Dodgers could get more separation this weekend

Phil Gurnee ♦ June 15, 2018 ♦ Leave a comment

It was just one week ago that the Dodgers/Giants/Rockies were all tied for second place, just a scant 1 1/2 behind the Diamondbacks.

NL West Standings on June 8th

Tm     W  L W-L%  GB  RS  RA pythW-L%
ARI   33 29 .532  -- 249 223     .550
LAD   32 31 .508 1.5 302 257     .573
COL   32 31 .508 1.5 278 310     .450
SFG   32 31 .508 1.5 268 295     .456
SDP   29 36 .446 5.5 253 302     .420

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/15/2018.

One week later a bit of separation has occurred. The Diamondbacks won five games but only the Dodgers could keep pace jumping into second place by themselves. The Rockies won only one game and have dropped into 4th place. The Giants went 2 – 3 and fell into 3rd place two full games behind the Dodgers.

Tm     W  L W-L%  GB  RS  RA pythW-L%
ARI   38 30 .559  -- 301 254     .577
LAD   35 32 .522 2.5 327 271     .585
SFG   34 35 .493 4.5 291 320     .457
COL   33 35 .485 5.0 302 346     .438
SDP   33 38 .465 6.5 273 320     .428

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/15/2018.

The Dodgers host the Giants for a three-game set at a good time. The Giants just finished a taxing trip East Coast road trip which ended in Florida and the getaway game involved a sixteen inning affair which should leave them a tad tired as they arrive in Los Angeles.

The Giants did get back Madison Bumgarner but they have lost Longoria for at least six weeks. Brandon Belt was one of the best hitters of early 2018 but he has been out of the lineup for several weeks. He was supposed to return next Monday but it is possible he will be activated with the injury to Longoria.  Pablo Sandoval has been playing 1st for Belt, and will now shift to 3rd base to replace Longoria. Pablo has had a bit of a revival this year and has a June OPS of .872 in 43 plate appearances.

The Giants have been led offensively in June by Brandon Crawford who sports a robust 1.187 OPS. Andrew McCutchen is not far behind with a June OPS of 1.071 with five home runs.

The Dodgers have been winning by hitting home runs or dancing their way to victory. This should be a fun series between the two rivals with much at stake as each team tries to stay within the striking distance of the Diamondbacks who found their footing once Paul Goldschmidt remembered who he was.