The Dodgers are in first place in the National League West. They have an 8.5-game lead over the hated Giants with only 23 games remaining. They are 21 games over .500 and have a magic number of 15. Barring a complete meltdown, they will win their third consecutive NL West title – something that they have never done since MLB began divisional play in 1969. All is well in Dodgertown.

…or is it?

Hidden by the Dodgers current hot streak, during which they have won eight of their last 10 games and 13 of their last 20, is the fact that Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez – the team’s most consistent player and unofficial team leader – is struggling … badly.

Since August 1, the 33-year-old San Diego native is 30 for 134 (.224) with three doubles, five home runs and 21 RBIs. But what’s even more disturbing is that in his last seven games – which encompasses the current Dodgers road trip – the popular Dodgers first baseman is 5 for 31 (.161) with one double, one home run and only four RBIs. And although Gonzalez has walked 10 times in his last seven games, he has also struck out 10 times. Whereas these numbers may be acceptable for guys like A.J. Ellis or Jimmy Rollins or Chase Utley, they are far below AGon’s career numbers and his slump couldn’t come at a worse time.

In his last 31 at-bats, Adrian Gonzalez has struck out 10 times.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

While some may say that AGon’s current slump is no big deal since the team is winning in spite of it, the truth of the matter is that it is a very big deal.

How so, you ask?

Simply take a look at what Gonzalez has done in the last two postseasons and you will answer this question. Although AGon has pretty much carried the team during the regular season since arriving in L.A. in August of 2012, he went 3 for 16 (.188) with one home run, one walk with three strikeouts during last year’s NLDS against the mighty Cardinals. And even though he faired much better in the 2013 postseason hitting a combined 12 for 38 (.316) in the NLDS and NLCS against the Braves and Cardinals respectively, the rest of the team sputtered. Should they do so again this year and should Gonzalez’s slump continue into October, the Dodgers could once again find themselves watching the later rounds of the 2015 playoffs on TV rather than participating in them.

But alas, the Dodgers are in first place in the National League West. They have an 8.5-game lead over the hated Giants with only 23 games remaining. They are 21 games over .500 and have a magic number of 15. Barring a complete meltdown, they will win their third consecutive NL West title – this in spite of AGon’s slump.

So in the big scheme of things, all is well in Dodgertown.