April 2021, the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers started the regular season as the dominating force in Major League Baseball, winning 13-times in their first 15-games. Offense, defense, and pitching were in sync, seemingly firing on all 26-cylinders; baseball pundits were all but conceding the 2021 World Series to the Boys in Blue.

Then, the baseball gods intervened. Six key players went on the Injured List (Cody Bellinger, Tony Gonsolin, Corey Knebel, Gavin Lux, Zach McKinstry, and David Price), hitters slumped, defense became erratic, and the relievers were like a box of chocolates – not knowing what you would get from game to game (apologies for the Forrest Gump metaphor). The team lost seven of its next 10 games, the only constant being strong starting pitching from Clayton Kershaw (2.09 ERA), Trevor Bauer (2.53 ERA), Dustin May (2.53 ERA), Walker Buehler (3.16 ERA), and Julio Urias (3.23 ERA).

Two games remain in April, but May is coming, and with the new month comes new expectations that the Force will Awaken. There were encouraging signs as Lux and pitcher Brusdar Graterol recently returned from the IL. Pitcher Joe Kelly is close to returning to the bullpen, and while the team is in Milwaukee to play the Brewers, Bellinger and McKinstry will go to the alternate training site at Camelback Ranch to continue their respective rehabs. Bellinger could be ready to return to the active roster for the Dodgers’ next homestand.

The return of Bellinger alone will significantly impact the team, both offensively and defensively, as he replaces Luke Raley in the starting lineup and Mookie Betts shifts back to his Gold Glove position in right field. When McKinstry is 100% healthy, he will change the lineup dynamic being able to play multiple positions and providing a needed offensive boost from the bench.

Indeed, there is reason for optimism that the force will awaken in May!

April musings:

• Thirty-six-year-old Justin Turner is having the best April of his career, slashing .337/.422/.628/1.049 with six home runs.
• Kershaw was the ace of the starting pitching staff with a 2.09 ERA.
• It only took one at one at-bat for San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell to expose prospect DJ Peters‘ inability to make contact with high fastballs.
• Matt Beaty started the season hitting .091 and was sent back to Camelback Ranch. Since returning last week, he has three hits, three walks, and two HBP in 10 plate appearances.
• Edwin Rios has not had a hit in his last 27 plate appearances, with a strikeout rate of 33.3% over that period.
• Over his last 15 games played, Lux has slashed .163/.204/.245/.449 with little semblance to the player we saw in Spring Training.
• Max Muncy has walked 12-times in his last five games but only has three hits in his last 48 plate appearances.
• Super utility player Chris Taylor has a .939 OPS, second only to Turner’s 1.049
• Losing Knebel to injury was a significant blow to the relief corps.

Dodgers hitters have been hit by pitches 22 times in April (with two games remaining), while Dodgers pitchers have hit opposing batters nine times. This is an unacceptable trend and will likely continue until the team’s pitchers do a better job of ‘protecting their teammates.’ It appears that opposing pitchers can throw inside to Dodgers hitters with impunity, knowing that there will be no retaliation. (Note: ‘Retaliation’ doesn’t even have to be intentionally hitting an opposing batter; a ‘high and tight’ knockdown pitch will send the appropriate ‘message’).

At the current rate of HBP, Dodgers hitters will be dotted 143 times in 2021. In comparison, Dodgers hitters were HBP 81 times in 2019, 61 in 2018, and 64 in 2017. It is past time for the team’s pitchers to start protecting their own.

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