to get their starters deeper into games, overhaul the bullpen, get Mattingly to gameplan better, or October (if they get there) is going to look a lot like 2013-14.
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