It goes without saying that 19 games into a new season is way too early to call a series ‘the most important series of the season,’ but the upcoming four-game series with the San Diego Padres, which kicks off Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, is… well… the most important series to date for the Dodgers.

Although the Dodgers currently enjoy a (somewhat) comfortable three-game lead in the NL West over the second place ‘Hated Ones’ and a five-game lead over the third-place Padres in the National League West, should the unthinkable happen this weekend at Chavez Ravine, the 2020 World Series Champions could find themselves either tied with – or trailing – both division rivals come Monday morning.

Even though the Dodgers return home having taken three of five on the just-concluded road trip to San Diego and Seattle, even the most casual of Dodger fans have undoubtedly noticed that several key players are slumping at the plate right now. They have also undoubtedly noticed that two of their key players, Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux, are on the 10-day injured list and a couple more dealing with aches and pains; most notably superstar outfielder Mookie Betts, who took a 94-MPH slider off his right forearm on Monday in Seattle. Fortunately, at least according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, X-rays came back negative, and Roberts told reporters postgame that Betts would be in the starting line-up for the series opener against the Padres on Thursday night.

Also fortunate for the Dodgers is that their unofficial team captain Justin Turner continues to swing a smoking-hot bat right now. On the (young) season, the 36-year-old Long Beach, CA native and heart and soul of the team is 24-for-63 (.381) and leads the team in home runs (five), RBI (16) and leads the league with his seven doubles. And even though 2020 NLCS and World Series MVP Corey Seager is among those struggling at the plate right now, he homered in two of his last five games … so there’s that.

But without question, the most fortunate thing the Dodgers have going for them right now – and all season – has been their stellar pitching, both starting and in relief. Through their 18 games thus far, Dodgers pitchers have a combined 2.66 ERA, second best in all of baseball. That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is that the team with the best ERA in all of baseball right now are the (wait for it…) San Diego Padres at 2.57.

Kinda makes this weekend’s four-game series with those same Padres ‘the most important series of the season,’ thus far, doesn’t it?

Play Ball!

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